Reduction In Global Warming Potential Research Articles

Sustainability assessment of succinic acid production from cyanobacteria.

This work performs techno-economic assessment (TEA) and cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) for a cyanobacterial system producing succinic acid (SA). Experimental studies of cyanobacteria cultivation producing disodium succinate (Na2Succ) in culture were used to build a scaled-up process producing 100 tonnes/year of SA. High-temperature (HT) and low-temperature (LT) crystallization of SA (Process I) and purification using methanol addition (Process II) were considered for downstream separation. A combination of upstream experimental data, ecoinvent® 3.9 database, literature, and simulation data were used. ReCiPe 2016 impact assessment method was used. The production costs were INR 1,654/kg ($21.04/kg) and INR 1,501/kg ($19.09/kg) for processes I and II, respectively. Global warming potential (GWP) for processes I and II were 7.95 kg CO2-eq and 6.32 kg CO2-eq, respectively, for 1 kg of SA. 36% reduction in production cost and 52%-56% reduction in GWP was observed with succinate titer increase from 2 g/L to 5 g/L.

Life Cycle Assessment of Green Methanol Production Based on Multi-Seasonal Modeling of Hybrid Renewable Energy and Storage Systems

This study evaluates the environmental implications of green methanol production under seasonal energy variability through a dual-comparative analytical framework. The research employs ReCiPe 2016 Endpoint (H) methodology to assess four seasonal renewable energy configurations (with varying solar–wind ratios across seasons) against conventional grid-based production, utilizing a hybrid battery storage system combining lithium-ion and vanadium redox flow technologies. The findings reveal significant environmental benefits, with seasonal renewable configurations achieving 24.38% to 28.26% reductions in global warming potential compared to conventional methods. Monte Carlo simulation (n = 20,000) confirms these improvements across all impact categories. Our process analysis identifies hydrogen production as the primary environmental impact contributor (74–94%), followed by carbon capture (5–13%) and methanol synthesis (0.5–4.5%). Water consumption impacts show seasonal variation, ranging from 16.55% in summer to 11.62% in winter. There is a strong positive correlation between hydrogen production efficiency and solar energy availability, suggesting that higher solar energy input contributes to improved production outcomes. This research provides a framework for optimizing sustainable methanol production through seasonal renewable energy integration, offering practical insights for industrial implementation while maintaining production stability through effective energy storage solutions.

Advanced anaerobic co-digestion of hydrothermally pretreated wheat straw: Process performance, techno-economic and life cycle assessment.

Hydrothermal and thermal-alkali pretreatment potential was investigated to enhance agro-wastes' anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD). The techno-economic (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of biogas upgrading (BioCNG) and energy generation via combined heat and power (CHP) processes for energy utilization were carried out to realize the environmental impacts and cost-effectiveness of the studied processes. Three AcoD conditions of untreated, hydrothermally (150°C, 60min) and thermal-alkali pretreated (1% NaOH, 150°C- 60min) wheat straw (WS) with food waste and cow manure were studied in semi-continuous mode for 340 days under variable organic loading rates (OLR, 1.25-3.75 gVS/L.d). At an OLR of 1.67 gVS/L.d and 45 days HRT, the methane yield and volatile solids removal in control digester were 231 mL/gVS and 39.7%, and in thermal-alkali pretreated digester were 302 mL/gVS and 53.3%, presenting an increase of 30% and 34% over control, respectively. The LCA and TEA of all three processes under 45 days of HRT operations were carried out. The environmental performance evaluation across various scenarios indicated that integrating pretreatment with the combined heat and power (CHP) process significantly lowered the global warming potential (GWP), outperforming the BioCNG process. In particular, hydrothermal pretreatment made the largest contribution to the reduction in GWP, achieving a value of -0.1935kg CO2-equivalent, primarily due to energy generation from the CHP process. In comparison, the BioCNG process recorded a GWP of -0.0377kg CO2-equivalent. This result demonstrates that the CHP process led to an 81% greater reduction in GWP than the BioCNG process. While the BioCNG process surpassed CHP in terms of economic performance, the hydrothermal pretreatment scenario proved to be financially the most advantageous, with a net present value (NPV) of $10.16 million, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 13%, and a shorter payback period (PBP) of 14 years.

Modeling Mastitis Risk Management Effects on Dairy Milk Yield and Global Warming Potential

Mastitis represents a significant challenge for dairy farming, resulting in economic losses and environmental impacts. This study assesses a model for the evaluation of the impact of mastitis on dairy productivity and Global Warming Potential (GWP) under diverse management scenarios. The model considers a range of factors, including bedding materials, milking systems, health surveillance, and overcrowding. The results of the simulation demonstrate that effective management, encompassing the utilization of sand bedding, and the presence of an annual herd health monitoring plan have the potential to reduce the prevalence of mastitis and enhance milk yield by up to 10% in milking parlors and 7% in automatic milking systems. At the herd level, the GWP ranged from 1.37 to 1.78 kg CO2eq/kg Fat- and Protein-Corrected Milk (FPCM), with the use of sand bedding resulting in a 14% reduction in GWP, while the utilization of non-composted manure-based materials led to an increase of 12%. The occurrence of overcrowding and a lack of adequate cleanliness in resting areas were found to have a markedly detrimental impact on both productivity and the environmental performance of cows. These findings illustrate the dual benefits of enhanced mastitis management, namely improved milk production and reduced environmental impact. They offer valuable insights for farmers and policymakers alike.

Assessment of soil CO2, CH4, and N2O fluxes and their drivers, and their contribution to the climate change mitigation potential of forest soils in the Lublin region of Poland

AbstractForests can play a key role in the mitigation of climate change, although there have been limited regional scale assessments that account for variations in soil type and tree species. Most of the focus has been on their ability to sequester atmospheric CO2, while there is less information on the two other major greenhouse gases (GHGs), N2O and CH4. We examined the GHG budgets of ten forest soils in Poland, considering all three major GHGs, where no previous long-term measurements had been made, which encompassed different tree species, stand age, and contrasting edaphic conditions. In addition to the quantification and assessment of seasonal variability in the major soil GHG fluxes over two years, the aims of the present study were (i) the identification of the main drivers of the soil-based GHG fluxes, (ii) the determination of the contribution of each gas to the Global Warming Potential (GWP), and (iii) to assess the mitigation potential of these fluxes over different forest systems. All the forest soils were sources of CO2 and N2O and sinks for atmospheric CH4 with pronounced seasonal variations in CO2 and CH4 driven by soil moisture and temperature. The soils showed significant differences in annual GHG fluxes, with average values of 16.7 Mg CO2 ha−1, − 3.51 kg CH4 ha−1, and 0.95 kg N2O ha−1. The annual total GWP ranged from 13.1 to 22.0 Mg CO2 eq ha−1 with CO2 making the highest contribution, and forest-specific CH4 uptake resulting in a reduction in GWP, ranging from − 0.08% (in the youngest forest) to -0.97% (in the oldest forest). Mixed forests showed the greatest potential for climate change mitigation, with the highest soil C sequestration, and the lowest GWP values when compared to sites with monocultures. The results suggest that a mixture of tree species could eventually be incorporated into management plans to increase the effectiveness of forests in climate change mitigation.

Comparative life cycle assessments of laboratory and Pilot-scale Mechanochemical processes for producing carbonated mineral products as cement substitutes

Comparative life cycle assessments of laboratory and Pilot-scale Mechanochemical processes for producing carbonated mineral products as cement substitutes

Accounting for decarbonization impacts across the full life cycle of alternative concrete materials: A case-study for graphene-amended cementitious composites

Accounting for decarbonization impacts across the full life cycle of alternative concrete materials: A case-study for graphene-amended cementitious composites

Drill‐seeding rice reduces global warming potential but increases nitrogen loss potential compared to water‐seeding

AbstractFlooded rice (Oryza sativa L.) systems are critical for global food security but contribute significantly to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to high methane (CH4) emissions from anaerobic soils. Drill‐seeding (DS) rice, which in California includes early‐season irrigation flushes to establish the rice, has been shown to reduce CH4 emissions compared to water‐seeded (WS) systems. The effect of these early‐season flushes on nitrogen (N) fertilizer losses and nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, however, is not well understood. In a 2‐year study, we quantitatively compared DS to WS systems with respect to their global warming potential (GWP) (CH4 + N2O in CO2 eq.), nitrate (NO3−) accumulation during flushes, and crop N‐uptake. Despite 0.68 kg ha−1 more N2O–N emissions in the DS system, GWP was 3700 CO2 eq. kg ha−1, a 42% reduction compared to 6340 CO2 eq. kg ha−1 in the WS system. This was due to a 46% reduction in CH4 in the DS (94.5 CH4–C kg ha−1) relative to the WS (175.7 CH4–C kg ha−1) system. Nitrate accumulation in the DS system amounted to 26.2 kg NO3–N ha−1, and subsequent N losses via denitrification likely contributed to the 22.4 kg N ha−1 less crop N‐uptake in the DS system. These results suggest that DS rice has potential for improved environmental impact via GWP reductions but will require increased N inputs. Future efforts should focus on reducing N losses, which have a negative economic impact for the farmer and contribute to N2O emissions.

Evaluating priority strategies for decarbonising offshore wind turbine blades through lifecycle assessment

Abstract While offshore wind is at the early stage of expansion, global capacity is expected to increase rapidly, reaching 330 GW by 2031. This work uses lifecycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the opportunity for offshore wind energy decarbonisation through wind blade sustainable developments. The findings from the LCA are used to give informed recommendations towards priority areas of development across the blade lifecycle, that are critical to accelerate the sector’s transition towards net-zero targets. The production of raw materials was found to be the largest contributor to cradle-to-gave global warming potential (GWP). The sector should prioritise the utilisation of more sustainable materials, with an emphasis on the decarbonisation of carbon fibre production. Waste produced during blade manufacturing alone accounts for 10% of the blade’s GWP; therefore, increasing the material efficiency in this phase of the lifecycle is a significant opportunity for blade decarbonisation and should be a focus for the sector going forward. O&M was found to be the second largest contributor to GWP, with full decarbonisation of O&M practices potentially realising an 8% reduction in GWP. A range of alterative blade material scenarios were analysed, finding that recyclable resin systems have the greatest potential to decarbonise offshore blades. There are currently no commercial recycling operations for these resins therefore scale up of the recycling technologies is needed before they can be recycled in practice. Additionally, the development of low impact, economically viable circular solutions for legacy blade waste must be an immediate priority for the wind energy sector, given the anticipated exponential growth in global wind turbine blade waste generation. Graphical abstract

Harnessing iron tailings as supplementary cementitious materials in Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3): An innovative approach towards sustainable construction

Harnessing iron tailings as supplementary cementitious materials in Limestone Calcined Clay Cement (LC3): An innovative approach towards sustainable construction

Environmental impacts and nitrogen-carbon-energy nexus of vegetable production in subtropical plateau lake basins.

Vegetables are important economic crops globally, and their production has approximately doubled over the past 20 years. Globally, vegetables account for 13% of the harvested area but consume 25% of the fertilizer, leading to serious environmental impacts. However, the quantitative evaluation of vegetable production systems in subtropical plateau lake basins and the establishment of optimal management practices to further reduce environmental risks are still lacking. Using the life cycle assessment method, this study quantified the global warming, eutrophication, acidification, and energy depletion potential of vegetable production in a subtropical plateau lake basin in China based on data from 183 farmer surveys. Our results indicated that vegetable production in the study area, the Erhai Lake Basin, was high but came at a high environmental cost, mainly due to low fertilizer efficiency and high nutrient loss. Root vegetables have relatively high environmental costs due to the significant environmental impacts of fertilizer production, transportation, and application. A comprehensive analysis showed that the vegetable production in this region exhibited low economic and net ecosystem economic benefits, with ranges of 7.88-8.91 × 103 and 7.35-8.69 × 103 $ ha-1, respectively. Scenario analysis showed that adopting strategies that comprehensively consider soil, crop, and nutrient conditions for vegetable production can reduce environmental costs (with reductions in global warming potential (GWP), eutrophication potential (EP), acidification potential (AP), and energy depletion potential (EDP) by 10.6-28.2%, 65.1-73.5%, 64.5-71.9%, 47.8-70.4%, respectively) compared with the current practices of farmers. This study highlighted the importance of optimizing nutrient management in vegetable production based on farmers' practices, which can achieve more yield with less environmental impacts and thereby avoid the "trade-off" effect between productivity and environmental sustainability.

Early crack resistance and life cycle assessment of seawater-mixed sintered sludge cement paste

Due to the accelerating effect of chloride and sulfate on the hydration of clinker, seawater-mixed cement (SC) paste is more prone to brittle cracking. Herein, this research systematically investigates the early crack resistance of seawater-mixed sintered sludge cement (SSSC) paste based on splitting tensile test and restrained squared eccentric ring test. The microstructure characteristics characterized by mercury intrusion porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy are combined to reveal the enhancement mechanism of sintered sludge ash (SSA) on SC paste, and a life cycle assessment is conducted around its carbon footprint. The results indicate that the SSA incorporation causes a continuous increase of 24.4% in the splitting tensile strength of SSSC paste. Meanwhile, the digital image correlation technology accurately captures the strain and displacement fields composed of crack propagation, which tends to be symmetrically distributed and reduces the crack width by 30%. During the inhomogeneous restrained shrinkage process, as the SSA increases, the crack deviation of the SSSC paste first magnifies and then reduces, the crack width decreases, and the cracking time extends. The pozzolanic activity of SSA is more active in SC paste, which significantly promotes the secondary accumulation of C-S-H and the increase of gel pore volume. This effectively reduces the risk of brittle cracking caused by uneven distribution of paste stiffness due to hydration acceleration during seawater mixing. In addition, replacing 50% cement with SSA only results in a total of 4.1% carbon emissions in SSSC paste and a 47.8% reduction in global warming potential from sludge transportation to activation treatment, demonstrating significant environmental advantages.

Cradle-to-gate analyses of biochar produced from agricultural crop residues by vacuum pyrolysis

Abstract Agricultural waste, if not managed efficiently, can pose significant environmental threats. Biochar production, a cost-effective solution, offers a potential to significantly reduce carbon dioxide emissions and thereby combat climate change. However, the environmental impact of this process is not uniform and varies depending on the agricultural residue used. These impacts, spanning the entire lifecycle from cultivation to disposal, underscore the necessity of a thorough assessment before biochar can be widely adopted for practical applications. This study employs a cradle-to-gate approach to evaluate the life cycle assessment (LCAs) of producing biochar from various agro-residues, such as rice husk, sugarcane bagasse (SB), and corn cob (CC). The LCA was conducted using SimaPro software, version 9.5.0.1, and the ReCiPe impact assessment method. The results indicate that CC cultivation has the highest impact across most categories, while rice husks exhibit higher water consumption (2.8 × 103 m3). Using diesel, electricity, and fertilizers significantly contributes to global warming potential (GWP). SB shows the most negligible impact during biomass cultivation. However, pyrolysis processes exhibit high implications on various indicators. Applying biochar to soil for carbon sequestration and improvement can reduce GWP. Sensitivity analysis demonstrates a notable reduction in GWP and cumulative energy demand, approximately 10%–24% and 4–11 MWh, respectively. Paddy cultivation and rice husk biochar production have a lesser environmental impact. Changing energy sources during biomass growth and biochar production significantly influences environmental factors.

Environmental Impact Assessment of a Plant Cell-Based Bio-Manufacturing Process for Producing Plant Natural Product Ingredients

Purpose: This study employed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology to evaluate the environmental impacts of a novel plant cell-based biomanufacturing process for producing plant natural product ingredients. The primary purpose was to assess the relative sustainability of the process and to provide insights into potential areas of improvement in the biomanufacturing process. Method: The LCA method used an MS Excel (Ver. 2407) -based approach with a cradle-to-gate system boundary covering raw material sourcing (A1), raw material transportation (A2), and product extract manufacturing (A3) stages. Energy use and material inventory data are presented for different unit operations, and environmental impact factors were obtained from the Ecoinvent database. The study included a Material Circularity Index (MCI) calculation to assess the circularity of the biomanufacturing process for the production of saponin emulsifiers that are normally extracted from the woody tissue of the Chilean soapbark tree (Quillaja saponaria). Comparative analyses were performed against a wild-harvest approach for plant tannin extraction from spruce (Picea abies) tree bark. Key Results: The environmental impact assessment focused on determining relative Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), Freshwater Eutrophication (FE), Particulate Matter Formation (PMF), and Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP). Results indicated that the extract manufacturing stage (A3) contributed significantly to adverse environmental impacts, with varying levels of effects based on the energy source used. Comparative analysis with the wild harvest approach highlights the lower environmental impact of the alternative biomanufacturing process. The biomanufacturing process showed a 23% reduction in GWP, AP, and FE and a 25% reduction in PMF and ODP relative to the wild harvest approach. However, the MCI for the biomanufacturing process was estimated to be 0.186, indicating a low material circularity. Conclusions: The results revealed that the extract manufacturing stage, particularly energy consumption, significantly influences the relative environmental impacts of the alternative production processes. Different energy sources exhibit varying effects, with renewable energy sources showing lower environmental impacts. The Material Circularity Index indicated a low circularity for the biomanufacturing process, suggesting opportunities for improvement, such as incorporating recycled or reused materials. Compared with the tannin extraction process, the plant cell-based biomanufacturing process demonstrated lower environmental impacts, emphasising the importance of sustainable practices and the use of renewable energy sources in future plant natural product sourcing. Recommendations include implementing more sustainable practices, optimising raw material choices, and extending product life spans to enhance circularity and overall environmental benefits.

Alkali activated steel slag – oil composites: Towards resource efficiency and CO2 neutrality

Alkali activated steel slag – oil composites: Towards resource efficiency and CO2 neutrality

The impact of green roofs’ composition on its overall life cycle

Green roof systems have been developed to improve the environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability. Selecting the appropriate version of the green roof composition plays an important role in the life cycle assessment of a green roof. In this study, 10 compositions of an intensive green roof for moderate zone and 4 green roof compositions for different climatic conditions were designed and comprehensively assessed in terms of their environmental and economic impacts within the "Cradle-to-Cradle" system boundary. The assessment was carried out over a 50-year period for a moderate climate zone. The results showed that asphalt strips and concrete slab produced the highest total emissions. It was found that most greenhouse gases emissions were released in the operational energy consumption phase and in the production phase. The energy consumption phase (48.78%) for automatic irrigation and maintenance caused the highest Global Warming Potential (GWP) value (758.39kg CO2e) in the worst variant, which also caused the highest life cycle cost (878.47€). On the contrary, in the best variant, planting more vegetation and lower maintenance and irrigation requirements led to a reduction in GWP (445.0kg CO2e), but in terms of cost (506.6€) this composition didn't represent the best variant. The Global Warming Potential Biogenic (GWP-bio) compared to the Global Warming Potential Total (GWP-total) represents a proportion ranging from 0.8% to 78% depending on the proposed vegetation. Overall higher biogenic carbon values (up to 1525kg CO2e) were observed for the proposed tall vegetation of Magnolia, Red Mulberry, Hawthorne, Cherry, and Crab-apple Tree. Based on the results of the multicriteria analysis, which included core environmental & economic parameters, biogenic carbon emission levels, the outcome of this paper proposed optimal green roof composition. Optimal intensive green roof composition was subjected to a sensitivity analysis to determine the impact of changing climatic conditions on CO2 emissions and life cycle costs. The results of the sensitivity analysis show that the optimal variant of the green roof can be implemented in the cold and subtropical zone with regard to CO2 emissions, but not with regard to life cycle costs.

Retrofit of a Marine Engine to Dual-Fuel Methane–Diesel: Experimental Analysis of Performance and Exhaust Emission with Continuous and Phased Methane Injection Systems

Shipping is a highly energy-intensive sector, and fleet decarbonization initiatives can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In the short-to-medium term, internal combustion engines will continue to be used for propulsion or as electricity generators onboard ships. Natural gas is an effective solution which can be used to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from the marine sector. Considered to be a transitional fuel, it can provide a potential reduction in CO2 emissions of around 20–30%, compared with conventional marine fuels. This work investigated the influence of diesel-injection strategies on the performance and emissions of a single-cylinder prototype compression-ignition engine for marine applications, retrofitted to run as a Low-Pressure Dual-Fuel Engine using natural gas. Two different injection systems were used: a mass flow controller enabling continuous-mode gas feeding, and a Solenoid-Operated Gas Admission Valve for marine applications, the latter allowing phased natural-gas injection. Experimental tests were focused on partial-load conditions, which are critical for dual-fuel engines, with a natural gas/diesel mass ratio of 4:1. Phased injection resulted in reductions in fuel consumption, compared to continuous mode, of up to 11%. Further experiments demonstrated reductions in fuel consumption of up to 20.7% (in equivalent diesel); on the other hand, the unburned hydrocarbon emissions which resulted were an order of magnitude larger than the reference values for full diesel, reducing the benefits in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, with a reduction in Global Warming Potential of only 3% compared to full diesel.

A new high-level life cycle assessment framework for evaluating environmental performance: An aviation case study

A new high-level life cycle assessment framework for evaluating environmental performance: An aviation case study

Comparison of conventionally and organically grown pineapple in Sri Lanka: An integrative approach applying life cycle assessment and externalities

Comparison of conventionally and organically grown pineapple in Sri Lanka: An integrative approach applying life cycle assessment and externalities

How methods to assess land-use changes influence the resulting global warming potential and cost of optimized diets: a case study on Danish pigs applying life cycle assessment methodology

PurposeMeeting the demands of a growing and increasingly affluent population necessitates a deeper understanding of the environmental and economic implications of production. This implication is most relevant in key production sectors including agriculture and livestock. This article is intended to provide an understanding of the influence of methods of assessing land-use change (LUC) with respect to minimizing both the global warming potential (GWP) and the monetary costs of pig feed formulation.MethodsFeed mixtures intended for slaughter pigs were generated for minimal cost and GWP impacts by applying four differing LUC assessment methods. The objective function was the Danish slaughter pig feed unit, minimized for cost in Danish crowns (DKK), with GWP impacts constrained in multiple steps. Attributional LCA methodology was applied using the Agri-footprint 6.3 database, with GWP impacts calculated excluding land use changes, including direct land-use changes and including the carbon opportunity cost. Analyses of the functional relationship between the optimal cost and the GWP impact were conducted, followed by a comparative LCA of the cost of comparable feed mixture by applying two sets of functional units: 100 slaughter pig feed units and 1 kg of pig live weight.Results and discussionA similar relationship between cost and GWP impact was observed across all methods, although variability of GWP impact magnitude depending on method was observed. Reducing at an equivalent cost, GWP reduction ranged from 5.6 to 27% based on the pig feed functional unit, and 2.4 to 13% based on the pig live weight functional unit. Optimizing feed mixtures for GWP impacts resulted in significantly increased contributions to other impact categories, including a 56% increase in terrestrial ecotoxicity. Despite the increased contributions to other impact categories, all optimized feed mixtures achieved a reduction in endpoint indicators and single score. Endpoint reductions to the feed unit were 2.3–25% for ecosystem damage, 7.4–15% for human health, and 6.0–16% based on a single score value.ConclusionsThe findings emphasize the key importance of addressing LUC when optimizing the GWP of agri-food production. Suggestions are provided for areas of improvement in future optimization studies applying a dietary unit as the objective function, including additional midpoint impact categories and/or extended optimization covering whole areas of protection. The findings suggest that GWP impacts may be reduced at no additional cost if included or embedded in the pig feed formulation procedure.