Degree Type
Thesis
Date of Award
2015
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
First Advisor
Kurt A. Rosentrater
Abstract
The fast-growing world population prompts researchers to evaluate both environmental and economic impacts during manufacture and service processing. Distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) fractionation and aquaponics are two bioprocesses aiming to make full use of materials and resources. This study conducted Life cycle assessment (LCA) and Techno-economic analysis (TEA) for DDGS fractionation and tilapia-basil aquaponics.
DDGS mainly contains protein, oil, fiber, and ash. DDGS could have more economic value and wider use if it could be separated into higher protein fraction and higher fiber fraction. In our work, the optimization of three parameters of a gravity separator (side slope, eccentric shaft vibration, and air flow rate), was conducted to separate DDGS. Based on the optimized results, LCA and TEA were conducted for DDGS fractionation for three scales.
Aquaponics is the system combining hydroponic and aquaculture, in which fish and plants are raised together and are beneficial from each other. LCA and TEA were conducted for a pilot scale of tilapia-basil aquaponics located on Iowa State University campus, and the results were scaled up to larger systems.
The results showed that when operation scale was large enough, both DDGS fractionation through a gravity separator and tilapia-basil aquaponics were profitable, and the environmental impacts decreased as the scale expanded. The results will provide useful data for optimizing DDGS fractionation and aquaponics.
DOI
https://doi.org/10.31274/etd-180810-3996
Copyright Owner
Kun Xie
Copyright Date
2015
Language
en
File Format
application/pdf
File Size
135 pages
Recommended Citation
Xie, Kun, "Life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) of various biosystems" (2015). Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 14445.
https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/14445
Included in
Agriculture Commons, Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering Commons, Environmental Sciences Commons, Horticulture Commons