Title: Energetic and exergetic life cycle analysis to explain the hidden costs and effects of current sulphur utilisation

Authors: Ben Brehmer, Johan Sanders

Addresses: Wageningen UR, Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group, Workgroup: Valorisation of Plant Production Chains, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands. ' Wageningen UR, Agrotechnology and Food Sciences Group, Workgroup: Valorisation of Plant Production Chains, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands

Abstract: Typically life cycle analyses of the fertiliser industry are based on averages of outdated technology. Sulphur is a major element, emerging as a primary nutrient on its own accord and as a feed for other fertiliser production, namely phosphoric acid. Recent developments sparked by governmental regulation have raised the validity of an assumption frequently overlooked. Through the desulphurisation of fossil fuels, sulphur is invariably assigned a zero energy charge as originally assessed from Mudahar (1987). By applying the principles of an exergetic cradle-to-factory gate analysis sulphur will acquire a feedstock cost and the repercussions within the fertiliser industry are addressed.

Keywords: life cycle assessment; LCA; exergy; phosphorous; fertiliser industry; sulphur; desulphurisation; feedstock cost; phosphoric acid.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2007.012061

International Journal of Exergy, 2007 Vol.4 No.2, pp.117 - 133

Published online: 16 Jan 2007 *

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