Life Cycle Assessment of Processing Crab Shells into Chitosan, Liquid Organic Fertilizer, and Animal Feed – A Case Study in Karawang Regency, Indonesia

Abstract

Crab is an exotic marine fishery commodity whose demand is increasing significantly in Indonesia. However, the industry also produces much waste in the form of crab shells, reaching 52.59% of its total weight. This waste (often called by-product) can be processed into several products with economic value such as chitosan, liquid organic fertilizer, and animal feed. This study assesses the environmental impact of crab shells processed into chitosan, liquid organic fertilizer, and animal feed. The study was carried out using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach with cradle-to-gate scope. The environmental impacts were observed consisting of some aspects such as Global Warming Potentials (GWP), Acidification Potentials (AP), Eutrophication Potentials (EP), and Cumulative Energy Demand (CED). The three-alternative utilization of crab shells produces environmental impacts resulting from fishing, transportation, and processing of the crab shells into these products. Afterward, the results of this study indicate that the crab shells processed into liquid fertilizer have the highest emission according to the GWP, AP, and CED values compared to the other by-product alternatives (i.e., chitosan and fertilizer). Whilst, the highest EP is produced by the processing of CS-based animal feed. These results can potentially become a consideration in making environmental policy by the local government, especially in Karawang Region.

Keywords

• acidification
• global warming
• crab shells
• cumulative energy demand
• eutrophication
• life cycle assessment