By-product Recovery Research Articles

Harnessing the Potential of Whey in the Creation of Innovative Food Products: Contributions to the Circular Economy

Food waste and by-products are intricately linked to sustainable food production, as reducing waste can play a significant role in achieving a more sustainable and efficient food system. Sustainable utilization and recovery of by-products can significantly contribute by creating strategies that can lead to cost savings and increased efficiency across the food supply chain. Worldwide, more than 40% of whey from cheese production is discarded, resulting in the loss of valuable nutrients and potentially polluting the environment. Effective use of whey reduces environmental impact and enhances manufacturing sustainability. Thus, a circular approach to food waste management in the dairy industry supports sustainability goals and creates opportunities for innovation. Whey contains most of the soluble components of milk, including a large number of serum proteins and all the essential amino acids, making it suitable for producing beverages with high nutritional value. This study aims to produce whey-based beverages with different additions to obtain dairy products with high nutritional value. Three different ingredients, sea buckthorn, ginger, and cinnamon, were chosen for their numerous health benefits to the consumer. Six samples were prepared utilizing both unmodified and deproteinized whey in a 75% proportion, with the addition of 25% sea buckthorn juice, 0.75% ginger juice, and 0.2% cinnamon powder. The resultant samples were packaged in 200 mL bottles and maintained at a controlled temperature of 6 °C to ensure optimal preservation. Given the paramount importance of consumer acceptability in novel beverage development, a comprehensive evaluation was conducted to assess the sensory properties of the formulated beverages. In addition, physico-chemical properties and their evolution over 14 days of storage were examined. The sample containing whey, sea buckthorn juice, ginger juice, and cinnamon powder received the highest marks from the tasters. The values of the physico-chemical parameters varied depending on the type of whey used and the storage period. Thus, a pH of approximately 5 and an acidity between 30 and 80 °T were recorded. The average lactose content was 4%, the average protein content was 2.5%, and the total soluble solids content was 11.5 °Brix. The beverages developed in this study represent viable alternatives for diversifying food production through sustainable, environmentally friendly technological variants. By applying circular economy principles, these products contribute to reducing food waste in the dairy industry.

Research Trends in the Recovery of By-Products from Organic Waste Treated by Anaerobic Digestion: A 30-Year Bibliometric Analysis

The prevailing extractive economic model is unsustainable due to the finite nature of resources, thereby necessitating the development of alternative models and policies. The anaerobic digestion (AD) process is key to achieving this objective, as it facilitates the conversion of organic waste into biogas and nutrient-rich digestate. This approach is aligned with the principles of a circular economy and contributes to a reduction in carbon emissions. This study aims to conduct a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the literature published over the past three decades (1993–2023). The analysis will be based on data drawn from the Scopus database and then analysed using the VOSviewer software, which allows for the interconnection of the revised bibliography through a series of selected keywords. The results demonstrated the existence of four clusters: (i) the beneficial valorisation of waste; (ii) volatile fatty acids and biohydrogen as added value by-products resulting from AD; (iii) lignocellulosic substrates and their by-products; and iv) the main products of AD, biogas and digestate. The bibliometric analysis demonstrates a growing interest in AD within the biorefinery concept in recent years, showcasing its potential for effective waste management and integration into the production chain through the principles of the circular economy.

Prospective life cycle assessment: Identifying the most promising methods for sustainable cellulose nanocrystal production

Concerted endeavors are presently in progress to discern eco-friendlier methods for cellulose nanocrystals (CNC) production, negating the conventional reliance on hazardous concentrated sulfuric acids. Despite the proliferation of methods purported to be environmentally sound, their assertions often lack rigorous scrutiny, relying on theoretical postulations. This study presents the first prospective glimpse into their environmental performance utilizing a life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology from cradle-to-gate. The results transpired that many of the vaunted environmentally-friendly methods resulted in higher environmental loads compared to the traditional method, due to lower conversion rates and higher reaction energy demand. Notably, only specific methods demonstrate lower endpoint impact scores, including deep eutectic solvent extraction (−48 %), ammonium persulfate-assisted oxidation (−62 %), sulfuric acid hydrolysis in glycerol medium (−56 %), and enzymatic hydrolysis (−40 %). Their primary green attributes associate with the utilization of solvents carrying lower climate impact and toxicity level. The reaction stage carries the heaviest burden due to the increased energy required to counteract modest reactivities of the milder solvents. As mitigation strategies, heat integration and by-product recovery for energy generation were explored, resulting in emission reductions of 11–26 % and 41–68 %, respectively, across the proven eco-friendlier methods. This study comprehensively validated a roster of genuinely green candidates, offering a more sustainable prospect than traditional methods and paving the way for large-scale green CNC production.

Study on the establishment of air pollutant and carbon emission inventory and collaborative emission reduction potential of China's coking industry from 2012 to 2022

Coking industry is usually regarded as a high pollution and high energy consumption industry. China is accelerating its efforts to reduce pollution and carbon emissions in the industrial sector, which has received little attention as the world's largest producer of coke. Therefore, in this study, the trend of air pollution and carbon emissions in China's coking industry and the path of coordinated emission reduction were studied. The results indicate that the average annual emissions of PM, SO2, NOx, VOCs, and CO2 in China's coking industry from 2012 to 2022 amount to 205.98, 69.47, 193.45, 599.80 Gg and 191.10 Tg, respectively. The main sources of PM, SO2, NOx, VOCs and CO2 in coking industry were coal preparation (51.5 %), charge and pushing (39.5 %), coke oven gas (99.8 %), byproduct recovery (47.0 %) and fuel combustion (87.5 %). The emissions from coking plants in central and southern Shanxi, eastern and southern Hebei, and central Shandong are the most concentrated. Ultra-low emission transformation and deep treatment of VOCs have greatly reduced pollutant emissions in key areas of air pollutant control, but the actual emission reduction effect of these measures has been weakened by the additional emissions caused by the increase of coke production in other non-key areas. The research on synergetic emission reduction path shows that there is a great synergistic benefit between air pollutants and CO2 emission reduction in coking industry. It is estimated that the APeq (air pollutants and carbon equivalent) of China's coking industry in 2025, 2028 and 2030 will decrease by 38.2 %, 63.5 % and 70.8 % respectively compared with 2022. With the continuous promotion of pollution reduction and carbon reduction measures, the emission reduction potential of China's coking industry will gradually shift from key areas to non-key areas.

Preparation of Fe/Co bimetallic oxide loaded hydrophobic & catalytic bifunctional membrane and its catalytic performance in sulfite oxidation

Sulfite oxidation is critical for the stable operation of desulfurization process and the treatment & recovery of desulfurization by-products. The Fe and Co oxides modified super hydrophobic layer was prepared on tubular ceramic membranes using hydrothermal synthesis and surface modifications to realize the combination of the membrane catalysis and membrane aeration. These two oxides were approximately two-layer distributed on the membrane surface, among which the Fe2O3 located in the bottom layer and the Co3O4 located in the upper layer. The catalytic rate of the bifunctional membrane was about 5.8 times than that of the original ceramic membrane, which was decreased with the increasing of Fe/Co ratio and declined after an initial rise with the increase of urea and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. The conjoint effect of Fe and Co could improve the catalytic performance and reduce the dissolution loss of catalyzer. The oxidation rate tended to be constant after a 15 % decrease in 7 times experiments.

Sustainability indicators in beef slaughterhouses: a systematic review

The sustainable management of slaughterhouses follows market demands. The article reports a systematic literature review on the environmental impacts of beef slaughterhouses, using the PRISMA method. The review highlights the use of analytical hierarchy (AHP), greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions assessment, and life cycle assessment (LCA). The studies used the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to evaluate sustainability in the supply chain and meat production, highlighting the preponderance of economic criteria over social and environmental aspects. They identified crucial indicators such as industry diversity and energy consumption, highlighting the need for a balanced approach that considers these different aspects to achieve sustainability. The life cycle assessment focused on reducing the water footprint and greenhouse gas emissions, with the potential for mitigation through the recovery of by-products in slaughterhouses. The study showed importance of maximizing the use of slaughtered animals to reduce the environmental footprint, identifying fossil fuels as the main contributors to climate change and recommending the transition to organic agriculture as a strategy to reduce emissions. After screening, 14 were selected and, finally, 7 works were included. It also showed the low number of bibliographic materials on sustainability indicators in beef slaughterhouses e pointing out the need for more research in this field, implementation of sustainable practices in beef production, with special emphasis on the incorporation of ESG indicators to ensure an approach aligned with the global sustainability demands.

Contributions on the use of grape pomace as an antifungal and antimycotoxin agent in wheat for bakery industry

The purpose of this study is to test and analyze the antifungal and anti-toxic effects of treatments with grape pomace extracts as natural antifungal agent for wheat protection. This research aims to provide a natural solution for the prevention, control or reduction of fungal contamination in the agricultural sector, the food industry and in the storage, milling and processing sub-units of cereals, but also to encourage sustainable food systems, oriented towards innovative strategies for the recovery of by-products and waste from manufacturing processes, resulting in large amounts of waste from the fruit processing industry globally. According to the data obtained, in order to ensure optimal antifungal control of wheat in warehouses, it is recommended to use a 10% GPE treatment, which significantly reduces the contamination of wheat with Fusarium and DON, the effect being reported only after 14 days after administration.

Exploitation of Natural By-Products for the Promotion of Healthy Outcomes in Humans: Special Focus on Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Mechanisms and Modulation of the Gut Microbiota.

Daily, a lot of food is wasted, and vegetables, fruit, and cereals as well as marine products represent the major sources of unwanted by-products. The sustainability, waste recovery, and revalorization of food by-products have been proposed as the main goals of the so-called circular economy. In fact, food wastes are enriched in by-products endowed with beneficial effects on human health. Grape, olives, vegetables, and rice contain different compounds, such as polyphenols, dietary fibers, polysaccharides, vitamins, and proteins, which exert antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, inhibiting pro-oxidant genes and the Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kβ) pathway, as demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Dietary fibers act upon the gut microbiota, expanding beneficial bacteria, which contribute to healthy outcomes. Furthermore, marine foods, even including microalgae, arthropods, and wastes of fish, are rich in carotenoids, polyphenols, polyunsaturated fatty acids, proteins, and chitooligosaccharides, which afford antioxidant and anti-inflammatory protection. The present review will cover the major by-products derived from food wastes, describing the mechanisms of action involved in the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, as well as the modulation of the gut microbiota. The effects of some by-products have also been explored in clinical trials, while others, such as marine by-products, need more investigation for their full exploitation as bioactive compounds in humans.

Advanced valorisation for cork wastewater

The cork manufacturing process generates cork boiling wastewater, characterized by high COD and phenolic compounds content. The main aim of this study is the advanced valorization of these spills through a green and efficient process with two main stages. Firstly, most of the organic matter was removed by an optimal design of a precipitation with calcium. The resulting depuration rates were in the ranges 37–53 % for COD and 70–87 % for TPC. Secondly, the precipitates generated were subjected to a biodigestion process with production of methane (up to 234 L CH4·kg VS−1) and fertilizers. In conclusion, good recovery of interesting by-products and a good yield of depuration were achieved with the technology proposed, avoiding the use of toxic reagents and demonstrating the potential of concentrate precipitates from CBWs as substrates for biodigestion.

Effect of microalgae and bacteria inoculation on the startup of bioreactors for paper pulp wastewater and biofuel production

The use of microalgae and bacteria as a strategy for the startup of bioreactors for the treatment of industrial wastewater can be a sustainable and economically viable alternative. This technology model provides satisfactory results in the nitrification and denitrification process for nitrogen removal, organic matter removal, biomass growth, sedimentation, and byproducts recovery for added-value product production. The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of microalgae and bacteria in their symbiotic process when used in the treatment of paper pulp industry wastewater. The experiment, lasting fourteen days, utilized four bioreactors with varying concentrations in mgVSS/L of microalgae to bacteria ratio (R1-100:100, R2-100:300, R3-100:500, R4-300:100) in the startup process. Regarding the sludge volumetric index (SVI), the results show that the R1 and R2 reactors developed SVI30/SVI10 biomass in the range of 85.57 ± 7.33% and 84.72 ± 8.19%, respectively. The lipid content in the biomass of reactors R1, R2, R3 e R4 was 13%, 7%, 19%, and 22%, respectively. This high oil content at the end of the batch, may be related to the nutritional stress that the species underwent during this feeding regime. In terms of chlorophyll, the bioreactor with an initial inoculation of 100:100 showed better symbiotic growth of microalgae and bacteria, allowing exponential growth of microalgae. The total chlorophyll value for this bioreactor was 801.46 ± 196.96 μg/L. Biological removal of nitrogen from wastewater from the paper pulp industry is a challenge due to the characteristics of the effluent, but the four reactors operated in a single batch obtained good nitrogen removal. Ammonia nitrogen removal performances were 91.55 ± 9.99%, 72.13 ± 19.18%, 64.04 ± 21.34%, and 86.15 ± 30.10% in R1, R2, R3, and R4, respectively.

Vertical Haloponics: Sustainable and Resilient Productions Using Brackish Water

While the rapidly growing global population will require a significant increase in food production in the next years, the current climate, sanitary and geopolitical crises highlight the weaknesses of the actual food production systems, excessively dependent on external inputs and involving extremely complex nested scales and non-linear processes. Thus, appears clearly the need of accelerating the transition toward agricultural solutions and food systems based on the principles of the “Green Deal”, encompassing ecological resilience, environmental sustainability, local production, and universal access to healthy foods. Aquaponics (AP) can provide short and eco-friendly food supply chains with increased resource-use efficiency, high environmental sustainability, and food resilience. The sustainability of AP systems could be further increased by exploiting water resources that are not suitable for other purposes (brackish and salt water - haloponics), applying the vertical farming technology for both aquatic and vegetable species, reducing the use of fish meal in aquafeeds, valorizing the system residues (sludge) for agronomic purposes.The VERTICHALPONICS project aims to develop an innovative food production system by implementing an interdisciplinary approach. Since aquaponics combines recirculation aquaculture and hydroponics, within a close loop, it is considered environment friendly. However, given the different technical approaches, it is necessary to evaluate the differences in impacts and specially to assess whether the vertical system is really resource-efficient and economically viable for farmers, in comparison to the business-as-usual. The environmental and economic sustainability of the system is measured by the mean of a combined LCA and the LCC analysis (EN ISO 14040-44 and ISO 15686-5:2017 standards). The system expansion will be used to evaluate the beneficial effect of reducing the overall environmental burden from by-product recovery and utilization of side wastes, specifically the sludge produced. The method applied are Recipe and IPCC 2013 Global Warming Potential 100a. Environmental impact indicators will be provided using both mid-point and end-point categories thank to the Recipe Method, while the IPCC 2013 Global Warming Potential 100a will be applied to calculate the direct global warming potential of the system. Moreover, the inclusion of the agronomic valorization of the sludge will be analyzed to understand the potential in terms of avoided impacts.

Strategy for Efficient Recovery of NCM Materials by the Reagent-Free Method: Green Recovery of Lithium and High-Value Byproducts through Capacitive Deionization Reverse Applications

Strategy for Efficient Recovery of NCM Materials by the Reagent-Free Method: Green Recovery of Lithium and High-Value Byproducts through Capacitive Deionization Reverse Applications

Globe Artichoke (Cynara scolymus L.) By-Products in Food Applications: Functional and Biological Properties.

Globe artichoke (Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus L.) is widely cultivated in the Mediterranean area and Italy is one of the largest producers. A great issue is represented by its high amount of by-product, mainly consisting of external bracts and stems, but also of residual leaves, stalks, roots, and seeds. Artichoke by-products are rich in nutrients (carbohydrates and proteins) and bioactive compounds (polyphenols and terpenes) and represent potential ingredients for foodstuffs, functional foods, and food supplements, due to their functional and biological properties. In fact, artichoke by-products' components exhibit many beneficial effects, such as dyspeptic, prebiotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiglycative, antimicrobial, anticarcinogenic, and hypolipidemic properties. Therefore, they can be considered potential food ingredients useful in reducing the risk of developing metabolic and age-related disorders. This work summarizes the economic and environmental impact of the recovery and valorization of artichoke by-products, focusing on rheological, physical, and biological properties of the different components present in each by-product and their different food applications.

Analysis of current state, gaps, and opportunities for technologies in the Malaysian oil palm estates and palm oil mills towards net-zero emissions

Malaysia is the second largest producer and exporter of palm oil. Though several works have explored achieving emissions reduction in the palm oil sector, there existing gaps in analysing pathways for achieving net-zero emissions. Moreover, there are limited studies that evaluate the potential of palm oil biomass utilisation pathways based on emissions reduction capabilities, the cost of emissions reduction, and the technology readiness for implementation. Therefore, this study analysed decarbonisation pathways for the upstream and midstream segments of the palm oil sector in Malaysia, encompassing oil palm plantations and palm oil mills. Various sources of greenhouse gas emissions in oil palm plantations and palm oil mills were identified and estimates of emissions were determined as theoretical emissions. The current emissions were established based on the current best practice in the plantation and mill. Several biomass conversion technologies for the recovery of palm-based by-products and conversion into value-added products to decarbonise the palm oil sector and evaluated strategies to attain net-zero status are considered. In this work, the analysis considered both the existing technologies that are adopted by plantations and mills as well as the emerging technologies that have scope for implementation. With the proposed approach, the current emissions level for crude palm oil (CPO) production in Malaysia is estimated as 1121.49 kg CO2-eq/t CPO. In current industry practice, empty fruit bunch (EFB) is underutilised as mills are typically located at rural areas with lack of suitable transportation. Besides, the lack of accessibility to the grid also limits the potential of converting EFB into electricity as supply for national grid. This work examined various pathways for EFB utilisation under different scenarios evaluating their contribution potential towards net-zero target in an energy self-sustained CPO production. As shown in the results, converting EFB to briquettes and pellets are able to achieve the net-zero objective. Furthermore, EFB-biochar and EFB-syngas pathways also exhibit the potential to accomplish the net-zero target. Note that this work also assessed the technologies’ readiness levels, identified challenges in implementation, and proposed several recommendations.

Raman Technology for Process Control: Waste Shell Demineralization for Producing Transparent Polymer Foils Reinforced with Natural Antioxidants and Calcium Acetate By-Products

Waste biogenic materials derived from seafood exploitation represent valuable resources of new compounds within the blue bioeconomy concept. Here, we describe the effectiveness of Raman technology implementation as an in-line tool for the demineralization process control of crustaceans or gastropods. Transparent chitin polymeric foils and calcium acetate by-products were obtained from three waste crustacean shells (C. sapidus, S. mantis, and M. squinado) using a slow, green chemical approach employing acetic acid. Progressive mineral dissolution and increasing of the Raman characteristic signal of chitin is shown in a time-dependent manner using NIR-Raman spectroscopy, while resonance Raman shows intact carotenoids in reacted shells after 2 weeks. Chitin foil products are species-specific, and the demineralization bath of the waste shell mixture can be effectively tracked by Raman tools for solvent control and decision making for the recovery of calcium acetate by-products. Comparatively obtained calcium acetate from Rapana venosa snail shells, the subject of Raman analyses, allowed assessing by-product identity, hydration status, purity, and suitability as recrystallized material for further use as a pharmaceutical compound derived from different crustaceans or gastropod species. Cross validation of the results was done using FT-IR, XRD, and SEM-EDX techniques. A hand-held flexible TacticID Raman system with 1064 nm excitation demonstrated its effectiveness as a rapid, in-line decision making tool during process control and revealed excellent reproducibility of the lab-based instrument signal, suitable for in situ evaluation of the demineralization status and solvent saturation control.

Innovative recovery of matrix layered double hydroxide from simulated acid mine wastewater for the removal of copper and cadmium from wastewater.

This study innovatively added biochar to optimize regulation in the neutralization process of simulated acid mine drainage (AMD) and recovered a new type of matrix layered double hydroxides (MLDH), which can be used to remove copper (Cu(II)) and cadmium (Cd(II)) from wastewater. A series of batch experiments show that MLDH with strong selective removal ability of Cu(II) and Cd(II) can be successfully obtained by adding biochar (BC) at pH = 5 end in the neutralization process. Kinetic and isotherm modeling studies indicated that the removal of Cu(II) and Cd(II) by the MLDH was a chemical multilayer adsorption process. The removal mechanism of Cu(II) and Cd(II) was further analyzed through related characterization analysis with contribution rate calculation: the removal rates of Cu(II) and Cd(II) by ion exchange were 42.7% and 26%, while that by precipitation were 34.5% and 49.9%, respectively. This study can provide a theoretical reference and experimental basis for the recovery and utilization of valuable by-products in AMD and the treatment of heavy metal wastewater.

Bioremediation of Kraft Lignin in Wastewater: Optimization of Temperature and Isolation of Valuable Compounds

Conventional methods for the treatment of complex lignin found in the pulp and paper mill effluent is a strenuous and expensive process. Microbial degradation is a promising technique to degrade lignin efficiently due to its adaptability and rapid growth of microbes in diverse environments. This study is focused on the isolation of potential ligninolytic bacterial strains from agricultural soil and decomposed wood sources for successful degradation of lignin present in the wastewater. Initially, 15 ligninolytic strains were identified and three dominant species, Staphylococcus lentus (SB5), Bacillus megaterium (RWB15) and Pseudomonas geniculata (RWP9) were isolated as per their growth tolerance pattern with different lignin concentrations. The lignin degradation study was carried out at different temperatures (25-45℃) with 1000 mg/l of feed lignin concentrations. The optimum degradation temperature of all the strains fell within the range 30-35℃. The maximum lignin degradation of SB5, RWB15 and RWP9 was identified as 89, 77 and 90% at the end of the 6th, 3rd and 7th day of biodegradation, respectively. There was a steep reduction of COD by all three microbes before attaining the stationary phase and thereafter COD reduction was sluggish due to the death phase. Besides, the microbes used in this study showed the transformation of lignin into valuable low-molecular by-products, vanillin, vanillic acid and adipic acid with their concentration being quantified as 28, 101 and 130 mg/l, respectively. This study shows the successful degradation of waste lignin and the recovery of valuable byproducts from waste streams.

Life cycle assessment of carbon footprint in dual-phase automotive strip steel production.

As the demand for automotive materials grows more stringent in environmental considerations, it becomes imperative to conduct thorough environmental impact assessments of dual-phase automotive strip steel (DP steel). However, the absence of detailed and comparable studies has left the carbon footprint of DP steel and its sources largely unknown. This study addresses this gap by establishing a cradle-to-gate life cycle model for DP steel, encompassing on-site production, energy systems, and upstream processes. The analysis identifies and scrutinizes key factors influencing the carbon footprint, with a focus on upstream mining, transportation, and on-site production processes. The results indicate that the carbon footprint of DP steel is 2.721 kgCO2-eq/kgDP, with on-site processes contributing significantly at 88.1%. Sensitivity analysis is employed to assess the impact of changes in resource structure, on-site energy, CO2 emission factors, and byproduct recovery on the carbon footprint. Proposals for mitigating carbon emissions in DP steel production include enhancing process gas recovery, transitioning to cleaner energy sources, and reducing the hot metal-to-steel ratio. These findings offer valuable insights for steering steel production towards environmentally sustainable practices.

Comparison of Traditional and Modern Techniques for Betalains Extraction from Amaranth Agro-Industrial Waste: The Recovery of High Value By-Products

Comparison of Traditional and Modern Techniques for Betalains Extraction from Amaranth Agro-Industrial Waste: The Recovery of High Value By-Products

Methodological approach based on life cycle assessment for upcycling leftover concrete into dry industrial mortars

This study examines the integration of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) as a crucial decision-making tool in by-product recovery studies within the construction sector. Unlike conventional methods that often delay LCA until after thecnical studies, our approach places LCA at the forefront of decision-making, ensuring that environmental considerations guide material design.This study investigates the valorization of concrete return fines in dry-mix mortars, starting with an initial LCA to validate environmental benefits of substituting natural sand by recycled sand before testing various formulations with different substitution rate.Our findings reveal significant reduction mainly in natural resource depletion, particularly evident at a 55% substitution rate, suggesting complete independence from natural resources. Additionally, the ecological profitability threshold is established at 200 km, indicating the radius within which the recycled sand can be used without compromising environmental gains.Economically, Life Cycle Costing (LCC) analysis demonstrate the cost-effectiveness of using recycled sand, even when its price exceeds that of natural sand. This economic resilience allows for flexibility in setting the selling price of recycled sand, thereby enhancing its valuation.In conclusion, our approach represents a paradigm shift in ecological decision-making by priotirizing LCA to emphasize the balance between environmental benefits and economic viability. This study paves the way for an eco-friendly application with significant potential for adoption within the construction industry.