Exploiting Microalgae Biorefineries for Low‐Carbon Strategies in Sustainable Algae‐Green Buildings

Chapter 6: Insurance industry

The increasing world population generates huge amounts of wastewater as well as large energy demand. Additionally, fossil fuel’s combustion for energy production causes the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG) and other pollutants. Therefore, there is a strong need to find alternative green approaches for wastewater treatment and energy production. Microalgae biorefineries could represent an effective strategy to mitigate the above problems. Microalgae biorefineries are a sustainable alternative to conventional wastewater treatment processes, as they potentially allow wastewater to be treated at lower costs and with lower energy consumption. Furthermore, they provide an effective means to recover valuable compounds for biofuel production or other applications. This review focuses on the current scenario and future prospects of microalgae biorefineries aimed at combining wastewater treatment with biofuel production. First, the different microalgal cultivation systems are examined, and their main characteristics and limitations are discussed. Then, the technologies available for converting the biomass produced during wastewater treatment into biofuel are critically analyzed. Finally, current challenges and research directions for biofuel production and wastewater treatment through this approach are outlined.

I. INTRODUCTION II. THE IMPERATIVE OF STATE CLIMATE ACTION A. Exercise of a State's Police Powers to Protect Public Health and Its Natural Resources B. Exercise of the State's Policy Prerogative: Laboratory of Democracy C. Future National Climate Policy Framework: A Federal-State-Local Partnership III. CALIFORNIA'S MODEL OF POLICY DEVELOPMENT: LEADERSHIP, CROSS-AGENCY ENGAGEMENT, AND STAKEHOLDER INVOLVEMENT A. Consistent Leadership B. Efforts by California's State Agency Climate Action Team C. Stakeholders: Local Governmental Agencies, Industry, NGOs and Individuals IV. MULTIPLE CHALLENGES, MULTIPLE TOOLS A. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's Climate Change Executive Orders B. California's Assembly Bill 32 Framework: Markets and Mandates C. California's Upcoming Development of a Cap-and-Trade Program V. COMPREHENSIVE POLICY EXAMPLE: TRANSPORTATION SECTOR A. California's Passenger Vehicles Greenhouse Gas Regulation: The Parley Standards B. California's Low-Carbon Fuel Standard C. Senate Bill 375: Land Use, Vehicle Miles Traveled, and Greenhouse Gas Reductions Through Incentives VI. CALIFORNIA'S HARD-WON CLIMATE CHANGE LESSONS FOR THE NATION A. Demonstrate Clear and Determined Leadership B. Act Now C. Set a Specific, Declining Emissions Cap D. Engage Government and the Private Sector at All Levels and in All Silos. E. Federal Policy Must Engage the Effort of Stakeholders and Citizens from Across the Political and Economic Spectrum I. INTRODUCTION Climate change is a real and urgent threat to our communities, our states and our nation. California, like many other states, is already experiencing its impacts. Over the past 100 years, the Golden State has seen a seven-inch rise in sea level, eroding our coastal communities and threatening critical infrastructure. (1) In the winter, more of our precipitation now falls as rain rather than snow, leading to less water availability in the critical spring and summer months--an impact that threatens one of the most productive agricultural regions in the world and a pillar of the nation's export economy. (2) Climate change is also a major factor in California's longer and more severe wildfire season--an impact dramatically illustrated in 2008 when over 1 million acres burned and air quality monitors were overwhelmed in efforts to measure record-breaking levels of particulate matter. And these effects are merely a preview. It is predicted that without major efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, in this century California will see an additional one- to two-foot rise in sea levels, a doubling in the frequency of drought years, a 55 percent increase of large forest fires and a 75 percent loss in California's snowpack, our state's biggest natural reservoir. (3) These threats are mirrored around our nation and around the globe. I emphasize them to underscore my contention that the nation must follow California's lead by taking swift, decisive and comprehensive action to address climate change. Not only is climate change an urgent and dire threat, it is also a complex one. The combustion of fossil fuels is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions, but by no means the only one. Sources as diverse as agriculture, forestry and industrial processes also contribute to climate change. Cutting emissions from these sources will require a multifaceted response that includes a variety of regulatory, market-based and voluntary actions undertaken at all levels of government, industry and society. And, like the diversity of sources that contribute to climate change, the opportunities to reduce emissions--and the economic opportunities to create new, clean technologies--vary between different industries, regions and individuals. …

As the culprit of global warming, the emission of carbon dioxide has gradually become one of the most severe and environmental concerns haunting the human beings for several decades. These emissions are mainly generated from the combustion of fossil fuels - the main energy resources for our daily life, economic growth and industrial development (Chen, Kim, & Ahn, 2012). In order to prevent global warming deteriorating, it is urgent for all humankind to seek effective and feasible methods to capture and store carbon dioxide. Undoubtedly, Porous solid materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are very promising candidates for this application due to their extraordinary capability of capturing Carbon dioxide and excellent regenerative ability as compared to other materials. The study is to explore the feasibility of a method to synthesize layered MOFs by introducing new organic linkers into amorphous state precursors.

Introduction to <i>Climate Change Adaptation in New York City: Building a Risk Management Response</i>

How does the Internet of Things (IoT) help in microalgae biorefinery?

The Effect of Sea Level Rise on Islands and Atolls

Carbon dioxide emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels are a significant factor in global climate change. Large stationary sources such as coal-fired electric generating plants are likely to be the most cost-effective targets for carbon dioxide capture. At present, liquid amine-based scrubbing systems are the only processes available for this application. Processes based on regenerable solids that absorb carbon dioxide from flue gas and release it in concentrated form have the potential to be less expensive to operate. This paper summarises the results of studies conducted at RTI and Louisiana State University (LSU) to investigate the feasibility of using sodium or potassium carbonate as a sorbent. Upon reaction with carbon dioxide and water (also present in flue gas), this material is converted to sodium or potassium bicarbonate. Upon heating (ideally with low grade heat from the generating plant), carbon dioxide and water vapour are released and the solid carbonate can be reused. Work to date has focused on thermogravimetry (TG) and bench scale fluidised-bed testing, as well as characterisation of materials and thermodynamic and kinetic analyses. TG studies with sodium carbonate have indicated that the sorption reaction takes place rapidly at approximately 60°C and that the sorbent can be regenerated at temperatures less than 120°C. A five-cycle test conducted in a bench scale fluid bed reactor system indicated that the sorbent could be regenerated and reused. The process implications of compound salts and hydrates in the sodium carbonate system on the useful capacity of the sorbent and heat removal requirements were also investigated.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the most important greenhouse gases (GHG). The most dominant source of anthropogenic CO2 contributing to the rise in atmospheric concentration since the industrial revolution is the combustion of fossil fuels. These emissions are expected to result in global climate change with potentially severe consequences for ecosystems and mankind. In this context, these emissions should be restrained in order to mitigate climate change. Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a technological concept to reduce the atmospheric emissions of CO2 that result from various industrial processes, in particular from the use of fossil fuels (mainly coal and natural gas) in power generation and from combustion and process related emissions in industrial sectors. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) regards CCS as “an option in the portfolio of mitigation actions” to combat climate change (IPCC 2005). However, the deployment of CO2 capture at power plants and large industrial sources may influence local and transboundary air pollution, i.e. the emission of key atmospheric emissions such as SO2, NOX, NH3, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), and Particulate Matter (PM2.5 and PM10). Both positive as negative impacts on overall air quality when applying CCS are being suggested in the literature. The scientific base supporting both viewpoints is rapidly advancing. The potential interaction between CO2 capture and air quality targets is crucial as countries are currently developing GHG mitigation action plans. External and unwanted trade-offs regarding air quality as well as co-benefits when implementing CCS should be known before rolling out this technology on a large scale. The goal of this chapter is to provide an overview of the existing scientific base and provide insights into ongoing and needed scientific endeavours aimed at expanding the science base. The chapter outline is as follows. We first discuss the basics of CO2 capture, transport and storage in section 2. In section 3, we discuss the change in the direct emission profile of key atmospheric pollutants when equipping power plants with CO2 capture. Section 4 expands on atmospheric emissions in the life cycle of CCS concepts. We provide insights in section 5 into how air quality policy and GHG reduction policy may interact in the Netherlands and the European Union. Section 6 focuses on atmospheric emissions from post-combustion CO2

This review article presents a comprehensive study of carbon dioxide (CO2) capture and utilization methods from post-combustion processes. The article highlights the need for effective carbon capture and utilization strategies. The molecular interaction mechanisms for CO2 adsorption are discussed, including chemical and physical adsorption and the role of oxygen, nitrogen, and sulfur-containing functional groups. The interaction of CO2 and functional groups in the presence of moisture is also explored. Next, various CO2 capture techniques are examined, including absorption-based, adsorption-based, membrane-based, and chemical looping-based methods. These approaches are analyzed by their efficiency and applicability in post-combustion scenarios. The article explores the utilization of captured CO2 in different applications. Enhanced oil recovery (EOR) is discussed as an alternative method to conventional oil recovery, highlighting using polymer flooding combined with CO2 injection as a highly efficient technique. Additionally, the utilization of CO2 in the food and beverage industry is examined, focusing on its role in food preservation, extraction processes, and packaging applications. The article also delves into using CO2 as a renewable and green carbon source in polymer production. Sustainable polymers such as polyethylene furan dicarboxylate (PEF) and poly(hydroxy urethane-ureas) (PHUUs) are highlighted, along with the utilization of supercritical CO2 in micro-cellular plastic and elastomer production. The article concludes by discussing future opportunities and potential applications of CO2 capture and utilization, emphasizing the importance of developing cost-effective and environmentally friendly solutions. Overall, this review article provides valuable insights into the advancements and potential of using absorbed CO2 from post-combustion processes for various applications.

The negative impacts of global warming on climate have been witnessed worldwide, and therefore global efforts to decrease the emission of greenhouse gases (GHGs), particularly carbon dioxide, have increased. Carbon capture (CC) strategies can effectively reduce the quantity of CO2 being released into the atmosphere by various industries. In this study, several characteristics of CC technologies are analysed, the negative environmental impacts of CO2 emissions are highlighted, policies that have recently been adopted to decrease GHG emissions are discussed, and state-of-the-art post-combustion CC, pre-combustion CC, and oxyfuel combustion CC technologies are reviewed. Furthermore, this study investigates and compares the three most common carbon separation techniques, namely, absorption, adsorption, and membrane methods. Through the investigation of the CC technologies, we discuss the practicality of implementing such methods and discuss specific case studies that have implemented CC technologies. Furthermore, we summarise ways of utilising the end-product (the captured carbon) of these technologies. Much research has gone into investigating the negative environmental impacts that are currently arising. This paper stresses the importance of taken measures that go from theory to implementation and how such measures can be approached.

Climate change has far-reaching implications for global freshwater availability and environmental balance. The increase in greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels has triggered global climate change, affecting precipitation patterns, glacier melt and sea level rise. Parts of the United States are experiencing significant changes in precipitation patterns, with some areas experiencing frequent storms and others experiencing more prolonged droughts. Accelerated glacier melt is leading to fewer water sources during the dry season, and sea level rise is threatening coastal freshwater resources, triggering saltwater intrusion and a decline in freshwater quality. Wildfires in California are an important consequence of climate change, severely affecting freshwater resources and environmental balance. Wildfires lead to reduced water resources, impacting agricultural water use and irrigation infrastructure, and affecting water quality through increased sediment and pollutant loads. The 2018 Camp Hill Fire contaminated local water sources, and the rebuilding process has increased demand for water resources, exacerbating resource constraints. Global warming has lengthened wildfire seasons and increased fire intensity, leading to increased pressure on freshwater resources. By analyzing the impacts of climate change on freshwater resources, this paper hopes to draw public attention to environmental protection and provide a reference for gradually optimizing ecosystems and creating a healthy living environment.

Addressing Climate Change Without Legislation - Volume 1: DOI

Global warming refers to an average increase in the earth′s temperature, which in turn causes changes in climate. A warmer earth may lead to changes in rainfall patterns, a rise in sea level, and a wide range of impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. Greenhouse gases make the earth warmer by trapping energy inside the atmosphere. Greenhouse gases are any gas that absorbs infrared radiation in the atmosphere and include: water vapor, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), halogenated fluorocarbons (HCFCs), ozone (O3), perfluorinated carbons (PFCs), and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Hazardous chemicals enter the air we breathe as a result of dozens of activities carried out during a typical day at a healthcare facility like processing lab samples, burning fossil fuels etc. We sometimes forget that anesthetic agents are also greenhouse gases (GHGs). Anesthetic agents used today are volatile halogenated ethers and the common carrier gas nitrous oxide known to be aggressive GHGs. With less than 5% of the total delivered halogenated anesthetic being metabolized by the patient, the vast majority of the anesthetic is routinely vented to the atmosphere through the operating room scavenging system. The global warming potential (GWP) of a halogenated anesthetic is up to 2,000 times greater than CO2. Global warming potentials are used to compare the strength of different GHGs to trap heat in the atmosphere relative to that of CO2. Here we discuss about the GWP of anesthetic gases, preventive measures to decrease the global warming effects of anesthetic gases and Xenon, a newer anesthetic gas for the future of anesthesia.

The growing concern over carbon dioxide emissions has garnered substantial attention globally, as the relentless progression of technology continues to contribute to an increase in the production of this greenhouse gas. Consequently, the capture of carbon dioxide has emerged as a crucial mission to counteract the deleterious influences of climate change, which is exacerbated by the rising temperature across the world. This may also lead to various natural hazards, such as the melting of icebergs and the subsequent rise in sea levels. To address these issues, there is no denying the importance of the carbon dioxide capture process. This article will explore some of the methods of capturing carbon dioxide, including the utilization of metal-organic frameworks membranes and Mixed-Matrix Membranes, encompassing the design of such membranes and the strategies employed for their synthesis. To elucidate these techniques, the article will illustrate their processes through multiple examples and empirical findings, accompanied by relevant data.