This is a research area in the Department which has gained more attention towards sustainability improvement and resources recovery. Specific research studies include but are not limited to environmental footprint assessment, life cycle assessment, resources recovery from waste, waste valorization, industrial symbiosis, etc. The research area has so many emerging topics with novel technologies and initiatives for the sustainable development and circular economy approaches in the world
Team:
- Prof. A.A.P. de Alwis
- Dr. H.H.M.P. Rathnayake
- Dr. (Mrs.) Duleeka Gunarathne
- Prof. M. Y. Gunasekera
Our Research Cases:
Life cycle sustainability assessments of biofuel/biopolymer production processes
Several life cycle assessments and sustainability assessments have been performed for biofuel/biopolymer production processes from waste resources, such as bioethanol production from rice straw/water hyacinth, biohydrogen production from source-separated urine, biopolymer production from cane molasses, etc. The studies have contributed with many useful findings.
More Information and Related Publications:
Jayasundara, P.M., Jayasinghe, T.K. & Rathnayake, M. Process Simulation Integrated Life Cycle Net Energy Analysis and GHG Assessment of Fuel-Grade Bioethanol Production from Unutilized Rice Straw. Waste Biomass Valor 13, 3689–3705 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12649-022-01763-4
Abeysuriya, D.I., Sethunga, G.S.M.D.P. & Rathnayake, M. Process simulation–based scenario analysis of scaled-up bioethanol production from water hyacinth. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-03891-w
Ashika Dilshani, Ashan Wijayananda, Mahinsasa Rathnayake. Life cycle net energy and global warming impact assessment for hydrogen production via decomposition of ammonia recovered from source-separated human urine, International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, Volume 47, Issue 57, 2022, Pages 24093-24106, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2022.05.188
Jayasekara, T., Wickrama Surendra, Y. & Rathnayake, M. Polylactic Acid Pellets Production from Corn and Sugarcane Molasses: Process Simulation for Scaled-Up Processing and Comparative Life Cycle Analysis. J Polym Environ 30, 4590–4604 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10924-022-02535-w