1,721,016 research outputs found
Energy from waste biomass: an LCA study on a biofuel cell at early design stage
No full textDiversifying energy sources and managing waste biomass are two pressing contemporary issues. The new technology proposed in this study aims to address both by converting waste biomass into energy and fertilizer through the use of a biofuel cell (BFC). The purpose of this study is to assess the environmental impacts associated with this innovative technology through a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). To achieve the goal, the production and use of the cell were modelled, considering both laboratory-scale operations and industrial-scale approximations. The study explored alternative scenarios, such as sensitivity analyses involving different acids and bases, renewable energy sources, and heat recovery. Comparisons with conventional biomass waste treatments (anaerobic digestion and composting) demonstrated that the BFC technology remains competitive. To further improve the BFC’s environmental footprint, efforts should focus on reducing energy requirements and enhancing nutrient recovery during scale-up. These insights are crucial for advancing sustainable waste treatment technologies and maximizing the potential of discarded biomass in an environmentally friendly manner
Comparison of different chemical processes from a life cycle perspective
No full textLife Cycle Assessment methodology was applied to the industrial sector, with the aim to evaluate the environmental sustainability of different chemical processes. In particular, the ammoxidation reaction to produce acrylonitrile was chosen as a case study, comparing the environmental loads of the traditional process (SOHIO) with the alternative routes starting from propane on the base of the same amount of acrylonitrile produced (1 kg). Information reported on patents, and data collected on Ecoinvent 2.2 database were used to create each ammoxidation scenario in SimaPro 7.3.3 software. The system boundaries of the study include the main production stages on industrial scale: reaction flows, heat exchange, raw materials for catalyst manufacture, the main plant emissions and transportation phase. The comparison was carried out using ReCiPe 2008 method, expressing results in terms of midpoint impact categories, as: climate change (both damage on human health and on ecosystem), particulate matter formation, fossil fuel depletion and metal depletion. Results show how the alternative routes starting from propane seem to have higher potential impact than the traditional SOHIO process, due to the lower catalysts activity. Also, to quantify the environmental load of ammoxidation processes a comparison with other common chemical industrial productions was done. This simplified approach is able to show the environmental impacts of the ammoxidation scenarios in a broader industrial context. © Copyright 2014, AIDIC Servizi S.r.l
Advantages and drawbacks of life cycle assessment application to the pharmaceuticals: a short critical literature review
Full text linkPharmaceuticals are among the most challenging products to assess by life cycle assessment (LCA). The main drawback highlighted by LCA practitioners is the lack of inventory data, both regarding the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) precursors (upstream) and the details concerning the downstream phases (use and end of life). A short critical review of pharma-LCAs found in the literature is here proposed, with discussion of several tools and models used to predict the environmental impacts derived from the life cycle of pharmaceuticals, emphasizing current strengths and weaknesses, and exploring the possibilities for improvements. The case of antibiotics is selected as a representative class of pharmaceuticals, due to their massive use worldwide and the growing related issue of antimicrobial resistance enrichment, which is generally not included in most of LCAs. Also, we comment on drafting product category rules (PCRs) in the relevant field to develop standard methodologies and enhance the comparability of the studies, ultimately advocating collaboration with companies and improving inventory data quality and availability for the whole value chain of products
Datasets on LCA of Precious Metals Recovery: Modelling the Secondary Supply of Gold, Silver, Platinum, Palladium and Rhodium from an Integrated Refining Plant
No full textThe data set contains life cycle inventory, Pedigree data quality matrix, and life cycle impact assessment results from LCA applied to the recovery of gold, silver, platinum, palladium and rhodium from an integrated refining plant, located in Northern Italy and treating heterogeneous waste inflows such as production scrap, spent catalysts, liquid waste and incineration ash
Sustainability of a bio-waste treatment plant: Impact evolution resulting from technological improvements
No full textThe aim of this work is to evaluate how the environmental impacts of the Romagna Compost composting plant (central Italy) have changed as a consequence of its expansion and adaptation. This led to a considerable evolution of the plant, from a traditional composting process to an integrated anaerobic-aerobic system. For this purpose, the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology was chosen. Inventory analysis was completed using mostly primary data supplied by the company. Plant performances were evaluated for each year of operation and by grouping data to analyze the main stages (storage and pretreatment of the organic waste, anaerobic fermentation, composting, etc.). The modelling was performed using SimaPro software and the ReCiPe analysis method. Seven scenarios were created to simulate the seven-year process. The aim of the study was to assess whether and how the introduction of anaerobic fermenters to produce energy from biowastes has led to a real improvement of the process sustainability with an overall decrease in environmental impacts. After analyzing in detail the performances of the plant, biowaste transportation and the avoided landfill disposal were also assessed. The main problems connected with transportation, and environmental benefits resulting from the avoided disposal of waste, were identified and in order to evaluate the robustness of the model, a sensitivity analysis using the Monte Carlo method was performed
The Frontier of Biobased Polymers: Synthesis, Characterization, Application, and Sustainability Assessment
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Environmental impacts of food packaging: Is it all a matter of raw materials?
Full text linkThe packaging sector and the environmental impacts stemming from its various materials and applications are currently at the forefront of scientific and political debate. To estimate the environmental impacts associated with raw materials and identify the role of industrial processes, this study presents a cradle-to-grave Life Cycle Assessment applied to two distinct packaging formulations for chocolate bars, namely oriented polypropylene-based and paper-based packaging. The product systems related to the two alternatives were compared by focusing on the contribution of each resource input and emission of the production phase, to identify respective environmental trade-offs and potentials for future improvements throughout the life cycle. Our study also proposes a laboratory-based approach to develop robust assumptions concerning the modeling of end-of-life material treatment and provide support to decision-making toward environmentally sustainable waste management practices. From the outcomes, a relative preference emerges for paper-based packaging, from a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 16 out of 18 environmental categories, depending on the evaluated scenario. The hotspot analysis highlighted a significant influence of the processing phases, with raw materials being generally characterized by lower percentage contributions to the final impact. In conclusion, the findings underscore the importance of considering the entire life cycle when assessing packaging sustainability. Moreover, the proposed laboratory approach offers valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders to optimize end-of-life strategies and minimize the overall environmental footprint of packaging materials
Applicazione della metodologia LCA a processi chimici: un approccio globale per valutarne la sostenibilità
No full textImproving the waste management system in an Italian footwear district applying MFA and LCA
Full text linkThe fashion industry presents a significant social role, employing millions of people, but it also contributes to resource depletion, ecosystem stress, and climate change. Consequently, sustainability within this sector has garnered increased attention. As part of the fashion sector, the footwear industry is also facing this challenge. With over 23.9 billion shoes produced annually, waste management in this sector presents significant environmental hurdles. In this case study, material flow analysis and life cycle assessment methodologies were adopted to identify and quantify waste flows, their dynamics, and the potential environmental impacts related to one of the main fashion footwear districts in Italy. The results identify opportunities for improving the recovery and recycling processes, especially concerning leather, a key component of shoes contributing to over 30 % of various environmental categories. It was also highlighted that the footwear industry's path to sustainability includes legislative progress, improvements in waste management, and collaboration among stakeholders
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