Preliminary environmental and economic assessment of polyurethane foam produced by microwave-assisted liquefaction of riparian shrubs

The study aims to develop a full-scale plant produce biobased PU foam from microwave liquefaction of riparian shrubs and evaluate its environmental burden using cradle-to-gate, scaled-up LCA approach. Life Cycle Inventory was built on experimental data for polyol synthesis by Response Surface Methodology (RSM) maximize the yield. Bio-based also compared with petrochemical counterpart. Assessment carried out SimaPro 9.0 software impacts were evaluated EPD 2007 method. results indicate that methylene diphenyl diisocyanate production energy consumption step are major sources impacts. Overall, superiority polyurethane cannot always be claimed respect their fossil Finally, simplified economic assessment showed bio-based an interesting profitability could obtained market price 4.5 €/kg.