Greenhouse gas emissions in the life cycle of ethanol: estimation in agriculture and industrialization stages in Minas Gerais, Brazil

This research presents an estimate of greenhouse gas emissions (CO2, CH4 e N2O) in the stages of agriculture and sugarcane industrialization for the production of ethanol in mills located in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Life Cycle Assessment principles were considered in the quantification of emissions. The use of fuels, agricultural inputs, N2O emissions on soil, sugarcane burning emissions and use of chemical products of 11 mills were considered in this study. The results show a total emission of 1,539.60 kg CO(2)eq/ha.year, considering as the main key sources: sugarcane burning and use of fuels, which account for more than 50% of the total emissions.