Optimizing Waste Biomass Material Selection for Sustainable Development Using MCDM Techniques: VIKOR, PROMETHEE, and MOORA Approaches

Abstract

The sustainable selection of waste biomass materials plays a crucial role in developing renewable energy resources and minimizing environmental impacts. This study undertakes a comprehensive, data-driven evaluation of four prominent waste biomass options—Coconut Shell, Cotton Stalk, Sawdust, and Wheat Straw—leveraging the analytical robustness of three established multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) methods: VIKOR, PROMETHEE, and MOORA. Key selection criteria, comprising volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content, moisture content, and calorific value, were uniformly weighted to ensure an objective and balanced assessment across all alternatives. Each MCDM approach was systematically applied, generating individual rankings for all candidates. The analysis identified Coconut Shell as the consistently preferred material, demonstrating superior performance in terms of high fixed carbon and calorific value combined with low ash and moisture levels. Cotton Stalk also showed strong suitability, frequently ranking in the top two positions depending on the method employed. In contrast, Sawdust exhibited moderate utility, and Wheat Straw consistently appeared as the least favorable choice due to its suboptimal physical and energetic properties. The broad convergence of rankings across the three decision-making frameworks reinforces the reliability and validity of the findings. These results affirm Coconut Shell’s position as the optimal waste biomass material for sustainable development, providing a nuanced, evidence-based foundation for resource prioritization in the context of renewable energy initiatives and bio resource strategy formulation. The study’s rigorous methodology offers stakeholders a transparent and replicable template for evaluating diverse biomass resources under multi-dimensional sustainability criteria.