scholarly journals Life Cycle Impact Assessment and Approaches for Reducing the Environmental Impact of Each Type of Container

2011 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 264-273
Author(s):  
Yumi YOSHIMURA ◽  
Ikuo KOMATSU ◽  
Norihiro ITSUBO
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle Impact Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle Impact

scholarly journals Life cycle impact assessment of biofuels derived from sweet sorghum in the U.S.

2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Karla G. Morrissey ◽  
Greg Thoma ◽  
Dora E. López
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle Impact Assessment ◽  
Sweet Sorghum ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Direct Injection ◽  
Juice Extraction ◽  
Life Cycle Impact ◽  
Petroleum Fuels

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to evaluate the environmental impact of the production of a range of liquid biofuels produced from the combination of fermenting sorghum stalk juice (bioethanol) and the pyrolysis/hydrotreatment of residual bagasse (renewable gasoline and diesel). Life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) was performed on a farm-to-wheels system that included: (i) sorghum farming, (ii) juice extraction, (iii) juice fermenting, (iv) bagasse pretreatment, (v) bagasse thermochemical treatment (pyrolysis, hydroprocessing, and steam reforming), and (vi) typical passenger vehicle operation. LCIA results were compared to those of petroleum fuels providing the equivalent functional unit—cumulative kilometers driven by spark ignition direct injection (SIDI) vehicles utilizing either renewable gasoline or ‘bioE85—a blend of bioethanol and renewable gasoline,’ and a compression ignition direct injection (CIDI) vehicle utilizing renewable diesel produced from 76 tons of harvested sweet sorghum (1 ha). Results Sweet sorghum biofuels resulted in a 48% reduction climate change impact and a 52% reduction in fossil fuel depletion. Additionally, reduced impacts in ozone depletion and eutrophication were found (67% and 47%, respectively). Petroleum fuels had lower impacts for the categories of non-carcinogenic health impact, smog, respiratory effects, and ecotoxicity, showing tradeoffs between sorghum and petroleum fuels. Conclusion Overall, sorghum biofuels provide advantages in environmental impact categories including global warming potential, fossil fuel depletion and eutrophication, showing potential for sorghum as a promising second-generation feedstock for fuel.

scholarly journals Comparative Life Cycle Impact Assessment between the Productions of Zinc from Conventional Concentrates Versus Waelz Oxides Obtained from Slags

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 580
Author(s):  
Voicu-Teodor Muica ◽  
Alexandru Ozunu ◽  
Zoltàn Török
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Impact Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle Impact Assessment ◽  
Fine Tuning ◽  
Process Data ◽  
Medicinal Uses ◽  
Zinc Metal ◽  
Real Process ◽  
Life Cycle Impact

(1) Background: The importance of Zinc in today’s world can hardly be exaggerated—from anticorrosion properties, to its durability, aesthetic, and even medicinal uses—zinc is ever-present in our daily lives ever since its discovery in ancient times. The natural, essential, durable, and recyclable features of zinc make it a prized material with uses in many applications across a wide array of fields. The purpose of this study was to compare two life cycle impact assessments of zinc production by using two different main raw materials: (A) zinc concentrates (sulfide ore) and (B) Waelz oxides (obtained through recycling existing imperial smelting process furnace slags). The Waelz oxide scenario was based on a case study regarding the existing slag deposit located in Copsa Mica town, Sibiu county, Romania. (2) Methods: consequential life cycle impact assessment methods were applied to each built system, with real process data obtained from the case study enterprise. (3) Results: Overall, the use of slags in the Waelz kiln to produce zinc oxides for use in the production of zinc metal is beneficial to the environment in some areas (acidification, water, and terrestrial eutrophication), whereas in other areas it has a slightly larger impact (climate change, photochemical ozone formation, and ozone depletion). (4) Conclusions: The use of slags (considered a waste) is encouraged to produce zinc metal, where available. The results are not absolute, suggesting the further need for fine-tuning the input data and other process parameters.

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