URI | http://purl.tuc.gr/dl/dias/D753C5B5-54CB-4CB8-B970-1ED5E349DAF1 | - |
Αναγνωριστικό | https://doi.org/10.26233/heallink.tuc.103754 | - |
Γλώσσα | en | - |
Μέγεθος | 85 pages | en |
Τίτλος | LCA-based sustainability assessment of macroalgae as a bioplastic feedstock | en |
Δημιουργός | Nikoloudakis Christos | en |
Δημιουργός | Νικολουδακης Χρηστος | el |
Συντελεστής [Επιβλέπων Καθηγητής] | Tsoutsos Theocharis | en |
Συντελεστής [Επιβλέπων Καθηγητής] | Τσουτσος Θεοχαρης | el |
Συντελεστής [Μέλος Εξεταστικής Επιτροπής] | Gikas Petros | en |
Συντελεστής [Μέλος Εξεταστικής Επιτροπής] | Γκικας Πετρος | el |
Συντελεστής [Μέλος Εξεταστικής Επιτροπής] | Fountoulakis Michail | en |
Συντελεστής [Μέλος Εξεταστικής Επιτροπής] | Φουντουλακης Μιχαηλ | el |
Εκδότης | Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης | el |
Εκδότης | Technical University of Crete | en |
Ακαδημαϊκή Μονάδα | Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης::Σχολή Χημικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών Περιβάλλοντος | el |
Περίληψη | Plastic is a versatile, resilient, and low-cost material that is essential and widely used in our daily lives. However, producing it relies on fossil resources, which contribute significantly to environmental issues ranging from greenhouse gases to microplastic pollution. Bioplastics derived from seaweed are an emerging alternative to fossil-based and other bio-based plastics. Unlike terrestrial biomass, they do not compete with food, arable land, freshwater, or fertilizers. Polysaccharides extracted from seaweed, such as alginate and agar, have film-forming properties and when combined with additives, these polysaccharides can display superior mechanical and barrier properties comparable to those of conventional plastics. Despite these benefits, research has focused only on the physical properties of these materials, usually excluding the sustainability aspect. Furthermore, insufficient research exists to validate sustainability claims. This thesis evaluated six lab-scale seaweed polysaccharide extraction methods found in the literature and used in bioplastic production. The evaluation used a cradle-to-gate approach and life cycle assessment and aimed to identify hotspots and improvement opportunities for upscaling. Two alternative extraction methods, reactive extrusion and enzyme-based extraction, were identified as having significantly lower environmental impacts across the 18 assessed impact categories. Reactive extrusion had the lowest GWP at 1.34 kg CO2,eq. per functional unit, while the highest GWP was found for a chemical extraction system at 73 kg CO2,eq. per functional unit. The major environmental impact drivers across all systems were energy-intensive processes, influenced significantly by the electricity mix, and certain chemical inputs, such as ethanol and isopropanol. Additionally, a scenario analysis was conducted to assess the effects of renewable energy sources (RES) integration, carbon and nutrient uptake during seaweed cultivation, and ethanol replacement with bioethanol. RES scenarios improved the environmental performance of all assessed systems, the uptake scenario produced mixed results, and the ethanol scenario reduced certain impacts. In conclusion, certain novel extraction methods have the potential to be scaled up. Seaweed-based bioplastics represent a valuable alternative to plastics. However, further research and support are needed to incorporate this key marine resource into the development of a circular bioeconomy. | en |
Τύπος | Μεταπτυχιακή Διατριβή | el |
Τύπος | Master Thesis | en |
Άδεια Χρήσης | http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ | en |
Ημερομηνία | 2025-07-09 | - |
Ημερομηνία Δημοσίευσης | 2025 | - |
Θεματική Κατηγορία | Life Cycle Assessment | en |
Θεματική Κατηγορία | LCA | en |
Θεματική Κατηγορία | Macroalgae | en |
Θεματική Κατηγορία | Bioplastics | en |
Βιβλιογραφική Αναφορά | Christos Nikoloudakis, "LCA-based sustainability assessment of macroalgae as a bioplastic feedstock", Master Thesis, School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Chania, Greece, 2025 | el |
Βιβλιογραφική Αναφορά | Χρήστος Νικολουδάκης, "LCA-based sustainability assessment of macroalgae as a bioplastic feedstock", Μεταπτυχιακή Διατριβή, Σχολή Χημικών Μηχανικών και Μηχανικών Περιβάλλοντος, Πολυτεχνείο Κρήτης, Χανιά, Ελλάς, 2025 | el |