Waste-Based Intermediate Bioenergy Carriers: Syngas Production via Coupling Slow Pyrolysis with Gasification under a Circular Economy Model

Waste-based feedstocks and bioenergy intermediate carriers are key issues of the whole bioenergy value chain. Towards a circular economy, changing upcycling infra-structure systems takes time, while energy-from-waste (EfW) technologies like waste pyrolysis and gasification could play an integral part. Thus, the aim of this study is to propose a circular economy pathway for the waste to energy (WtE) thermochemical technologies, through which solid biomass waste can be slowly pyrolyzed to biochar (main product), in various regionally distributed small plants, and the pyro-oils, by-products of those plants could be used as an intermediate energy carrier to fuel a central gasification plant for syngas production. Through the performed review, the main parameters of the whole process chain, from waste to syngas, were discussed. The study develops a conceptual model that can be implemented for overcoming barriers to the broad deployment of WtE solutions. The proposed model of WtE facilities is changing the recycling economy into a circular economy, where nothing is wasted, while a carbon-negative energy carrier can be achieved. The downstream side of the process (cleaning of syngas) and the economic feasibility of the dual such system need optimization.

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Municipal solid waste-to-energy processing for a circular economy in New Zealand

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.rser.2021.111080 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 145 ◽

pp. 111080

Author(s):

M.T. Munir ◽

Ahmad Mohaddespour ◽

A.T. Nasr ◽

Susan Carter

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Municipal Solid Waste ◽

Solid Waste ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Waste To Energy ◽

Energy Processing

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Making Resilient Decisions for Sustainable Circularity of Fashion

Circular Economy and Sustainability ◽

10.1007/s43615-021-00040-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Celinda Palm ◽

Sarah E. Cornell ◽

Tiina Häyhä

Keyword(s):

Value Chain ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Ecological Impacts ◽

Ecological System ◽

Fashion Industry ◽

State Response ◽

Social Ecological ◽

Industry Value Chain ◽

The Many ◽

Sustainability Challenges

AbstractThe fashion and textiles industry, and policymakers at all levels, are showing an increased interest in the concept of circular economy as a way to decrease business risks and negative environmental impacts. However, focus is placed mainly on the material ‘stuff’ of textile fashion and its biophysical harms. The current material focus has several shortcomings, because fashion is a social-ecological system and cannot be understood merely by addressing its environmental dimensions. In this paper, we rethink the fashion system from a critical social-ecological perspective. The driver-state-response framework shows social drivers and ecological impacts as an adaptive social-ecological system, exposing how these interacting aspects need to be addressed for sustainable and resilient implementation of circular economy. We show how current responses to global sustainability challenges have so far fallen short. Our overall aim is to expand possibilities for reframing responses that better reflect the complex links between the global fashion system, culture and creativity and the dynamics of the living planet. We argue that reducing planetary pressure from the global fashion and textiles industry requires greater recognition of the system’s social drivers with more emphasis on the many cross-scale links between social and ecological dimensions. Resilient decisions aiming for sustainable circularity of the fashion industry must therefore pay attention to social activities beyond the industry value chain, not just material flows within it.

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Scenario Analysis for Selecting Sewage Sludge-to-Energy/Matter Recovery Processes

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14020276 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 276

Author(s):

Francesco Facchini ◽

Giovanni Mummolo ◽

Micaela Vitti

Keyword(s):

Sewage Sludge ◽

Scenario Analysis ◽

Value Chain ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Solid Material ◽

Sludge Treatment ◽

Sewage Sludges ◽

Recovery Processes ◽

Sewage Sludge Treatment ◽

New Perspective

The sewage sludges are the byproducts of the wastewater treatment. The new perspective of the wastewater value chain points to a sustainable circular economy approach, where the residual solid material produced by sewage sludge treatments is a resource rather than a waste. A sewage sludge treatment system consists of five main phases; each of them can be performed by different alternative processes. Each process is characterized by its capability to recover energy and/or matter. In this paper, a state of the art of the sludge-to-energy and sludge-to-matter treatments is provided. Then, a scenario analysis is developed to identify suitable sewage sludge treatments plants that best fit the quality and flowrate of sewage sludge to be processed while meeting technological and economic constraints. Based on the scientific literature findings and experts’ opinions, the authors identify a set of reference initial scenarios and the corresponding best treatments’ selection for configuring sewage sludge treatment plants. The scenario analysis reveals a useful reference technical framework when circular economy goals are pursued. The results achieved in all scenarios ensure the potential recovery of matter and/or energy from sewage sludges processes.

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An Integrated Approach to Convert Lignocellulosic and Wool Residues into Balanced Fertilisers

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14020497 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 497

Author(s):

Filippo Marchelli ◽

Giorgio Rovero ◽

Massimo Curti ◽

Elisabetta Arato ◽

Barbara Bosio ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Renewable Energy ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Lignocellulosic Residues ◽

Biomass Waste ◽

Slow Pyrolysis ◽

C And N ◽

Water Hydrolysis ◽

Conversion Technologies

Valorising biomass waste and producing renewable energy or materials is the aim of several conversion technologies. In this work, we consider two residues from different production chains: lignocellulosic residues from agriculture and wool residues from sheep husbandry. These materials are produced in large quantities, and their disposal is often costly and challenging for farmers. For their valorisation, we focus on slow pyrolysis for the former and water hydrolysis for the latter, concisely presenting the main literature related to these two processes. Pyrolysis produces the C-rich biochar, suitable for soil amending. Hydrolysis produces a N-rich fertiliser. We demonstrate how these two processes could be fruitfully integrated, as their products can be flexibly mixed to produce fertilisers. This solution would allow the achievement of balanced and tuneable ratios between C and N and the enhancement of the mechanical properties. We propose scenarios for this combined valorisation and for its coupling with other industries. As a result, biomass waste would be returned to the field, following the principles of circular economy.

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Lessons on business model scalability for circular economy in the fashion retail value chain: towards a conceptual model

Sustainable Production and Consumption ◽

10.1016/j.spc.2021.06.033 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Emelie Hultberg ◽

Rudrajeet Pal

Keyword(s):

Conceptual Model ◽

Business Model ◽

Value Chain ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Fashion Retail

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Circular Agreements—Exploring the Role of Agreements and Deals as a Political Tool for a Circular Economy

Circular Economy and Sustainability ◽

10.1007/s43615-021-00004-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nils Johansson

Keyword(s):

Value Chain ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Policy Instruments ◽

Alternative Form ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Free Rider Problem ◽

Political Governance ◽

The Eu

AbstractA problem for a circular economy, embedded in its policies, tools, technologies and models, is that it is driven by the interests and needs of producers, rather than customers and users. This opinion paper focuses on an alternative form of governance—agreements, which thanks to their bargaining approach brings actors from across the value chain into the policy process. The purpose of this opinion paper is to uncover and analyse the potential of such agreements for a circular economy. Circular agreements aim at increasing the circulation of materials and are an emerging form of political governance within the EU. These agreements have different names, involve different actors and govern in different ways. However, circular agreements seem to work when other types of regulations fail to establish circulation. These agreements bring actors together and offer a platform for negotiating how advantages and disadvantages can be redistributed between actors in a way that is more suitable for a circular economy. However, circular agreements are dependent on other policy instruments to work and can generate a free-rider problem with uninvolved actors. The agreements may also become too detailed and long term, which leads to problem shifting and lock-ins, respectively.

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