scholarly journals Sustainable Management of Organic Waste and Recycling for Bioplastics: A LCA Approach for the Italian Case Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6385
Author(s):  
Giuliana Vinci ◽  
Roberto Ruggieri ◽  
Andrea Billi ◽  
Carmine Pagnozzi ◽  
Maria Vittoria Di Loreto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Plastic Material ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Direct Consequence ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Ozone Formation ◽  
Organic Fraction ◽  
Italian Case ◽  
Fossil Resource

The collection of the organic fraction in Italy recorded significant growth in the decade 2010–2019 (+74%) due to both the increase in the spread of separate waste collection as well as the increase in the biological treatment plants of municipal waste. However, within the organic fraction there remains a share of non-compostable material (NCM) (plastic, glass, aluminum, etc.), equal to ~5% of the total, which affects the efficiency of composting practices as well as decreasing both the yield and the quality of the final compost, causing a portion of organic material to be subtracted from composting and ending up in landfills. Therefore, the purpose of this work is to evaluate how the sustainability of the organic fraction collection and the amount of compost obtained in the composting plants could improve, following the use of biodegradable and compostable bioplastic bags (shoppers), in replacement for conventional plastic ones. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Carbon Footprint (CF) methodology was used for the assessment, comparing two different scenarios based on data relating to the collection of the organic fraction in Italy in 2019. Scenario 1 relates to the composting of organic material that also contains plastics, bioplastics, and non-compostable materials, while in scenario 2 the share of plastic material in the first scenario has been entirely replaced by bioplastics. The results show that scenario 2 assumes the lowest values for 15 impact categories out of the 18 analyzed, and, among these, in three categories it assumes negative values: ozone formation-terrestrial ecosystems (−1.64 × 10−2 kg NOX eq), ozone formation-human health (−8.50 × 10−3 kg NOX eq), and fossil resource scarcity (−4.91 × 102 kg oil eq). Furthermore, scenario 2 has a negative carbon footprint (−3.80 kg CO2 eq) compared to scenario 1 (79.71 kg CO2 eq), and in general it is the most sustainable scenario as a direct consequence of the greater amount of compost obtained (307.4 kg vs. 269.2 kg).

Environmental impact assessment of organic fraction of municipal solid waste treatment by anaerobic digestion in Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
pp. 0734242X2110134
Author(s):  
Rasangika Thathsaranee Weligama Thuppahige ◽  
Sandhya Babel
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Municipal Solid Waste ◽  
Solid Waste ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Policy Formation ◽  
Ozone Formation ◽  
Organic Fraction ◽  
Management Options

The management of organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) has continued to be a significant challenge in Sri Lanka. Anaerobic digestion is one of the management options of OFMSW. However, it generates unavoidable environmental impacts that should be addressed. The present study focuses to assess the environmental impact of a full-scale anaerobic digestion plant in Sri Lanka from a life cycle perspective. The inventory data were obtained from direct interviews and field measurements. Environmental burdens were found to be in terms of global warming potential (230 kg CO2 eq) ozone formation on human health (6.15 × 10−6 kg NO x eq), freshwater eutrophication (2.92 × 10−3 kg P eq), freshwater ecotoxicity (9.27 × 10−5 kg 1,4 DCB eq), human carcinogenic toxicity (3.98 × 10−4 kg 1,4 DCB eq), land use (1.32 × 10−4 m2 a crop eq) and water consumption (2.23 × 10−2 m3). The stratospheric ozone depletion, fine particulate matter formation, ozone formation on terrestrial ecosystems, terrestrial acidification, marine eutrophication, ecotoxicity (terrestrial and marine), human non-carcinogenic toxicity, mineral resource scarcity and fossil resource scarcity, were avoided due to electricity production. Results show that the direct gaseous emissions and digestate generation should be addressed in order to reduce the burdens from the anaerobic digestion plant. Finally, the results of the study could help in policy formation and decision-making in selecting future waste management systems in Sri Lanka.

scholarly journals A novel source of atmospheric H<sub>2</sub>: abiotic degradation of organic material

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 8641-8662 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Lee ◽  
T. Rahn ◽  
H. L. Throop
Keyword(s):  
Atmospheric Chemistry ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Lignin Content ◽  
Stratospheric Ozone ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
H2 Production ◽  
Plant Litter ◽  
Pure Cellulose ◽  
Abiotic Degradation ◽  
Soil Atmosphere

Abstract. Molecular hydrogen (H2) plays an important role in atmospheric chemistry by competing for reactions with the hydroxyl radical (·OH) and contributing to the production of H2O in the stratosphere, indirectly influencing stratospheric ozone concentrations. The dominant pathway for loss of H2 from the atmosphere is via microbially-mediated soil uptake although the magnitude of this loss is still regarded as highly uncertain. Recent studies have shown that abiotic processes such as photochemically mediated degradation (photodegradation) of organic material result in direct emissions of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N)-based trace gases as well as H2. This H2 production has important implications on source-sink dynamics of H2 at the soil-atmosphere interface and thus it is important to quantify its variability over a range of plant types and materials. Here, we show quantitative observations of H2 production and its temperature dependence during abiotic degradation of four plant litter types as well as pure cellulose and high lignin content woody material. A greater amount of H2 was produced in the absence of solar radiation than from photodegradation alone, verifying that low temperature thermal degradation of plant litter is a source of H2. In addition, we measured a significant release of H2 in the absence of O2 in addition to H2 release in the presence of O2. Our results suggest that abiotic release of H2 during organic matter is ubiquitous in terrestrial ecosystems. We propose that because these processes occur at the soil-atmosphere interface, they provide a previously unaccounted for proximal source of H2 for microbial uptake and confound interpretation of direct measurements of atmospheric uptake that are important for constraining the global H2 budget.

Skeletal marrow volume in dog

1965 ◽  
Vol 209 (2) ◽  
pp. 340-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph K. Gong ◽  
J. S. Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Organic Material ◽  
Pelvic Girdle ◽  
Long Bones ◽  
Organic Fraction ◽  
Organic Fractions ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Skeletal Bone

A method for determining dog marrow volume was described. The skeletal bone was considered to be of three parts: trabecular and cortical bones and marrow, all containing water and nonfatty organic material. Fat and mineral fractions were considered to be exclusively of the marrow and bones, respectively. The marrow water and nonfatty organic fraction (each obtained by taking the difference in its amounts found in the trabecular plus cortical and skeletal bones) and all of the fat equals the marrow volume. The vertebrae were the major contributors to the total marrow, containing half of the over-all marrow water and nonfatty organic fractions. The long bones contained most of the fat. A large amount of fat was also found in the vertebrae, skull, and the pelvic girdle. The marrow content in individual skeletal bones ranged from 23.9% for the mandibles to 65.9% for the sternum. About 49% of the skeleton was marrow.

Surplus cost as a life cycle impact indicator for fossil resource scarcity

2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 872-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas C. Ponsioen ◽  
Marisa D. M. Vieira ◽  
Mark J. Goedkoop
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Impact Indicator ◽  
Fossil Resource ◽  
Life Cycle Impact

Carbon footprint of conventional and organic beef production systems: An Italian case study

2017 ◽  
Vol 576 ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Buratti ◽  
F. Fantozzi ◽  
M. Barbanera ◽  
E. Lascaro ◽  
M. Chiorri ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Footprint ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Beef Production ◽  
Italian Case

Sieving machines for smell reduction

2011 ◽  
pp. 601-604 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Pollex ◽  
Birgit Kerner ◽  
Rudolf Podolsky ◽  
Felix Czapla
Keyword(s):  
Organic Material ◽  
Organic Fraction ◽  
Modes Of Operation ◽  
Sugar Factory ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Mode Of Operation ◽  
In Series ◽  
Biogas Plants ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Settling Ponds

In September 2009, a facility was set up at the sugar factory in Nordstemmen to remove organic material contained in sugar factory waste water in order to reduce the odour of the settling ponds. Two sieving machines were installed in an empty soil settling pond. After a short start up period, around 200 t of material per day, containing approximately 10 t of pure organic material, were sieved out of the water. Two modes of operation (parallel and in series) were tested. There was a higher throughput in the operation in parallel but slightly lower separation of the organic material. A third mode of operation was an additional washing of the organic material. The washed organic material was studied in order to use the organic fraction as feed for biogas plants. The project helped to significantly reduce the smell, emitted from the soil settling ponds at Nordstemmen, over the following year.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Environmental and Economic Performance Analysis of Bagasse-Based Electricity in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (24) ◽  
pp. 10594
Author(s):  
Hafiz Usman Ghani ◽  
Awais Mahmood ◽  
Asmat Ullah ◽  
Shabbir H. Gheewala
Keyword(s):  
Economic Performance ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Impact Categories ◽  
Fine Particulate ◽  
Fossil Resource ◽  
Cradle To Gate ◽  
Environmental Burdens ◽  
Better Than

Bagasse-based electricity is gaining attention as an affordable, reliable, sustainable, and promising renewable energy source in Pakistan. Therefore, the focus of this analysis was to identify the environmental burdens associated with bagasse-based electricity production via high-pressure cogeneration. The scope of this study was defined as cradle to gate; involving cane production, cane transportation to the mill, the production of bagasse, and then the burning of bagasse in the cogeneration power plant to produce electricity. The overall results revealed that most of the impacts were contributed by the agricultural phase. For some impact categories—such as global warming, fine particulate matter formation, terrestrial acidification, and fossil resource scarcity—the bagasse-based electricity performed better than the grid mix electricity. However, the grid mix electricity performed better than the bagasse-based electricity in terms of eutrophication, land use, and water consumption. When considering the final damage, the bagasse-based electricity proved to be the favorable option in terms of human health and resource availability; however, ecosystem quality was poor in bagasse-based electricity. In terms of environmental prices, the bagasse-based electricity was found to be a promising option compared to the grid mix electricity.

scholarly journals Dockless E-Scooter: A Green Solution for Mobility? Comparative Case Study between Dockless E-Scooters, Displaced Transport, and Personal E-Scooters

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hélie Moreau ◽  
Loïc de Jamblinne de Meux ◽  
Vanessa Zeller ◽  
Pierre D’Ans ◽  
Coline Ruwet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Current System ◽  
Real Life ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Comparative Case Study ◽  
Mobility Patterns ◽  
Real Life Data ◽  
Product Service ◽  
Fossil Resource ◽  
Green Solution ◽  
The Impact

This study applies a life cycle assessment (LCA) to the shared dockless standing e-scooter system that is established in Brussels. The results are given for four impact categories: global warming potential (GWP), particulate matter formation, mineral resource, and fossil resource scarcity. Regarding GWP, the use of the shared e-scooters in the current system causes 131 g of CO2-eq. per passenger-kilometer while the mode of transportation displaced has an impact of 110 g of CO2-eq. Thus, at present, the use of e-scooters shows a higher impact than the transportation modes they replace. The high results for the shared e-scooter, in terms of GWP, are mainly caused by the short lifespan of the shared e-scooter. Nevertheless, as the market further matures, the lifespan of e-scooters could increase and the impact per kilometer travelled could decrease accordingly. Regarding the use of the personal e-scooter, the LCA results show an impact of around 67 g of CO2-eq. This study quantifies the LC impacts of the current situation based on local, ‘real-life’ data. However, potential changes on soft mobility patterns induced by the use-oriented product-service system (PSS), such as a shared e-scooter system, could not be quantified.

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