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An economic and environmental assessment of guayule resin co-products for a US natural rubber industry

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dc.contributor.authorSilagy, Brooke, author
dc.contributor.authorReardon, Kenneth, advisor
dc.contributor.authorQuinn, Jason C., advisor
dc.contributor.authorKipper, Matthew, committee member
dc.contributor.authorBradley, Thomas, committee member
dc.date.accessioned2023-08-28T10:27:48Z
dc.date.available2023-08-28T10:27:48Z
dc.date.issued2023
dc.description.abstractGuayule (Parthenium argentatum) is a natural rubber producing desert shrub that has the potential to be grown in semi-arid areas with limited water resources. Numerous studies have examined the costs and environmental impacts associated with guayule rubber production. These studies identified the need for additional value from the rubber co-products, specifically the resin, for sustainable and commercial viability of the biorefinery concept. This study developed process models for resin-based essential oils, insect repellant, and adhesive co-products that are integrated with sustainability assessments to understand the commercial viability. A techno-economic analysis and cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of these three different co-product pathways assumed a facility processing 66 tonnes/day of resin (derived from the processing of 1428 tonnes per day of guayule biomass) and included resin separation through co-product formation. The evaluation outcomes were integrated into an established guayule rubber production model to assess the economic potential and environmental impact of the proposed guayule resin conversion concepts. The minimum selling price for rubber varied by co-product: $3.54 per kg for essential oil, $3.40 per kg for insect repellent, and $1.69 per kg for resin blend adhesive. The resin blend adhesive co-product pathway had the lowest greenhouse gas emissions. These findings show a pathway that supports the development of a biorefining concept based on resin-based adhesives that can catalyze a US based natural rubber industry.
dc.format.mediumborn digital
dc.format.mediummasters theses
dc.identifierSilagy_colostate_0053N_17853.pdf
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10217/236799
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoeng
dc.publisherColorado State University. Libraries
dc.relation.ispartof2020-
dc.rightsCopyright and other restrictions may apply. User is responsible for compliance with all applicable laws. For information about copyright law, please see https://libguides.colostate.edu/copyright.
dc.subjectdistillation
dc.subjectlife cycle assessment
dc.subjecttechno-economic analysis
dc.subjectguayule
dc.subjectaspen plus
dc.subjectresin
dc.titleAn economic and environmental assessment of guayule resin co-products for a US natural rubber industry
dc.typeText
dcterms.rights.dplaThis Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights (https://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/). You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
thesis.degree.disciplineChemical and Biological Engineering
thesis.degree.grantorColorado State University
thesis.degree.levelMasters
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Science (M.S.)

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