scholarly journals A Review on the Life Cycle Assessment of Cellulose: From Properties to the Potential of Making It a Low Carbon Material

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 714
Author(s):  
Firoozeh Foroughi ◽  
Erfan Rezvani Ghomi ◽  
Fatemeh Morshedi Dehaghi ◽  
Ramadan Borayek ◽  
Seeram Ramakrishna
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Material ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Environmental Aspects ◽  
Plastic Pollution ◽  
Cellulose Production ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
By Products

The huge plastic production and plastic pollution are considered important global issues due to environmental aspects. One practical and efficient way to address them is to replace fossil-based plastics with natural-based materials, such as cellulose. The applications of different cellulose products have recently received increasing attention because of their desirable properties, such as biodegradability and sustainability. In this regard, the current study initially reviews cellulose products’ properties in three categories, including biopolymers based on the cellulose-derived monomer, cellulose fibers and their derivatives, and nanocellulose. The available life cycle assessments (LCA) for cellulose were comprehensively reviewed and classified at all the stages, including extraction of cellulose in various forms, manufacturing, usage, and disposal. Finally, due to the development of low-carbon materials in recent years and the importance of greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, the proposed solutions to make cellulose a low carbon material were made. The optimization of the cellulose production process, such as the recovery of excessive solvents and using by-products as inputs for other processes, seem to be the most important step toward making it a low carbon material.

scholarly journals The Life Cycle Assessment for Polylactic Acid (PLA) to Make It a Low-Carbon Material

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1854
Author(s):  
Erfan Rezvani Rezvani Ghomi ◽  
Fatemeh Khosravi ◽  
Ali Saedi Saedi Ardahaei ◽  
Yunqian Dai ◽  
Rasoul Esmaeely Neisiany ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Polylactic Acid ◽  
Carbon Material ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Chemical Properties ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Global Concern ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

The massive plastic production worldwide leads to a global concern for the pollution made by the plastic wastes and the environmental issues associated with them. One of the best solutions is replacing the fossil-based plastics with bioplastics. Bioplastics such as polylactic acid (PLA) are biodegradable materials with less greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. PLA is a biopolymer produced from natural resources with good mechanical and chemical properties, therefore, it is used widely in packaging, agriculture, and biomedical industries. PLA products mostly end up in landfills or composting. In this review paper, the existing life cycle assessments (LCA) for PLA were comprehensively reviewed and classified. According to the LCAs, the energy and materials used in the whole life cycle of PLA were reported. Finally, the GHG emissions of PLA in each stage of its life cycle, including feedstock acquisition and conversion, manufacturing of PLA products, the PLA applications, and the end of life (EoL) options, were described. The most energy-intensive stage in the life cycle of PLA is its conversion. By optimizing the conversion process of PLA, it is possible to make it a low-carbon material with less dependence on energy sources.

scholarly journals Thermal system-specific and net-zero carbon least-cost design of new houses in Canadian cold climates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Wilbur
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Heat Pump ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Zero Carbon

Whole-building model optimizations have been performed for a single-detached house in 5 locations with varying climates, electricity emissions factors, and energy costs. The multi-objective optimizations determine the life-cycle cost vs. operational greenhouse gas emissions Pareto front to discover the 30-year life-cycle least-cost building design heated 1) with natural gas, and 2) electrically using a) central air-source heat pump, b) ductless mini-split heat pump c)ground-source heat pump, and d) electric baseboard, accounting for both initial and operational energy-related costs. A net-zero carbon design with grid-tied photovoltaics is also optimized. Results indicate that heating system type influences the optimal enclosure design, and that neither building total energy use, nor space heating demand correspond to GHG emissions across heating system types. In each location, at least one type of all-electric design has a lower life-cycle cost than the optimized gas-heated model, and such designs can mitigate the majority of operational GHG emissions from new housing in locations with a low carbon intensity electricity supply.

scholarly journals Willow Biomass Crops Are a Carbon Negative or Low-Carbon Feedstock Depending on Prior Land Use and Transportation Distances to End Users

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 4251
Author(s):  
Sheng Yang ◽  
Timothy Volk ◽  
Marie-Odile Fortier
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Organic Carbon ◽  
Soil Organic Carbon ◽  
Biomass Production ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Return On Investment ◽  
Growing Conditions ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Few life cycle assessments (LCAs) on willow biomass production have investigated the effects of key geographically specific parameters. This study uses a spatial LCA model for willow biomass production to determine spatially explicit greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and energy return on investment (EROI), including land use conversion from pasture and cropland or grassland. There were negative GHG emissions on 92% of the land identified as suitable for willow biomass production, indicating this system’s potential for climate change mitigation. For willow planted on cropland or pasture, life cycle GHG emissions ranged from −53.2 to −176.9 kg CO2eq Mg-1. When willow was grown on grassland the projected decrease in soil organic carbon resulted in a slightly positive GHG balance. Changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) associated with land use change, transportation distance, and willow yield had the greatest impacts on GHG emissions. Results from the uncertainty analysis exhibited large variations in GHG emissions between counties arising from differences in these parameters. The average EROI across the entire region was 19.2. Willow biomass can be a carbon negative or low-carbon energy source with a high EROI in regions with similar infrastructure, transportation distances, and growing conditions such as soil characteristics, land cover types, and climate.

scholarly journals Improving Robustness of LCA Results Through Stakeholder Engagement: A Case Study of Emerging Oil Sands Technologies

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Sleep ◽  
Zainab Dadashi ◽  
yuanlei chen ◽  
Adam R. Brandt ◽  
Heather L. MacLean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Oil Sands ◽  
Emerging Technologies ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Steam Assisted Gravity Drainage ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Stakeholder Input ◽  
Using Data

Life cycle assessments can help to inform decision-making about greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction opportunities but are often not embraced by stakeholders associated with industries where study results are highly scrutinized and often contentious. This project was motivated by stakeholder interest in understanding open source life cycle models (the Oil Production Greenhouse Gas Emissions Estimator, OPGEE, and the Petroleum Refinery Life Cycle Inventory Model, PRELIM) and how accurately they can estimate emissions for existing oil sands projects and emerging technologies. We evaluate the robustness of these models and improve them using data from three existing oil sands projects (mining + upgrading, mining + dilution, and steam assisted gravity drainage, SAGD, + dilution). The models are then applied to estimate the GHG emissions reduction potential for two emerging in situ oil sands technologies. We find that, when boundaries are aligned, OPGEE can generate upstream GHG emissions estimates for the projects modeled within 1-4% of company reported GHG emissions data. Extending the boundary to include indirect (life cycle) emissions can lead to a doubling in upstream GHG emissions intensity. The two emerging technologies evaluated in the study can reduce upstream emissions by 14-19% compared to a SAGD project operating at the same reservoir, or 1.4-1.9% on a well-to-wheel basis. This work contributes a revised process of conducting LCAs that includes stakeholder input throughout and results in more robust and transparent estimations of emissions from deploying existing and emerging technologies.<br>

scholarly journals A Colorado-specific life cycle assessment model to support evaluation of low-carbon transportation fuels and policy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Somers ◽  
Liaw Batan ◽  
Baha Al-Alawi ◽  
Thomas H. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Transportation System ◽  
Assessment Model ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Transportation Fuels ◽  
Transportation Sector ◽  
Clean Fuels

Abstract The transportation sector accounts for over 20 percent of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in Colorado which without intervention will grow to over 30 million metric tons (MMT) of GHG emissions per year. This study seeks to develop a specific characterization of the Colorado fuel and transportation system using a customized life cycle assessment (LCA) model. The model (CO-GT) was developed as an analytical tool to define Colorado’s 2020 baseline life cycle GHG emissions for the transportation sector, and to examine Colorado-specific pathways for GHG reductions through fuel types and volumes changes that might be associated with a state clean fuel standard (CFS). By developing a life cycle assessment of transportation fuels that is specific to the state of Colorado’s geography, fleet makeup, policies, energy sector and more, these tools can evaluate various proposals for the transition towards a more sustainable state transportation system. The results of this study include a quantification of the Colorado-specific roles of clean fuels, electricity, extant policies, and fleet transition in projections of the state’s 2030 transportation sector GHG emissions. Relative to a 2020 baseline, electrification of the vehicle fleet is found to reduce state-wide lifecycle GHG emissions by 7.7 MMT CO2e by 2030, and a model CFS policy able to achieve similar reductions in the carbon intensity of clean fuels as was achieved by California in the first 10 years of its CFS policies is found to only reduce state-wide lifecycle GHG emissions by 0.2 MMT CO2e by 2030. These results illustrate the insensitivity of Colorado’s transportation fleet GHG emissions reductions to the presence of CFS policies, as proposed to date.

scholarly journals Thermal system-specific and net-zero carbon least-cost design of new houses in Canadian cold climates

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brandon Wilbur
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Heat Pump ◽  
Life Cycle Cost ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Heating System ◽  
Carbon Intensity ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Zero Carbon

Whole-building model optimizations have been performed for a single-detached house in 5 locations with varying climates, electricity emissions factors, and energy costs. The multi-objective optimizations determine the life-cycle cost vs. operational greenhouse gas emissions Pareto front to discover the 30-year life-cycle least-cost building design heated 1) with natural gas, and 2) electrically using a) central air-source heat pump, b) ductless mini-split heat pump c)ground-source heat pump, and d) electric baseboard, accounting for both initial and operational energy-related costs. A net-zero carbon design with grid-tied photovoltaics is also optimized. Results indicate that heating system type influences the optimal enclosure design, and that neither building total energy use, nor space heating demand correspond to GHG emissions across heating system types. In each location, at least one type of all-electric design has a lower life-cycle cost than the optimized gas-heated model, and such designs can mitigate the majority of operational GHG emissions from new housing in locations with a low carbon intensity electricity supply.

scholarly journals Comprehensive Evaluation of Carbon Emissions for the Development of High-Rise Residential Building

Buildings ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Yim ◽  
S. Ng ◽  
M. Hossain ◽  
James Wong
Keyword(s):  
Hong Kong ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Comprehensive Evaluation ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Residential Building ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Residential Housing ◽  
High Rise ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

Despite the fact that many novel initiatives have been put forward to reduce the carbon emissions of buildings, there is still a lack of comprehensive investigation in analyzing a buildings’ life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, especially in high-density cities. In addition, no studies have made attempt to evaluate GHG emissions by considering the whole life cycle of buildings in Hong Kong. Knowledge of localized emission at different stages is critical, as the emission varies greatly in different regions. Without a reliable emission level of buildings, it is difficult to determine which aspects can reduce the life cycle GHG emissions. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the life cycle GHG emissions of buildings by considering “cradle-to-grave” system boundary, with a case-specific high-rise residential housing block as a representative public housing development in Hong Kong. The results demonstrated that the life cycle GHG emission of the case residential building was 4980 kg CO2e/m2. The analysis showed that the majority (over 86%) of the emission resulted from the use phase of the building including renovation. The results and analysis presented in this study can help the relevant parties in designing low carbon and sustainable residential development in the future.

Life-cycle assessment as an environmental management tool in the production of potable water

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (9) ◽  
pp. 29-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Friedrich
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Ozone Depletion ◽  
Membrane Filtration ◽  
Potable Water ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Environmental Burdens ◽  
By Products

The environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used in this study to calculate and compare the environmental burdens resulting from two different methods employed in the production of potable water in South Africa. One method employs conventional processes for the treatment of water and the other one is based on membrane filtration. All inputs (raw materials and energy) and outputs (products, by-products and emissions to air, water and soil) from the two methods were listed and quantified. These inputs and outputs cause different environmental impacts (global warming, ozone depletion, smog formation, acidification, nutrient enrichment, ecotoxicity and human toxicity) and the contribution of each method to each of these impact categories has been quantified, resulting in a score. The ISO (International Organisation for Standardisation) methodological framework for life cycle assessments guided this study. By using these methodologies and by tracing all the processes involved in the production of potable water to the interface with the environment, it was found that the main contributor to the overall environmental burden is the generation of electricity. This conclusion is valid for both methods investigated and in order to increase the environmental performance in the production of potable water the energy efficiency of waterworks should be increased.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessments on Battery Electric Vehicles and Electrolytic Hydrogen: The Need for Calculation Rules and Better Databases on Electricity

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 5250
Author(s):  
Roberta Olindo ◽  
Nathalie Schmitt ◽  
Joost Vogtländer
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Nuclear Power ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Daily Basis ◽  
Emission Data ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Electric Cars ◽  
Electrolytic Hydrogen ◽  
Electricity Mix

LCAs of electric cars and electrolytic hydrogen production are governed by the consumption of electricity. Therefore, LCA benchmarking is prone to choices on electricity data. There are four issues: (1) leading Life Cycle Impact (LCI) databases suffer from inconvenient uncertainties and inaccuracies, (2) electricity mix in countries is rapidly changing, year after year, (3) the electricity mix is strongly fluctuating on an hourly and daily basis, which requires time-based allocation approaches, and (4) how to deal with nuclear power in benchmarking. This analysis shows that: (a) the differences of the GHG emissions of the country production mix in leading databases are rather high (30%), (b) in LCA, a distinction must be made between bundled and unbundled registered electricity certificates (RECs) and guarantees of origin (GOs); the residual mix should not be applied in LCA because of its huge inaccuracy, (c) time-based allocation rules for renewables are required to cope with periods of overproduction, (d) benchmarking of electricity is highly affected by the choice of midpoints and/or endpoint systems, and (e) there is an urgent need for a new LCI database, based on measured emission data, continuously kept up-to-date, transparent, and open access.

Environmental impact of insect rearing.

2021 ◽  
pp. 53-59
Author(s):  
Dennis G. A. B. Oonincx
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Fossil Fuel ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Climate Control ◽  
Life Cycle Assessments ◽  
Insect Rearing ◽  
The Eu

Abstract This chapter discusses the environmental impact of insect rearing. Direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from insects used as feed or food are discussed and data from life cycle assessments (LCAs) on commercially farmed insects are discussed per species. The relevance of the utilized feed on the environmental impact of insects and their derived products, including suggestions to lower this impact are also discussed. It is concluded that land use associated with insect production generally seems low, compared to conventional feed and food products. The EU (expressed as fossil fuel depletion) of insect production is often high compared to conventional products. To a large extent this is because several LCAs have been conducted for systems in temperate climates, which require extensive climate control.

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