Life Cycle Assessment and Cumulative Exergy Demand Analysis of Animal Feed Production From Sugarcane Bagasse: A Case Study

Abstract

Sugarcane bagasse, a byproduct of the sugar industry, holds potential as a feedstock for animal feed production. This study evaluates the environmental and resource efficiency of producing animal feed from sugarcane bagasse through life cycle assessment (LCA) and exergy analysis. The LCA considers the environmental impacts across the feed production life cycle, including sugarcane cultivation, transportation, processing, and distribution. Exergy analysis assesses resource efficiency by evaluating the quality of energy and material inputs and outputs. Results indicate that feed production has a measurable impact on human health, quantified as 0.30 DALY, while its impact on ecosystem quality is relatively minor, at 0.0005 species/year, reflecting limited effects on biodiversity and ecosystem stability. However, the energy demand of 93,602.34 MJ per ton underscores significant reliance on fossil fuels, highlighting the need to enhance energy efficiency and optimize resource use in the production process.