scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment of Biocemented Sands using Enzyme Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) for Ground Improvement Applications

Author(s):  
Emran Alotaibi ◽  
Mohamed Arab ◽  
mohamed Abdallah ◽  
Nadia Nassif ◽  
Maher Omar

Abstract Integrating sustainability goals into the selection of suitable ground improvement techniques is a global trend. Several bio-inspired and bio-mediated ground improvement techniques have been recently investigated as sustainable alternatives for traditional ground improvement techniques known for their high carbon footprint. Enzyme Induced Carbonate Precipitation (EICP) is an emerging bio-inspired soil improvement technique that is based on the hydrolysis of urea to precipitate carbonates that cement sand particles. Life cycle assessment (LCA) study was conducted to compare the use of traditional ground improvement using Portland cement with bio-cementation via EICP over a range of environmental impacts. The LCA results revealed that EICP soil treatment has nearly 90% less abiotic depletion potential and 3% less global warming potential compared to cement. Compared to cement, EICP has higher acidification and eutrophication potentials due to byproducts during the hydrolysis process. The sensitivity analysis of EICP emissions showed that reducing and controlling the EICP process emissions and using waste non-fate milk has resulted in significantly fewer impacts compared to the EICP baseline scenario.

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (9) ◽  
pp. 1373-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Sun ◽  
Jingru Liu ◽  
Bin Lu ◽  
Peng Zhang ◽  
Mingnan Zhao

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (5) ◽  
pp. 2977-2995 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Schade ◽  
T. Meier

Abstract Specific microalgae species are an adequate source of EPA and DHA and are able to provide a complete protein, which makes them highly interesting for human nutrition. However, microalgae cultivation has also been described to be energy intensive and environmentally unfavorable in pilot-scale reactors. Moreover, production in cold temperature zones has not been sufficiently investigated. In particular, the effects of tube materials and cultivation season length have rarely been previously investigated in the context of a comparative LCA of microalgae cultivation. A computational “top-down” model was conducted to calculate input flows for Nannochloropsis sp. and Phaeodactylum tricornutum cultivation in a hypothetical tubular photobioreactor. Cultivation processes were calculated according to detailed satellite climatic data for the chosen location in Central Germany. This model was applied to a set of different scenarios, including variations in photobioreactor material, tube diameter, microalgae species, and cultivation season length. Based on these data, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed following ISO standard 14040/44. The impact assessment comprised the global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, cumulative energy demand, and water scarcity. The results showed that a long cultivation season in spring and fall was always preferable in terms of environmental impacts, although productivity decreased significantly due to the climatic preconditions. Acrylic glass as a tube material had higher environmental impacts than all other scenarios. The cultivation of an alternative microalgae species showed only marginal differences in the environmental impacts compared with the baseline scenario. Critical processes in all scenarios included the usage of hydrogen peroxide for the cleaning of the tubes, nitrogen fertilizer, and electricity for mixing, centrifugation, and drying. Microalgae cultivation in a tubular photobioreactor in a “cold-weather” climate for food is sustainable and could possibly be a complement to nutrients from other food groups. The added value of this study lies in the detailed description of a complex and flexible microalgae cultivation model. The new model introduced in this study can be applied to numerous other scenarios to evaluate photoautotrophic microalgae cultivation in tubular photobioreactors. Thus, it is possible to vary the facility location, seasons, scale, tube dimensions and material, microalgae species, nutrient inputs, and flow velocity. Moreover, single processes can easily be complemented or exchanged to further adjust the model individually, if, for instance, another downstream pathway is required.


2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 2292-2300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karina Cubas do Amaral ◽  
Miguel Mansur Aisse ◽  
Gustavo Rafael Collere Possetti ◽  
Marcelo Real Prado

Abstract Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors used in sewage treatment generate two by-products that can be reused: sludge and biogas. At the present time in Brazil, most of this resulting sludge is disposed of in sanitary landfills, while biogas is commonly burned off in low-efficiency flares. The aim of the present study was to use life cycle assessment to evaluate the environmental impacts from four different treatment and final destination scenarios for the main by-products of wastewater treatment plants. The baseline scenario, in which the sludge was sanitized using prolonged alkaline stabilization and, subsequently, directed toward agricultural applications and the biogas destroyed in open burners, had the most impact in the categories of global warming, terrestrial ecotoxicity, and human non-carcinogenic toxicity. The scenario in which heat resulting from biogas combustion is used to dry the sludge showed significant improvements over the baseline scenario in all the evaluated impact categories. The recovery of heat from biogas combustion decreased significantly the environmental impact associated with global warming. The combustion of dried sludge is another alternative to improve the sludge management. Despite the reduction of sludge volume to ash, there are environmental impacts inherent to ozone formation and terrestrial acidification.


2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 9313
Author(s):  
Julien Bongono ◽  
Birol Elevli ◽  
Bertrand Laratte

More and more efforts are directed towards the standardization of the methods of determining the functional unit (FU) in a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). These efforts concern the development of theories and detailed methodological guides, but also the evaluation of the quality of the FU obtained. The objective of this article is to review this work in order to propose, using a multiscale approach, a method for defining the FU in the mining sector, which takes into account all the dimensions of the system under study. In this first part, the emphasis is on identifying the shortcomings of the FU. The absence of a precise normative framework specific to each sector of activity, as well as the complex, multifunctional and hard-to-scale nature of the systems concerned, are at the origin of the flexibility in the selection of the FU. This lack of a framework, beyond generating a heterogeneous definition of the FU for the same system, most often leads to an incomplete formulation of this sensitive concept of LCA. It has been found that key parameters such as the end-use of a product or process, as well as the interests of stakeholders, are hardly taken into account in the specification of the FU.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hwang ◽  
Jeong ◽  
Jung ◽  
Kim ◽  
Zhou

This research was focused on a comparative analysis of using LNG as a marine fuel with a conventional marine gas oil (MGO) from an environmental point of view. A case study was performed using a 50K bulk carrier engaged in domestic services in South Korea. Considering the energy exporting market for South Korea, the fuel supply chain was designed with the two largest suppliers: Middle East (LNG-Qatar/MGO-Saudi Arabia) and U.S. The life cycle of each fuel type was categorized into three stages: Well-to-Tank (WtT), Tank-to-Wake (TtW), and Well-to-Wake (WtW). With the process modelling, the environmental impact of each stage was analyzed based on the five environmental impact categorizes: Global Warming Potential (GWP), Acidification Potential (AP), Photochemical Potential (POCP), Eutrophication Potential (EP) and Particulate Matter (PM). Analysis results reveal that emission levels for the LNG cases are significantly lower than the MGO cases in all potential impact categories. Particularly, Case 1 (LNG import to Korea from Qatar) is identified as the best option as producing the lowest emission levels per 1.0 × 107 MJ of fuel consumption: 977 tonnages of CO2 equivalent (for GWP), 1.76 tonnages of SO2 equivalent (for AP), 1.18 tonnages of N equivalent (for EP), 4.28 tonnages of NMVOC equivalent (for POCP) and 26 kg of PM 2.5 equivalent (for PM). On the other hand, the results also point out that the selection of the fuel supply routes could be an important factor contributing to emission levels since longer distances for freight transportation result in more emissions. It is worth noting that the life cycle assessment can offer us better understanding of holistic emission levels contributed by marine fuels from the cradle to the grave, which are highly believed to remedy the shortcomings of current marine emission indicators.


2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 290-299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anugerah Widiyanto ◽  
Seizo Kato ◽  
Naoki Maruyama

In the past, the selection of an energy resource for electricity generation was dominated by finding the least expensive power generating plant. Although such an approach is essential, there is growing concern about other aspects of power generation such as social, environmental and technological benefits and consequences of the energy source selection. The aims of this paper are first to introduce a life cycle assessment (LCA) scheme with the aid of the NETS (Numerical Eco-load Total Standardization) method that we have newly proposed. This method provides a numerical measure for evaluating the quantitative load of any industrial activity on the environment, and has been used to analyze the energy flow and the environmental loads of various power generation systems. A second goal is to develop a computer program to examine the applicability of technology options based on cost performance and environmental load reduction. A final goal of this work is to select the power system using life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC). As a result, environmental load and economical cost for various power generation systems are discussed from the LCA point of view for further ecological improvement.


2005 ◽  
Vol 895 ◽  
Author(s):  
Antonia Moropoulou ◽  
Christopher Koroneos ◽  
Maria Karoglou ◽  
Eleni Aggelakopoulou ◽  
Asterios Bakolas ◽  
...  

AbstractOver the years considerable research has been conducted on masonry mortars regarding their compatibility with under restoration structures. The environmental dimension of these materials may sometimes be a prohibitive factor in the selection of these materials. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool that can be used to assess the environmental impact of the materials. LCA can be a very useful tool in the decision making for the selection of appropriate restoration structural material. In this work, a comparison between traditional type of mortars and modern ones (cement-based) is attempted. Two mortars of traditional type are investigated: with aerial lime binder, with aerial lime and artificial pozzolanic additive and one with cement binder. The LCA results indicate that the traditional types of mortars are more sustainable compared to cementbased mortars. For the impact assessment, the method used is Eco-indicator 95


2014 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liam M. Wotherspoon ◽  
Rolando P. Orense ◽  
Mike Jacka ◽  
Russell A. Green ◽  
Brady R. Cox ◽  
...  

The city of Christchurch and the surrounding region on the South Island of New Zealand are underlain by large areas of recent alluvial sediments and fills that are highly susceptible to liquefaction and seismic ground failure. Thus, the widespread liquefaction that occurred following the successive large-scale earth-quakes, with moment magnitudes (MW) ranging from 6.0 to 7.1 that struck the Canterbury region in 2010–2011 was expected. Prior to the series of earthquakes, soil improvement had been used at several sites to mitigate the anticipated damage. This paper reviews the performance of improved sites during the Canterbury earthquake sequence. The existing soil conditions at each site and the design of the ground improvement are discussed, together with descriptions of the post-earthquake damage observed. Moreover, liquefaction assessment within and surrounding a selection of the ground improvement zones is presented.


2015 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Kralisch ◽  
Denise Ott ◽  
Doerthe Gericke

The implementation of Life Cycle Assessment and related methods in green chemical process and synthesis design strongly supports the development of greener concepts on the basis of deep and profound insights into the dependences between the selection of compounds and process parameters and the resulting environmental impacts.


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