1,721,156 research outputs found
Corrigendum to “Assessing the sustainability of urban eco-systems through Emergy-based circular economy indicators” [Ecol. Indic. (2020) 105859](S1470160X19308532)(10.1016/j.ecolind.2019.105859)
No full textThe authors regret that the reference for Santagata et al. (2019), cited in text at page 6, subsection 2.3, has not been included in the bibliography. The reference for the article is: Santagata R., Viglia S., Fiorentino G., Liu G., Ripa M., 2019. Power generation from slaughterhouse waste materials. An Emergy accounting assessment. J. Clean. Prod. 223, 536–552. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.148. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused
The Elephant in the Room: Secondary Infections and Antimicrobial Use in Patients With COVID-19
No full textEfficiency and sustainability indicators for papermaking from virgin pulpâAn emergy-based case study
No full textThe pulp and paper sector is the fourth-largest industrial sector worldwide in terms of energy use, accounting for approximately 6% of the total industrial energy consumption and contributing to 2% of direct carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions produced by industries. The definition of the environmental profile of this industrial sector is crucial, due to the high market demand of paper and the increasing concern for the environmental costs of the whole papermaking process. A sustainability perspective should rely on a wider and holistic viewpoint, properly including all direct and indirect interactions with the environment. To this purpose, the Emergy (spelled with m) Accounting method (EMA) is very appropriate for the evaluation of the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of the papermaking process under different perspectives (resource quality, fossil energy and material consumption, environmental and human-driven support). Several studies concerning environmental impacts, eco-efficiency, and cleaner technologies in the pulp and paper sector have already been carried out, but none of them addressed resource quality and resource generation costs from a supply-side point of view. This study aims to fill this gap in the literature by highlighting the direct and indirect contribution in terms of natural capital and ecosystem services to the pulp and paper production process. By means of EMA performance indices, this paper aims to assess the environmental sustainability associated to the production of pulp and paper, so as to identify those process steps that entail the highest environmental costs and require improvements. Three forest management scenarios â based on Spruce/Pine, Eucalyptus and Poplar production for raw material supply â were evaluated to assess the sustainability and the efficiency of each species. Moreover, the marginal costs of achieving higher energy and material efficiency are investigated, with a special focus placed on the identification of the effects of energy input flows on additional demand for environmental services. The research results show that the largest supply-side environmental costs are generated by the industrial processing activities, due to high energy, water and chemicals consumption. Only a minor role is played by forestry activities that supply the raw feedstock, although forestry management practices certainly affect both the final productivity and the energy balance, through the amount and use efficiency of the farm inputs. Additionally, among the three forest systems under study, Spruce/Pine forest management displays the most sustainable option for paper production because, basing on the emergy indices, it presents the best sustainable contribution to both the economy and the environment of the investigated region. In conclusion, the application of EMA approach allowed a more comprehensive assessment of forestry and industrial operations, contributing to assist decision makers in implementing the best environmental management of papermaking process
Metodologia speditiva finalizzata alla classificazione dei tipi d'uso del suolo su area vasta a vocazione forestale
No full textAn environmental assessment of electricity production from slaughterhouse residues. Linking urban, industrial and waste management systems
No full textThe food processing industry continues to grow, generating large amount of organically rich waste flows per year: these processors face significant economic and environmental pressures for appropriate conversion and disposal of these waste flows. Solid waste disposal problems, mostly in highly urbanized environments, energy shortages (primarily oil) and/or high petroleum prices, as well as environmental issues such as the shrinking landfill capacity, can all be addressed by converting waste material into useful and saleable products. This paper brings to the attention a possible strategy in order to meet the general EU directives concerning the residues utilization and percentage contribution for the total energy consumption by 2020, by evaluating the use of animal by-products (category 3, as defined in the directive 2002/1774/EC) for energy purposes. Slaughterhouse waste represents an important potential source of renewable energy: on average, 40–50% of a live animal is waste, with a potential energy content close to diesel fuel. Treatment of animal waste from slaughterhouse and the subsequent conversion to electricity is investigated as a case study in the Campania Region (Italy): the animal waste undergoes a rendering process, to separate a protein-rich fraction useful for animal meal production and a fat-rich fraction, to be combusted in a diesel engine for power and heat generation (CHP). An environmental assessment of the entire process is performed by means of LCA, providing a quantitative understanding of the plant processing. The study aims to understand to what extent electricity production from animal fat is environmentally sound and if there are steps and/or components that require further attention. The environmental impacts of the electricity production from animal waste are investigated adopting different points of view and they are also compared to the impacts of Italian electricity production (mix of fossil fuels and renewables). The study confirms that waste recovery represents a triple win solution, dealing simultaneously with human security, pollution, and, last but not least, energy recovery
Dataset for the paper: "Di Felice, L.J.; Ripa, M.; Giampietro, M. Deep Decarbonisation from a Biophysical Perspective: GHG Emissions of a Renewable Electricity Transformation in the EU."
No full textDataset used for the development of scenarios in the publication "Di Felice, L.J.; Ripa, M.; Giampietro, M. Deep Decarbonisation from a Biophysical Perspective: GHG Emissions of a Renewable Electricity Transformation in the EU. Sustainability 2018, 10, 3685." and used for a case study in "Di Felice L., Dunlop T., Giampietro M., Kovacic Z., Renner A., Ripa M., Velasco-Fernández R. – Report on the Quality Check of the Robustness of the Narrative behind Energy Directives. MAGIC (H2020–GA 689669) Project Deliverable 5.4, 30 November 2018". (link: https://magic-nexus.eu/documents/d54-report-narratives-behind-energy-directives).
Sources of other secondary data (from papers, reports) specified in the dataset (under tab "input codes")</p
Food waste recovery pathways: challenges and opportunities for an emerging bio-based circular economy. A systematic review and an assessment
Full text linkThe transition to a Circular Economy in the agri-food supply chain will require appropriate support mechanisms. Globally, 1/3 of food is wasted, generating by-products which could be treated and processed. In a bioeconomy perspective, qualitatively and quantitatively assessing the availability of secondary raw materials and classifying the different conversion systems is crucial for the transition to happen. For this reason, a literature review of food waste conversion pathways, and related trade-offs and opportunities, has been carried out. Ecological performances of EU28 food waste treatment processes have been assessed through Life Cycle Assessment and Emergy Accounting methods, providing information from a donor and a consumer side perspectives for supporting policies. The added value of this work is the commixture of the analysis of food waste recovery and recycle pathways, their environmental assessment and the indication of opportunities and constraints. A conversion pathways database has been generated and classified. A major interest towards recovery of mixed food waste and biological type of conversion processes is highlighted. The main identified opportunities are the reduced environmental pressure and better management of resources, the avoided loss of economic value and the generation of work opportunities, as well as conditioning stakeholders’ behaviors. On the other hand, it is highlighted that bad management of food waste can pose a threat on human health. The planning of these processes must carefully acknowledge local characteristics
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