Methodology of evaluating sustainability index of a biomass processing enterprise: a case study of native cow dung-urine biorefinery

TitleMethodology of evaluating sustainability index of a biomass processing enterprise: a case study of native cow dung-urine biorefinery
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2019
AuthorsJoglekar, SN, Darwai, V, Mandavgane, SA, Kulkarni, BD
JournalEnvironmental Science and Pollution Research
Date PublishedOCT
Type of ArticleArticle; Early Access
ISSN0944-1344
KeywordsIndicator analysis, MIVES, Multicriteria decision analysis, Performance evaluation, Sustainability assessment framework
Abstract

Agriculture and its allied sector contribute significantly to the gross domestic product of every country. Several small-scale enterprises engaged in waste biomass processing have been setup recently. Such industrial setups not only help in solving the waste management issues but also play an important role in offering employment at the grass root level generating a significant social impact along with economic advantage to the local entrepreneur. Hence, assessment of such biomass processing enterprise (BPE) based on economic, environment, and social parameters has become necessary. In this paper, a general framework for sustainability assessment is discussed using a case study of cow dung-urine biorefinery as a representative BPE. Real-time data of BPE has been collected for evaluation and a sustainability index (SI) is evaluated using multicriteria decision method. The SI is calculated as per the weightage assigned and value function of the indicator and criteria. The SI for the BPE was observed to be 0.69 for the chosen set of criteria and indicator and weightages. A sensitivity analysis has been performed to check the dependence of the results on the weightages assigned to various criteria and indicators. It was also observed that the results were more sensitive to the indicators having a low value function.

DOI10.1007/s11356-019-06309-1
Type of Journal (Indian or Foreign)

Foreign

Impact Factor (IF)

2.914

Divison category: 
Chemical Engineering & Process Development

Add new comment