Influence of Cocoa Bean Husk and Coffee Husk Composition on Bio-oil Yield and Life Cycle Assessment in Fast Pyrolysis

Cocoa beans and coffee husks, abundant and calorific biomass resources, hold significant promise. Fast pyrolysis offers a pathway to extract high-value products from these sources. Leveraging biomass aligns with UN Sustainable Development Goals, promoting health, sanitation, and clean water by curbing landfill waste, while also facilitating affordable clean energy from pyrolysis by-products. This approach contributes to a circular economy, fostering industry innovation and infrastructure development in developing nations, ultimately reducing poverty. This study employs Aspen Plus software to simulate steady-state circulating fluidized bed pyrolysis of cocoa bean and coffee husks, comparing bio-oil yield and composition across four scenarios. Examining cellulose, lignin, ash, and moisture content for each biomass feedstock, the research reveals the significance of the cellulose-to-lignin ratio in bio-oil yield. Coffee husks emerge as more promising than cocoa bean husks due to enhanced levoglucosan formation. Furthermore, environmental impact assessments using OPEN LCA software, aligned with ISO 14040 and 14044 standards, demonstrate that higher yields result in lower CO2eq emissions. This multifaceted approach underscores the potential of these biomass resources in advancing sustainable development and mitigating environmental impact.