Environmental Impact Of Processes Research Articles

Insight into the Coordination Environment of Ru Single-Atom for Dry Reforming of Methane.

Dry reforming of methane (DRM), a pivotal process for converting greenhouse gases into syngas is demanding rationally designed catalysts with high stability and ideal catalytic performance for industrial applications due to its stability of reactant molecules and characteristic of carbon deposition. However, the mechanistic understanding of how the coordination environment of the metal in a single-atom catalytic system may influence the catalytic performance remains limited. In this work, high- and low-coordinating Ru-based (RuHC and RuLC) catalysts with distinct Ru-O coordination numbers are prepared using one-pot and two-step methods. The difference in the stability (12.3% and negligible deactivation during 20 h test for RuLC and RuHC catalysts respectively) and selectivity (0.57 and 0.37 of H2/CO ratio) brought by the coordination environment signified the structure-function relationship of single-atom catalysts in DRM. The impact of the structure on the properties is systematically investigated by thorough structural and operando characterization as well as density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The findings contribute to the optimal design of single-atom catalysts for DRM, offering a theoretical basis for industrial catalyst development and the potential to improve the process's environmental impact.

Self-assembled Si-based anode combined with electrostatic spinning method to realize high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Addressing the volume expansion when silicon and metal oxides alone are used as anode materials for lithium-ion batteries. This study used a simple self-assembly method and electrostatic spinning technique to prepare silicon@copper oxide@carbon nanofibres (CNFs) anodes with dual modification. The high rigidity of metal oxide CuO and the excellent cycling stability of CNFs effectively reduce the buildup of silicon particles, alleviate the volume expansion effect, and improve the electrical conductivity, which leads to better cycling stability and larger specific capacity of lithium-ion batteries. An excellent reversible specific capacity of 748.5 mAh g‐1−1 was observed after 800 cycles at a high current density of 1 A g−1. In addition, the surface of Si@CuO@CNFs electrodes remains smooth and undamaged after 800 cycles, and the increase in cross-sectional thickness is about 68 %, which is significantly smaller than the 300 % increase in cross-sectional thickness of pure Si anode and effectively improves the specific capacity of Li-ion batteries. This research optimizes the design of silicon-based anode materials with simple and mature process technology, which makes an indispensable contribution to developing high-efficiency, long-life, and environmentally friendly lithium-ion batteries. The easy availability and non-polluting nature of the materials used also effectively reduce the reliance on rare or expensive elements, minimize the production process's environmental impact, and vigorously promote the global energy transition and low-carbon green development strategy.

Computer‐Aided Design of Large‐Scale Nanomaterials Synthesis Processes: A Detailed Review

AbstractEfforts from the scientific community and the private sector are required to lower the costs of large‐scale production of nanomaterials (NMs) to enhance their commercialization. In this work, the computer‐aided process design of large‐scale NM synthesis procedures is comprehensively reviewed. Moreover, a generalized process flow diagram for all large‐scale production processes was constructed by surveying numerous scalable experimental procedures reported in the literature. Previous studies reporting simulation cases of large‐scale production processes of NMs and nanocomposites (NCs) are also reviewed based on the type of material produced, e.g., oxides, sulfides, carbonaceous materials, organic materials, metals, and other types of NMs. Finally, technical insights from classical chemical engineering specializations, such as altering process configurations, optimizing process variables, integrating chemical processes, utilizing renewable energy sources, conducting computational calculations, employing machine learning techniques, and studying the process's environmental impact, are reviewed for large‐scale NMs and NCs synthesis.

Utility of Cilefa Pink B, a foodstuff dye as a fluoro-substrate in the devising of the first facile green Molecular-mass-Related Fluorescence Sensor for quantifying amlodipine in batched material and dosage forms; content uniformity evaluation

This study introduces the first and unique Molecular-mass-Related Fluorescence Sensor as the first fluorimetric strategy for determining amlodipine. An environmentally friendly, single-step, and direct spectrofluorimetric approach was utilized to evaluate the analyte. In an acidic setting, combining the amlodipine medication and the fluorescent dye Cilefa Pink B generated an instantaneous ultra-fluorescent product. An increase in dye response after adding amlodipine was proportional to the molecular weight of the generated complex, as measured at 329 nm. was the idea ofthe applied fluorimetric analysis. The complexing process increased the molecular mass from 879.86 to 1288.739 g mol−1. The medication's range of 0.050–1.00 µg mL−1 is directly correlated with this molecular massenlargement. The ideal settings for the changeable parameters of the system were established through an analysis of the response of the amlodipine-Cilefa Pink B system. Furthermore, the developed sensor complied with ICH (International Council for Harmonization) standards. The sensitivity limits were 0.0139 µg mL−1 (for the detection limit, LOD) and 0.042 µg mL−1 (for the quantification limit, LOQ). Additionally, this method effectively recovered the drug in its original and therapeutic dosage forms. Finally, the proposed process's environmental impact was also assessed through different modern greenness evaluation tools.

Estimation of Palm Oil Plantation Carbon Footprint and Reduction Strategy Using the O-LCA and MCDM

According to data obtained from the Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report (GHG) and Monitoring, Reporting, Verification (MPV), GHG emissions are mostly caused by five industries: energy, waste, agriculture, food and land use coalition, and industry. The palm oil industry has grown significantly during the past few decades, particularly in Indonesia and Malaysia. The primary output of the palm oil sector is crude palm oil (CPO). It is anticipated that Indonesia will keep trying to satisfy domestic demand for palm oil. However, people still seek out goods made with palm oil that is environmentally friendly to create. Environmental concerns, particularly the claim that CPO production is a source of carbon release, are another obstacle to Indonesia's CPO exports to European and American nations (Uning et al., 2020). Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is the recommended approach to measure a product's or process's environmental impact with accurate results, according to a body of literature (Wahyono & Hadiyanto, 2019). Although the life cycle assessment method was first developed to evaluate how items affect the environment, it may also be customized to meet the needs of the business. As a result of this modification, UNEP developed a brand-new technique known as Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (O-LCA). There have not been many studies done in the past that use O-LCA to assess how business processes affect the environment, particularly with the idea of sustainability. Organizational life cycle assessments enable businesses to identify critical environmental operations and make improvements while considering a variety of sustainability variables, as well as other elements like environmental, economic, social, and technological considerations. Keywords: Carbon Footprint, Palm Oil Plantation, Life Cycle Analysis, Multi-Criteria

Environment impact and bioenergy analysis on the microwave pyrolysis of WAS from food industry: Comparison of CO2 and N2 atmosphere.

The alarming output of waste activated sludge (WAS) from industries requires proper management routes to minimize its impact on the environment during disposal. Pyrolysis is a feasible way of processing and valorizing WAS into higher-value products of alternate use. Despite extensive research into the potential of WAS through pyrolysis, the technology's long-term viability and environmental impact have yet to be fully revealed. In addition, the environmental effects of utilizing different pyrolysis atmosphere (N2 or CO2) has not been studied before, although benefits of CO2 reactivity during pyrolysis have been discovered. This study evaluates the process's environmental impact, carbon footprint, and bioenergy yield when different pyrolysis atmospheres are used. The global warming potential (GWP) for a functional unit of 1t of dried WAS is 203.81kg CO2 eq. The heat required during pyrolysis contributes the most (63.7%) towards GWP due to high energy usage, followed by the drying process (23.6%). Transportation contributes the most towards toxicity impact (59.3%) through dust, NOx, NH3 and SO2 emissions. The initial moisture content of raw WAS (65%) greatly impacts overall energy consumption and environmental impact. Pyrolysis in an N2 atmosphere will result in a higher overall bioenergy yield (833kWh/tonne) and a lower carbon footprint (-1.09kg CO2/tonne). However, when CO2 was used, the specific energy value within the biochar is higher (22.26MJ/kg) due to enhanced carbonization. The carbon content of gas derived increased due to higher CO yield. From an energy perspective, the current setup will achieve a net positive bioenergy yield of 561kW (CO2) and 833kW (N2), where end products like biochar, bio-oil and gas can be used for power production. Despite the energy-intensive process, microwave pyrolysis has excellent potential to achieve a negative carbon footprint. The biochar used for soil amendment served as a good carbon sink. The utilization of CO2 as carrier gases provides a pathway to utilize anthropogenic CO2, which helps reduce global warming. This work demonstrates microwave pyrolysis as a negative emission, bioenergy-producing approach for WAS disposal and valorization.

Environmental and economic assessment of food additive production from mushroom bio-residues

This work analysed the environmental and economic impacts of extracts enriched in ergosterol and vitamin D 2 production from bio-residues of Agaricus Bisporus mushrooms. The main hotspots of the extractive processes in environmental terms were identified through the standardized methodology Life Cycle Assessment. In respect to the economic analysis, the Material Flow Cost Accounting approach was applied to identify production costs, distinguishing between valued and wasted costs. The LCA results showed that electricity consumption is a key factor in environmental aspects, having the highest contribution to the process's environmental impact. In general, the most electricity-consuming unit processes analysed were lyophilization, extraction and evaporation. Despite evaporation being a process with great energy consumption, it also mitigates environmental impacts, since it allows solvent recovery through the extraction and reutilization phases in new iterations. The production costs for the identified extracts were determined: extract enriched in ergosterol (2.43€/1 g of extract) and extract enriched in vitamin D 2 (8.28€/1 g of extract). Recovered solvent incorporation in posterior iterations resulted in a total cost decrease of about 47% for ergosterol-extract and about 39% for vitamin D 2 extract. Solvent's recovery and reutilization allowed to not only reduce the environmental impacts but also the production costs.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT SYSTEM: ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

One of the main factors of territorial attractiveness of modern settlement systems is the environmental aspect, which, analyzing the trends and tendencies of society, will become increasingly important. The aim of the study is to analyze the issues of environmental development and their impact on settlement systems. The article notes the high impact of environmental processes on the formation of the attractiveness of areas. Pollution of air and water, increase in the amount of non-recyclable and non-recyclable waste, climate change, deforestation - these factors have a direct impact on the development of ecosystems. In an urban environment, their impact on human life and health is growing. Among the main elements of the ecological block of the attractiveness of the territory were identified the presence of environmentally hazardous facilities, emissions of harmful substances, air pollution, indicators of access to clean water. The problem of water availability is relevant, because today the world can not fully meet all the household needs of the population. Rationalization of water use is an important requirement. The analysis of air pollution showed that the biggest polluters are industrial enterprises in the districts, but they are economically attractive due to the activities of these enterprises. The density of emissions of pollutants into the atmosphere from stationary sources of pollution per square meter. meter of area indicates unstable dynamics. Analysis of the generation of household and industrial waste showed that in most areas of Ukraine there has been a reduction in their volume since 2019. Hypotheses to reduce the attractiveness of agricultural areas due to ill-considered use of pesticides. There are low costs for environmental protection, which causes a number of problems with overcoming air pollution, waste disposal, providing the population with clean water and rational agriculture.

Environmental impact of the cultivation of energy willow in Poland

The purpose of the work is to analyze the structure of the environmental impact of energy willow cultivation (Salix spp.) on plantations of various sizes, divided per materials and processes. The research covered 15 willow plantations, ranging from 0.31 ha to 12 ha, located in southern Poland. It was found, among others, that the so-called processes, i.e. the use of technical means of production, dominate the structure of the environmental impact (EI) related to the cultivation of energy willow, and that the cultivation of energy willow on larger plantations has a much lower environmental impact compared to cultivation on smaller plantations. Also, in the case of the environmental impact of processes, the largest environmental impact was recorded in the human health category, which is mainly associated with the consumption of fuel, i.e. diesel. It was determined, e.g., that the cultivation of energetic willow on larger plantations is characterized by a much lower environmental impact (as per the cultivation area), at approx. 108 Pt, compared to the cultivation on smaller plantations, where the value of the environmental impact is 168 Pt. A decisively dominant position in the structure of the environmental impact (EI), related to the cultivation of energy willow, is held by the so-called processes, i.e. the use of technical means of production. Their share in the total environmental impact decreases from 148.5 Pt in the group of the smallest plantations to 77.9 Pt in the group of the largest plantations.

Corporate Responsibility: A Green Initiative to Reduce Chlorobenzene Based Chemistries in Semiconductor Processing

ABSTRACTClimate change and an increase in endangered species, are examples of technological advances negatively impacting the environment. As technology demands increase, an earnest effort to reduce the environmental impact of processing and manufacturing related activities is critical. From a business perspective, minimizing or removing toxic process chemicals is a high impact area that can increase work environment safety and decrease waste management costs. This work presents processing considerations when transitioning to greener alternative polymer resist solvents, for applications in nanomanufacturing with sustainability considerations. Within government contracting, process modifications that change product form, fit, or function require qualification and at minimum justification. This work presents the conversion from a chlorobenzene to anisole based solvent using a 495 kMW polymetheyl methacrylate polymer resin, without impacting form fit or function of the intended device. Resist conversion is of interest as the difference in the substituents of the two solvents, impact the effective toxicity of the polymer resists. Specifically, the oral median lethal dose (LD50) in rats for chlorobenzene is 1110 mg/kg, while anisole is 3700 mg/kg. Therefore, developing a process utilizing anisole and replacing chlorobenzene addresses safety concerns and contributes to green initiatives worldwide. Within this work electron beam lithography fabricated transistor components consisting of a double layered source, and gate were converted from a chlorobenzene to anisole based process; while maintaining process of record specifications. The purpose of this work is to provide a starting platform for individuals seeking to convert from a chlorobenzene solvent to an anisole based resist for sub-micron lithography steps.

An insight into the electrical energy demand of friction stir welding processes: the role of process parameters, material and machine tool architecture

The manufacturing sector accounts for a high share of global electrical energy consumption and CO2 emissions, and therefore, the environmental impact of production processes is being more and more investigated. An analysis of power and energy consumption in friction stir welding processes can contribute to the characterization of the process from a new point of view and also provide useful information about the environmental impact of the process. An in-depth analysis of electrical energy demand of friction stir welding is here proposed. Different machine tool architectures, including an industrial dedicated machine, have been used to weld aluminum and steel sheets under different process conditions. The influence of tool rotation and feed rate was investigated. A power study, with breakdown analysis, was carried out to identify the contribution of the main sub-units and to determine the total demand. Different setups have been analyzed in order to identify the conditions resulting in the highest energy and mechanical efficiency. Potential control strategies for energy consumption reduction of FSW process are proposed.

Peroxidative oxidation of cyclic and linear hexane catalysed by supported iron complexes under mild and sustainable conditions

The development of economical heterogeneous catalysts based on first row transition metal complexes that work under mild and sustainable reaction conditions in the activation of CH bonds is very important. Herein, commercially available iron(II) and iron(III) acetylacetonate were immobilised onto amine functionalised economical and environmentally acceptable solid porous supports: hexagonal mesoporous silica and activated carbon. The materials prepared by this very simple and straightforward methodology were characterised by elemental analysis, ICP-AES, FTIR, isotherms of adsorption at 77K and thermogravimetry. It showed that both porous materials were conveniently functionalised with amine groups and that the iron metal complexes could be effectively anchored onto these materials. The immobilised iron salts were active as heterogeneous catalysts in the oxidation of cyclohexane and n-hexane at room temperature with hydrogen peroxide, giving the respective alcohols and ketones. They could also be recycled at least two times without loss of catalytic activity in the oxidation of cyclohexane. In the oxidation of n-hexane this was only true for the anchored Fe(II) salts. In the oxidation of cyclohexane, both iron salts are more active heterogeneous catalysts anchored onto the activated carbons than onto the hexagonal mesoporous silicas. The opposite is observed in the oxidation of n-hexane. The heterogeneous catalysts reported herein are economical and work under mild reaction conditions and thus could be valuable for the improvement of the sustainability and environmental impact of processes currently used in industry.

Environmental impact of castor oil catalytic transfer hydrogenation

In the vegetable oil chemical industry, hydrogenation is one of the most important processes. An alternative method for vegetable oil hydrogenation is the use of catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH), which can utilize organic molecules as hydrogen donors at ambient pressure. These alternative processes should be optimized in relation to the variables required for a good conversion and impacts should also be known to be minimized. An assessment of the environmental impact of laboratory scale chemical processes is an important tool to improve the technological aspects of a process (increased yields, reduced production times, lower costs) and it can also lead to the creation of a cleaner technology. Using the Leopold Matrix, we have succeeded in developing a more efficient and cleaner process for the CTH of castor oil using Raney Ni as a catalyst and cyclohexene or isopropanol as a hydrogen donor solvent. The results of the technical and environmental assessments showed that the extent of conversion for the unsaturation reaction was high (>99 %), and the environmental impact of the process could be significantly reduced to create a cleaner technology. It was found, after process optimization, that the remaining environmental impacts were negative (67.48 %), local (78.95 %), temporary (95.33 %), direct (80.12 %), and reversible (95.32 %).

Selection of an optimized method for pitting processes with sustainability as an important factor

Recent engineering products must meet the demand for downsizing and sophistication. Environmentally benign manufacturing has also become a key technology for sustainable development. Striking a balance between product quality and environmental impact in manufacturing processes has become an important issue in the design of eco-friendly products. However, despite this increasing demand from the industry, there is dearth of research on the environmental impact of processing as compared to studies on conventional manufacturing factors such as cost and time. We have tried to clarify the relationship between quality and environmental impact directly from experimental data. The pitting process that we chose as our experimental process is one of the most general and important processes in the industry. In this paper, we discuss a basic concept for selecting optimal processing methods and conditions for the pitting process from the aspect of employing an environmentally benign process. By applying our study to the industry, engineers can easily conduct processes that are not only high in quality but also low in environmental impact.

Environmental Impact and Intensity of Processes in Selected Services Companies

SummaryThe study fills the gap in existing literature by comparing the economic costs and environmental impacts of processes in four services companies in Europe and the United States. Process‐based life cycle assessment (LCA) and the case study method are used to compare companies both on four global‐scale impacts and on environmental intensity (impacts per unit cost). The study builds on prior publications on the environmental contribution of processes. The processes include all the activities of the companies that result in an entry into the bookkeeping records. The results show that despite the substantial differences in organizational characteristics and line of business, all the cases had similar environmental contributions and intensity profiles. Wages, which accounted for over half of the costs, were assumed not to cause any environmental impacts. By contrast, the office premises, which generated less than 10% of the costs, caused around 50% of the environmental impacts. At a more general level, the results suggest that both the high environmental impact and the high intensity are attributed mostly to a few premises‐related processes in the services industry. The results also seem to imply that the companies could gain added value by using life cycle assessment in determining the significant environmental impacts of their operations.

How green is my valley?

Attempts have been made to compare the environmental impact or burden of different products or processes by equating different types of pollution. The results of these attempts are highly debated and time sensitive, due to the evolving understanding of the relative danger of different pollutants. In order to develop a method to better understand the magnitude of environmental impacts of a process or product, the relative impact on air pollution of electrical generation in forty-nine states is examined. Three pollutants (NOx, SOx, and CO2) are considered simultaneously. A State's electrical generation is ranked as efficient if its environmental burden is relatively less then at least one other state in one or more of the three categories. States that have a greater environmental burden for air pollution in all of the three categories of air pollutants are ranked as inefficient and the degree of inefficiency is calculated. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used for this analysis and is able to reduce a set of forty-nine options to one efficient option. The limitation of DEA for analysis of environmental burdens is also discussed.

Introducing design for the environment at boeing defense and space group through the application of abridged life‐cycle analysis

AbstractThe streamlined, matrix approach to environmental Life‐Cycle Analysis (LCA) developed originally at AT&T by Graedel and Allenby can be adapted to manufacturing processes to produce a useful tool for Design for the Environment (DFE). Pollution prevention in manufacturing has typically focused on the environmental impact of processes at a manufacturer's site. However, it is important to recognize that a process has a “life cycle,” albeit not precisely like the life cycle associated with a product. Modification of processes can also have upstream and downstream effects. In this article, the authors show how, by using a streamlined LCA matrix, it is possible to evaluate the environmental impact associated with a process over the process's life cycle. This approach also allows managers to allocate resources to improve processes that have greater environmental impact and to assess process improvements.