| Author | Swan Yee Tun |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-26-22 |
| Subject(s) | Biochar--Thailand
Sustainable development--Thailand
|
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Environmental protection and sustainable development are increasingly critical due to climate change and air pollution driven by ineffective resources and waste management. In response to escalating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improper practices like open burning, it is essential to explore sustainable strategies to manage waste for future environmental protection. This study examines the environmental footprint of bamboo biochar derived from bamboo residues and applications in soil and as a cement replacement. The research followed the ISO 14040 and 14044 frameworks and applied openLCA software and ecoinvent V3.10 database for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of bamboo biochar system. Environmental footprint was evaluated for a defined functional unit of 1,000 kg of bamboo biochar production and application using ReCiPe 2016 (Hierarchical) and IPCC 2021 methods. Location-specific data from Thailand, based on a case study of the WongPhai Biochar Project in Prachinburi, were used in this research to identify environmental hotspots through contribution, sensitivity, and uncertainty analyses.The results indicate that both biochar pathways offer significant environmental advantages over open burning, which generates significant amounts of particulate matter (41.9 kg PM2.5 eq) and GHG emissions (966 kg CO2 eq). Bamboo biochar utilization contributes benefits, achieving net-negative Global Warming Potential (GWP) results (-1527 kg CO2 eq for soil application and -2255 kg CO2 eq for cement replacement). Hotspot analysis identified pyrolysis emissions as the primary driver for fine particulate matter formation as well as terrestrial acidification, while transportation logistics dominated fossil resource scarcity impact. In conclusion, bamboo biochar provides a significantly more sustainable alternative to open burning by changing waste into a valuable product for environmental benefits. It is recommended to integrate biochar systems into waste management frameworks and optimize supply chains by using locally available feedstock to minimize transport-related burdens. Furthermore, future production should implement appropriate pyrolysis reactors with emission controls to mitigate particulate matter. At the same time, researchers should expand system boundaries to include long-term soil dynamics and regional energy mixes. |
| Year | 2026 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering (2026) |
| Department | Other Field of Studies (No Department) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ghimire, Anish |
| Examination Committee(s) | Ekbordin Winijkul;Himanshu, Sushil Kumar |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | AIT Scholarship |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Sc.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2026 |
