Related Environmental Impact Research Articles

Sustainable design of fully recyclable all solid-state batteries

Abstract

Environmental assessment of concrete beams strengthened with fibre-reinforced polymer

As concerns grow over sustainable development, it is important to consider properly the environmental implications of using fibre-reinforced polymers to strengthen concrete structures. Since the load capacity of a structure has an effect on its relative environmental impact, an energy–mechanical index, in which both energy consumption and mechanical aspects are taken into account, was proposed for evaluating the integrated environmental performance of strengthening solutions. Life-cycle assessment was used to evaluate the energy use, and corresponding experiments were designed to obtain the load capacity of reinforced concrete beams with different strengthening solutions. Moreover, Monte Carlo simulation was adopted to analyse the parameter uncertainty of the life-cycle assessment. The strengthening experiments indicated that the carbon-fibre-reinforced-polymer strengthening solution had a more efficient improvement impact on load capacity compared with the basalt-fibre-reinforced-polymer solutions. The improvement with one carbon-fibre sheet was equivalent to that with two basalt-fibre sheets. However, the carbon-fibre strengthening solution consumed more energy than the basalt-fibre strengthening solutions due to its high embodied energy. In addition, the energy–mechanical index of the basalt-fibre strengthened beams was far lower than that of the carbon fibre ones, whether the determined approach or the probability-based method was adopted, indicating the superior integrated performance of the basalt-fibre-reinforced-polymer strengthening solution.

Life Cycle Assessment of Compostable Coffee Pods: A US University Based Case Study

Single-serve machines have proven to be a rapid and convenient mechanism for preparing coffee for consumption. However, disposing the single-use coffee pods accompanying each use creates insurmountable waste in landfills. With the introduction of biobased products being certified as industrially compostable, there is scope for an effective waste stream for nearly all biobased products that avoids adding to landfills. The case presented in this paper demonstrates the success of composting compostable coffee pods within a local industrial-scale composting facility. Utilizing the existing local composting facility at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville, a life cycle assessment was performed to calculate the overall embodied energy and related environmental impact(s) to determine the feasibility of using compostable coffee pods over conventional plastic ones. Testing showed complete degradation within 46 days, proving composting to be a feasible waste stream option and a sustainable marketing edge while treading the path toward a circular economy. Cost savings of 21% were realized in terms of waste disposal, in addition to creating a value-added product at the end of the coffee pods life cycle, with nutrient-rich compost being recirculated to campus gardens and farms.

Flow battery production: Materials selection and environmental impact

Energy storage systems, such as flow batteries, are essential for integrating variable renewable energy sources into the electricity grid. While a primary goal of increased renewable energy use on the grid is to mitigate environmental impact, the production of enabling technologies like energy storage systems causes environmental impact. Thus, understanding the impact of producing energy storage systems is crucial for determining the overall environmental performance of renewable energy from a systems perspective. In this study, the environmental impact associated with the production of emerging flow battery technologies is evaluated in an effort to inform materials selection and component design decisions. The production of three commercially available flow battery technologies is evaluated and compared on the basis of eight environmental impact categories, using primary data collected from battery manufacturers on the battery production phase including raw materials extraction, materials processing, manufacturing and assembly. In the baseline scenario, production of all-iron flow batteries led to the lowest impact scores in six of the eight impact categories such as global warming potential, 73 kg CO2 eq/kWh; and cumulative energy demand, 1090 MJ/kWh. While the production of vanadium redox flow batteries led to the highest impact values for six categories including global warming potential, 184 kg CO2 eq/kWh; and cumulative energy demand, 5200 MJ/kWh. Production of zinc-bromine flow batteries had the lowest values for ozone depletion, and freshwater ecotoxicity, and the highest value for abiotic resource depletion. The analysis highlight that the relative environmental impact of producing the three flow battery technologies varies with different system designs and materials selection choices. For example, harmonization of the battery system boundary led to freshwater eutrophication and freshwater ecotoxicity values for vanadium redox flow batteries lower than the values for zinc-bromine flow batteries. Regarding alternative material use strategies, we conclude that vanadium redox flow batteries exhibit the lowest potential in four of the eight impact categories including global warming potential at 61 kg CO2 eq/kWh. In zinc-bromine flow batteries, the titanium-based bipolar plate contributes higher environmental impact compared to carbon-based materials, and the polymer resins used in all-iron flow batteries could be replaced with material with lower potential for ecotoxicity. Overall, the analysis reveals the sources of potential environmental impact, due to the production of flow battery materials, components and systems. The findings from this study are urgently needed before these batteries become widely deployed in the renewable energy sector. Furthermore, our results indicate that materials options change the relative environmental impact of producing the three flow batteries and provide the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact associated with flow battery production and deployment.

A risk-based approach to produced water management in offshore oil and gas operations

Produced water is a waste of significant concern due to its high volume being produced every day and complex chemical composition. In order to meet environmental regulations and standards, different techniques can be used to treat produced water. This paper first summarizes produced water composition, its related environmental impact, regulations, and standards, as well as a possible combination of different treatment techniques. This paper aims to develop a generic framework for a risk-based approach to produced water management. The proposed methodology considers the integration of environmental, technical, and economic risks in the decision-making process for produced water management. Environmental risk assessment is conducted by DREAM, Failure Mode and Effects Analysis is used to estimate technical risk, and cost-benefit analysis is performed to calculate economic risk. To integrate all the risk values, acceptable risk levels are set and compared to the calculated risk values. Experts assign weighting factors by using pair-wise comparison. The sum of the multiplied weighting factors to the ratio of calculated-acceptable risk values gives the final integrated risk. This framework can help to examine and select the most suitable treatment or reuse technique or identify potential areas for improvement in a specific site. The estimated risk can be used to justify the selection process. A case study on the produced water treatment in Thunder Horse Oil Field is presented to demonstrate the application of the proposed framework.

The rise of technocratic environmentalism: the United States, Antarctica, and the globalisation of the environmental impact statement

Environmental impact statements (EISs), and the related environmental impact assessments (EIAs) which precede them, have become central elements of environmental management, governance, and policy worldwide since their introduction in the United States in 1970. Assessing environmental impact has a particular force and centrality within modern Antarctic environmental management and governance too. This article investigates the ways in which the United States used EISs and EIAs in Antarctica between 1970 and 1982 – during their first decade of existence in US law and during a geopolitically and scientifically vibrant decade in Antarctic affairs – as a way of illuminating the broader conceptual and historical aspects of this central, though understudied, environmental governance tool and framework. We historicise and draw attention to the EIS – individually, as a regulatory genre, and as a genre that articulates regional, global and planetary environments – as highly influential and powerful documents demanding attention from environmental historians and historical geographers. We argue that the prominence of EISs in Antarctica arose because they appealed to top-down, process-oriented approaches favoured in Antarctic governance – a technocratic environmentalism – and because of their spatial elements, particularly their tendency to upscaling.

Product-level inherent circularity and its relationship to environmental impact

Circular Economy scholarship has developed multiple metrics for assessing product-level circularity. To date, however, many product-level indicators either conflate circularity and environmental impact, or have been validated using a very limited sample of products. This study applies a single metric, “C”, to a sample of 18 products in the Swedish marketplace, and compares their C-scores with scores for lifecycle assessment (LCA). LCA scores for sample products are normalized by LCA scores of very similar reference products, allowing for comparison of LCAs across different product varieties. A test for correlation between products’ C-scores and LCA ratios reveals a strong, significant, and inverse association between levels of circularity and products’ relative environmental impact. The results offer evidence that products whose economic value is composed of relatively more recirculated material have a relatively low impact on the environment. Future research will benefit from applying similar tests to a broader variety of products and developing tools to expedite the accurate measurement of circularity and lifecycle impacts.

Dietary intake of energy, nutrients and phenolic compounds in Italian primary school children and their environmental impact

AbstractData from observational and interventional studies demonstrate the key role of diet on both human health and environmental sustainability. However, there is a lack of studies investigating the environmental impact of children's dietary behavior. In this regard, detailed information on population-level intakes is required to translate these findings into possible recommendations.The aim of this study was to investigate the nutritional composition of the diet and its related environmental impact in a sample of Italian primary school children (n = 200, 8–11 years, 52% F - 48% M).Children completed a 3-day food record twice, in winter and spring. Dietary records were processed to obtain mean daily data on food group intakes. Mean daily energy and nutrient intakes were computed applying the Italian food database of the European Institute of Oncology, while (poly)phenolic compound contents were estimated from the Phenol-Explorer or by specific searches in the most up to date scientific literature. The mean daily environmental impact was estimated through the Barilla Center for Food and Nutrition environmental database taking into account the carbon footprint and ecological footprint. Children's BMI was calculated by measuring height and weight at the beginning of each assessment week.No differences in children's BMI as well as in the consumption of food groups were found between the two seasons. The intra-individual variability was low but a high inter-individual variability was registered. Energy and nutrient intakes were similar between the two seasons and were found to be in line with national data referred to school age children. Adherence to the Italian nutritional recommendations (LARN) was not satisfied for total fats, sugars, and some vitamins and minerals. The main contributors to the phenolic intake were flavonoids and phenolic acids, while the most representative subclasses were flavan-3-ols and hydroxycinnamic acids. Main dietary sources of (poly)phenolic compounds were fruit juices, apples, pears, potatoes, and tomatoes. Carbon and ecological footprints were higher during winter and the main dietary contributors were red meat; milk, yogurt and dairies; pizza and focaccia, for both indexes.This study provided the first comprehensive analysis of the nutritional composition and the environmental impact of Italian primary school children diet. Further research is needed to evaluate children habitual diet for investigating a possible relationship between health and environmental sustainability. Moreover, school education programs have to be implemented for promoting healthy and sustainable dietary behaviors.

Energy, exergy, exergoeconomics, and exergoenvironmental assessment of three brine recycle humidification-dehumidification desalination systems applicable for industrial wastewater treatment

Using zero liquid discharge systems is one of the efficient methods to reduce the negative environmental impact of the brines of the desalination systems and also to recycle the industrial wastewaters for reuse. Due to the simple fabrication process, low maintenance cost, intensive to inlet water quality, and the ability to use renewable and low-grade-heat, modified humidification-dehumidification systems may be a proper choice for the zero liquid discharge applications. Thus, in the present study, the energy, exergy, exergoeconomic, and exergoenvironmental assessment of three advanced brine recycle humidification-dehumidification systems for zero liquid discharge operation are comprehensively investigated. The first system is heat-driven: (1) brine recycle humidification-dehumidification system which is driven by heat and the two other systems are electricity-driven: (2) brine recycle humidification-dehumidification desalination system coupled with a heat pump in which the evaporator is as the dehumidifier, (3) brine recycle humidification-dehumidification desalination system coupled with a heat pump in which the evaporator is after the humidifier. The last system is a new proposed system in this study. The configuration of the humidification-dehumidification systems is closed-water closed-air. Operating parameters of the systems are independent of the recovery ratio of the systems. In the three considered systems, the exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental factors are almost very low; thus, improving thermodynamic efficiencies of the components is necessary for fresh water cost and environmental impact reduction, and there is room for improvement to reduce exergy destruction without any more investment expenses. Based on the relative cost difference and the relative environmental impact difference in the systems, the dehumidifier and the evaporator are the components with the highest improvement potentials. In terms of the produced fresh water cost brine recycle humidification-dehumidification desalination system coupled with a heat pump in which the evaporator is after the humidifier system is superior to the two other systems (When heating steam price higher than 5 $/GJ); also the environmental impact of the produced fresh water in brine recycle humidification-dehumidification desalination system coupled with a heat pump in which the evaporator is after the humidifier system is lower than the two other systems. In electricity-driven systems, the water cost can be reduced by using R600 and R245fa instead of R134a.

Planning and assessment of an off-grid power supply system for small settlements

A novel methodology for analyzing hybrid wind turbine-photovoltaic off-grid systems with battery storage is presented in this work. To support off-grid operation, small settlements were chosen as case studies for these autonomous hybrid systems. Μeteorological, demographic, geographical, geospatial, land use and load data with the design and implementation of off-grid power plants were used. The study aims at further supporting and improving off-grid hybrid energy systems in terms of design, analysis and integration, while a life-cycle analysis for the proposed systems was performed to quantify the relative environmental impact, as well. The findings show that the implementation of autonomous energy production by renewable energy systems for off-grid small settlements, based on the presented methodology, is feasible.

Predictive Analysis of Waste Co-Combustion with Fossil Fuels Using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Methodology

The use of waste for energy purposes could become widespread and the radical lowering of the costs associated with that process could occur, if the resulting fuel did not have the status of waste. The key issue in removing the status of waste for a given substance is to eliminate the environmental impact of its use. Currently, there are no known fuels whose combustion does not lead to a negative impact on the environment, even to a minimum extent. It is therefore necessary to set a threshold of environmental impact at which we “recognize” a fuel to be harmless to the environment. The ecological impact of lignite was assumed in this text to be such a threshold. This paper proposes a methodology for determining the limit of environmental impact of fuel from waste. It also presents the results of our own research on the morphological and elemental composition of a waste mixture created by the separation of the over-screen fraction of municipal waste undesirable for a fuel, namely, chlorine carriers (PVC), multi-material waste, ferrous and non-ferrous metals, and non-combustible fractions (ash). The results obtained were used to assess the relative environmental impact of a waste mixture used as fuel.

Dynamic exergo-environmental analysis of a turboprop aircraft engine at various torques

Exergo-environmental analysis is essential tool to detect cost-ineffective components and identify thermodynamic improvements which could promote the cost effectiveness of the overall propulsion and power systems. In this study, exergo-environmental index of a turboprop engine is evaluated by using energetic, exergetic and environmental methodologies at dynamic load conditions. Dynamic experimental data of the turboprop engine are obtained for six different torque values (at 240 Nm, 350 Nm, 485 Nm, 552 Nm, 580 Nm and 630 Nm). Results show that the highest component related total environmental impact rate is found at gas generator turbine with the value of 6.42 Pts/hr, while the lowest component related total environmental impact is at combustor as 2.44 Pts/hr at all torques. The highest and lowest environmental impact rates of exergy destructions are found for combustion chamber and power turbine as 31.30 Pts/hr at 630 Nm and 4.94 Pts/hr at 230 Nm, respectively.

Integrating climate change in life cycle assessment of buildings: literature review

The operational energy use and related greenhouse gas emissions of buildings are typically influenced by changes during the building service life such as climate change, technological evolution and energy mix evolution. Only few LCA studies consider these temporal variations. This paper investigates how climate change is currently considered in LCA studies. Three aspects related to the influence of climate change on the life cycle impact of buildings are focused on: (1) changes in operational energy use (heating and cooling) due to changes in the climatic context of the building, (2) changes in operational energy use due to technological evolution or climate regulations and (3) changes in energy mix due to climate regulations. All three influence the energy use and related environmental impact but the extent of the effect depends on the considered region, time step and environmental indicators. It is hence recommended to choose an appropriate time period when considering climate change in LCA and consider variations within a time period via dynamic building simulations or to include a static correction. A holistic set of impact categories should be focussed on to avoid burden shifting and the most influencing parameters should be checked via a sensitivity analysis.

Determination of atmospheric particle-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons using subcritical water extraction coupled with membrane microextraction

A green analytical methodology for the determination of 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 8 related compounds in air particulate matter was developed and validated. The method was based on pressurized hot water extraction (PHWE) followed by miniaturized membrane-assisted solvent extraction (MASE) and programmed temperature vaporization-gas chromatography-ion trap tandem mass spectrometry detection (PTV-GC–MS/MS). The parameters studied for PHWE were percentage of organic modifier (25% MeOH), temperature (200 °C) and static extraction time (5 min). For MASE, extraction temperature (30 °C), time (90 min) and effect of an organic modifier were also optimized. The matrix effect was evaluated and compensated using deuterated labelled standards as surrogates for the quantitation of the target compounds. The analytical performance of the method was satisfactory: relative recoveries varied between 78 and 118% and repeatability and intermediate precision were <22% for all compounds. The Method Quantitation Limits (MQL) ranged from 0.9 (TPY) to 75.6 pg m−3 (NAP). Satisfactory results for accuracy and traceability were evidenced by the analysis of a reference material (SRM 1649b) and comparison with previously published methods. The greenness score was estimated and compared with other techniques widely used for the analysis of PAHs in particulate matter, having a lower relative environmental impact.

Environmental impact of carbon cross-media metabolism in waste management: A case study of municipal solid waste treatment systems in China

Waste treatment is a metabolic process that incurs pollutants migration across environmental media (i.e., air, water, and soil) and involves various conversions of physicochemical forms of carbon. Multiple forms of carbon compounds, such as CO2, CH4, CO, VOCs, and other organic matter can contribute to a series of transboundary environmental problems. However, current strategies targeting pollution reduction in single medium may cause pollution transfer to other environmental media, leading to comparatively large difficulty in assessing the related environmental impact on integrated ecosystems. This paper develops an analysis framework of carbon cross-media metabolism in municipal solid waste (MSW) treatment systems that include landfilling, composting, incineration, and anaerobic digestion. Life cycle impact analysis and sensitivity analysis methods are used to recognize the essential technologies in promoting the carbon cross-media migration and decreasing the integrated environmental impacts. The framework is implemented in a case study of the MSW treatment systems of 2013 in China. Results show that 86%–98% of carbon pollutants generated through landfilling, composting, and incineration ended up in the natural environment, while anaerobic digestion achieved an 87% pollution removal rate. Co-generation technology applied in incineration flue gas treatment, biochemical + membrane treatment technology in wastewater treatment, and co-processing of sludge in cement kilns were identified as the essential technologies affecting carbon migration across the gas-liquid, liquid-solid, and solid-gas interface, respectively. The relatively high environmental impacts of landfilling and incineration can be decreased by optimizing their technological compositions and applications. This study can provide support to replace the traditional environmental practice aiming at pollution control in single environmental medium independently by a systematic management approach that considers carbon cross-media metabolism and integrated environmental impact.

Using Life Cycle Thinking to Assess the Sustainability Benefits of Complex Valorization Pathways for Bauxite Residue

Bauxite residue, the main waste product of alumina production, is a potentially valuable secondary resource. The MSCA-ETN REDMUD project aims to develop environmentally friendly technologies to realize this value, by extracting valuable metals (aluminium, iron, titanium, scandium, rare-earth elements) or utilizing it in construction applications. Simply utilizing a waste product as an input is not, however, sufficient to claim that a process is environmentally friendly; the processes developed must be demonstrably better for the environment, from a life cycle perspective, than business as usual. The earlier in the research and development process that environmental information can be taken into account, the more impact it can have on decision-making. In this study we demonstrate that Life Cycle Thinking approaches can provide actionable environmental information at an early stage in the research process, and that in doing so it can help steer early stage technology development towards overall improved industry environmental performance. Knowledge of the potential environmental benefit from displacing different materials can help identify primary or additional targets, for example the use of metal extraction residues for construction materials. A high-level ‘red flags’ assessment of the relative environmental impact of inputs to valorization processes and the products they displace can be used to identify problematic inputs and processes in the absence of quantitative details. Finally, once preliminary quantitative data are available for a process, streamlined Life Cycle Assessment can be used to calculate the environmental balance of a process, and identify specific hotspots of environmental impact.

The Process of Diesel Particulate Filter Regeneration under Real Driving Conditions

The global automotive industry is actually facing complex challenges to ensure solutions that reduce transportation related environmental impact. Because of this, solution were created to reduce exhaust gas emission, like for example DPF [1]. This study was conducted to examine the process of Diesel particulate filter automatic active regeneration during on-road mileage accumulation of Diesel passenger cars. The Diesel test vehicles used in this study were equipped with Diesel oxidation catalysts (DOC), lean NOx trap (LNT, only one vehicle type) and two types of Diesel particulate filter: DPF and FAP (French: filtre à particules) as aftertreatment systems, and satisfied either the Euro 5 or the Euro 6 emissions standards, depending on the vehicle. The test vehicles’ mileage before testing was at least 30 000 km. The soot accumulated during normal use of the vehicles on various types of routes. Collected and processed data were obtained over a distance of 15 000 km. During soot accumulation and DPF regeneration, many parameters from the electronic control unit (ECU) were recorded, i.e. vehicle velocity, engine speed, accumulated soot mass, differential pressure and temperatures at the inlet and outlet of the DPF. The distance covered during the soot accumulation phase depended on the driving conditions, and was sometimes as high as 850 km. During the regeneration process, the temperature at the DPF inlet sometimes rose above 500 °C, and above 600 °C at the outlet, and the differential pressure sometimes reached over 250 mbar.

Current trends in protected cultivation in Mediterranean climates

Protected cultivation has rapidly expanded in many regions all over the world, particularly in those with mild winter climatic conditions. In this context, the greenhouse industry is continually developing new strategies and technologies to solve specific cultivation limitations, to reduce any related environmental impact and to adjust to new market requirements. It is for this reason that it is necessary to update the scientific knowledge of this industry. The characteristics of greenhouse production related to new developments in structures and climate control, crops, cultivation techniques, water and nutrient management and environmental issues, including life cycle assessment and integrated pest management, are the objective of this study. Overall, the main results of this review demonstrate that a great effort of innovation and research has been carried out by industry and researchers in order to cut production costs and to reduce the environmental impact of the most advanced greenhouse technologies while satisfying the requirements of consumers.

Embodied Energy and Environmental Impact of Large-Power Stand-Alone Photovoltaic Irrigation Systems

A life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used to evaluate the cumulative energy demand and the related environmental impact of three large-power stand-alone photovoltaic (PV) irrigation systems ranging from 40 kWp to 360 kWp. The novelty of this analysis is the large power of these systems as the literature up to now is restricted to modeled PV pumping systems scenarios or small power plants, where the size can be a critical factor for energy and environmental issues. The analysis shows that the yearly embodied energy per unit of PV power ranged from 1306 MJ/kWp to 1199 MJ/kWp depending of the PV generator size. Similarly, the related yearly carbon dioxide impacts ranged from 72.6 to 79.8 kg CO2e/kWp. The production of PV modules accounted for the main portion (about 80%) of the primary energy embodied into the PV irrigation system (PVIS). The outcomes of the study also show an inverse trend of the energy and carbon payback times respect to the PV power size: In fact, energy payback time increased from 1.94, to 5.25 years and carbon payback time ranged from 4.62 to 9.38 years. Also the energy return on investment depends on the PV generator dimension, ranging from 12.9 to 4.8. The environmental impact of the stand-alone PV systems was also expressed in reference to the potential amount of electricity generated during the whole PV life. As expected, the largest PVIS performs the best result, obtaining an emission rate of 45.9 g CO2e per kWh, while the smallest one achieves 124.1 g CO2e per kWh. Finally, the energy and environmental indicators obtained in this study are strongly related to the irrigation needs, which in turn are influenced by other factors as the type of cultivated crops, the weather conditions and the water availability.

THE COMPOUNDS BETWEEN THE ECONOMIC SITUATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION COUNTRIES

The main purpose of the article is to examine the compounds between economic results of agricultural holdings and their impact on the environment. The research was conducted on a group of 23 EU countries that have been members since at least 2004. The time scope of the analyses concerns the years 2004-2015. The study uses regression analysis based on panel data. It was found that the more favorable economic situation of the surveyed group of agricultural holdings is accompanied by a stronger negative impact on the environment. The strongest relative environmental impact (from the perspective of material pressure on the environment) was recorded for investments.