Life Cycle Assessment of Pyrolysis-Derived Biochar From Organic Wastes and Advanced Feedstocks

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Hersh ◽  
Amin Mirkouei
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Energy Requirement ◽  
Irrigation Management ◽  
Organic Wastes ◽  
Process Efficiency ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Pyrolysis Process ◽  
Environmental Implications

Abstract Recent interest in reducing stress on the food-energy-water (FEW) nexus requires the use of renewable, organic products that can subsequently address environmental sustainability concerns, such as mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. Pyrolysis-derived biochar from organic wastes (e.g., nutrient-rich agricultural wastes and leftovers, forest harvest residues, and cattle manure) and advanced feedstocks (e.g., algae) is capable of addressing ever-increasing global FEW concerns. Biochar water-nutrient holding capacity and carbon sequestration are key attributes for improving organic farming and irrigation management. The major challenge to commercialize biochar production from organic wastes is the conversion process. Pyrolysis process is a cost-effective and successful approach in comparison to other conversion technologies (e.g., gasification) due to low energy requirement and capital cost, as well as high process efficiency and biochar quality. To determine the environmental impacts of the biochar production process, an analysis of the material, energy, and emission flows of a small-scale pyrolysis process is conducted for a real case study, using life cycle assessment method with the assistance of available life cycle inventory databases within OpenLCA software. The results demonstrate that this study is able to enhance sustainability aspects across FEW systems by (a) employing a portable refinery to address upstream challenges (i.e., collection, transportation, and preprocessing) of waste-to-biochar life cycle, (b) recycling domestic forest and agricultural residues (e.g., pine wood), (c) producing organic biochar-derived soil conditioners that can improve organic cropping and FEW systems. Ultimately, we conclude by discussing techno-economic and socio-environmental implications of biochar production from organic wastes and advanced feedstocks.

scholarly journals Conversion of biomass to biofuels and life cycle assessment: a review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmed I. Osman ◽  
Neha Mehta ◽  
Ahmed M. Elgarahy ◽  
Amer Al-Hinai ◽  
Ala’a H. Al-Muhtaseb ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Demand ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Biomass Conversion ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Process Efficiency ◽  
Liquid Fuels ◽  
Thermochemical Processes ◽  
Lower Temperature

AbstractThe global energy demand is projected to rise by almost 28% by 2040 compared to current levels. Biomass is a promising energy source for producing either solid or liquid fuels. Biofuels are alternatives to fossil fuels to reduce anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions. Nonetheless, policy decisions for biofuels should be based on evidence that biofuels are produced in a sustainable manner. To this end, life cycle assessment (LCA) provides information on environmental impacts associated with biofuel production chains. Here, we review advances in biomass conversion to biofuels and their environmental impact by life cycle assessment. Processes are gasification, combustion, pyrolysis, enzymatic hydrolysis routes and fermentation. Thermochemical processes are classified into low temperature, below 300 °C, and high temperature, higher than 300 °C, i.e. gasification, combustion and pyrolysis. Pyrolysis is promising because it operates at a relatively lower temperature of up to 500 °C, compared to gasification, which operates at 800–1300 °C. We focus on 1) the drawbacks and advantages of the thermochemical and biochemical conversion routes of biomass into various fuels and the possibility of integrating these routes for better process efficiency; 2) methodological approaches and key findings from 40 LCA studies on biomass to biofuel conversion pathways published from 2019 to 2021; and 3) bibliometric trends and knowledge gaps in biomass conversion into biofuels using thermochemical and biochemical routes. The integration of hydrothermal and biochemical routes is promising for the circular economy.

scholarly journals Engineering Design Process of Face Masks Based on Circularity and Life Cycle Assessment in the Constraint of the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 4948
Author(s):  
Núria Boix Rodríguez ◽  
Giovanni Formentini ◽  
Claudio Favi ◽  
Marco Marconi
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
New Device ◽  
Engineering Design Process ◽  
Life Cycle Perspective ◽  
Different Types ◽  
3D Printed ◽  
Negative Impacts

Face masks are currently considered key equipment to protect people against the COVID-19 pandemic. The demand for such devices is considerable, as is the amount of plastic waste generated after their use (approximately 1.6 million tons/day since the outbreak). Even if the sanitary emergency must have the maximum priority, environmental concerns require investigation to find possible mitigation solutions. The aim of this work is to develop an eco-design actions guide that supports the design of dedicated masks, in a manner to reduce the negative impacts of these devices on the environment during the pandemic period. Toward this aim, an environmental assessment based on life cycle assessment and circularity assessment (material circularity indicator) of different types of masks have been carried out on (i) a 3D-printed mask with changeable filters, (ii) a surgical mask, (iii) an FFP2 mask with valve, (iv) an FFP2 mask without valve, and (v) a washable mask. Results highlight how reusable masks (i.e., 3D-printed masks and washable masks) are the most sustainable from a life cycle perspective, drastically reducing the environmental impacts in all categories. The outcomes of the analysis provide a framework to derive a set of eco-design guidelines which have been used to design a new device that couples protection requirements against the virus and environmental sustainability.

scholarly journals A partial life cycle assessment approach to evaluate the energy intensity and related greenhouse gas emission in dairy farms

2013 ◽  
Vol 44 (2s) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lelia Murgia ◽  
Giuseppe Todde ◽  
Maria Caria ◽  
Antonio Pazzona
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Milk Production ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Greenhouse Gas Emission ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Dairy Farming ◽  
Feeding Management

Dairy farming is constantly evolving towards more intensive levels of mechanization and automation which demand more energy consumption and result in higher economic and environmental costs. The usage of fossil energy in agricultural processes contributes to climate change both with on-farm emissions from the combustion of fuels, and by off-farm emissions due to the use of grid power. As a consequence, a more efficient use of fossil resources together with an increased use of renewable energies can play a key role for the development of more sustainable production systems. The aims of this study were to evaluate the energy requirements (fuels and electricity) in dairy farms, define the distribution of the energy demands among the different farm operations, identify the critical point of the process and estimate the amount of CO2 associated with the energy consumption. The inventory of the energy uses has been outlined by a partial Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach, setting the system boundaries at the farm level, from cradle to farm gate. All the flows of materials and energy associated to milk production process, including crops cultivation for fodder production, were investigated in 20 dairy commercial farms over a period of one year. Self-produced energy from renewable sources was also accounted as it influence the overall balance of emissions. Data analysis was focused on the calculation of energy and environmental sustainability indicators (EUI, CO2-eq) referred to the functional units. The production of 1 kg of Fat and Protein Corrected Milk (FPCM) required on average 0.044 kWhel and 0.251 kWhth, corresponding to a total emission of 0.085 kg CO2-eq). The farm activities that contribute most to the electricity requirements were milk cooling, milking and slurry management, while feeding management and crop cultivation were the greatest diesel fuel consuming operation and the largest in terms of environmental impact of milk production (73% of energy CO2-eq emissions). The results of the study can assist in the development of dairy farming models based on a more efficient and profitable use of the energy resources.

Current limits of life cycle assessment framework in evaluating environmental sustainability – case of two evolving biofuel technologies

2013 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 215-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Holma ◽  
Kati Koponen ◽  
Riina Antikainen ◽  
Laurent Lardon ◽  
Pekka Leskinen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Assessment Framework

Life cycle assessment of volatile fatty acids production from protein- and carbohydrate-rich organic wastes

2021 ◽  
Vol 321 ◽  
pp. 124528
Author(s):  
José-Luis Gálvez-Martos ◽  
Silvia Greses ◽  
Jose-Antonio Magdalena ◽  
Diego Iribarren ◽  
Elia Tomás-Pejó ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Organic Wastes

scholarly journals Life cycle assessment of biogas digester in small scale tapioca industry

2019 ◽  
Vol 258 ◽  
pp. 012017
Author(s):  
D Cahyani ◽  
A Haryanto ◽  
G A Putra ◽  
R Fil’aini ◽  
D S S Marpaung
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Small Scale

Systems Analysis and Life-Cycle Assessment for energy and environmental sustainability

2020 ◽  
Vol 317 ◽  
pp. 123988 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edgard Gnansounou ◽  
Murthy S. Ganti ◽  
Anoop Singh ◽  
Benoit Gabrielle
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Systems Analysis
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