Application of Material and Energy Flow Analysis in the Early Stages of Biotechnical Process Development - A Case Study

Biotechnical technologies are often viewed as generally green processes, since they operate at low temperatures and pressures. However, as shown by various comparative studies of chemical and biotechnical engineering processes, this view cannot be generalized. It is clear that sustainable assessment should be carried out in the early stages of process development, since these stages have a major influence on the economic and ecological performance of processes later at the industrial scale. One option to use as a basis for evaluating the potential advantages to developing a biotechnical process can be a material and energy flow analysis (MEFA) at an early stage. This article provides an understanding of MEFA in general and illustrates its successful application by means of two case studies.