scholarly journals Reuse and Recycling of By-Products in the Steel Sector: Recent Achievements Paving the Way to Circular Economy and Industrial Symbiosis in Europe

Metals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 345 ◽  
Author(s):  
Teresa Annunziata Branca ◽  
Valentina Colla ◽  
David Algermissen ◽  
Hanna Granbom ◽  
Umberto Martini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Steel Industry ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Steel Production ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Comprehensive Overview ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
By Products

Over the last few decades, the European steel industry has focused its efforts on the improvement of by-product recovery and quality, based not only on existing technologies, but also on the development of innovative sustainable solutions. These activities have led the steel industry to save natural resources and to reduce its environmental impact, resulting in being closer to its “zero-waste” goal. In addition, the concept of Circular Economy has been recently strongly emphasised at a European level. The opportunity is perceived of improving the environmental sustainability of the steel production by saving primary raw materials and costs related to by-products and waste landfilling. The aim of this review paper was to analyse the most recent results on the reuse and recycling of by-products of the steelmaking cycles as well as on the exploitation of by-products from other activities outside the steel production cycle, such as alternative carbon sources (e.g., biomasses and plastics). The most relevant results are identified and a global vision of the state-of-the-art is extracted, in order to provide a comprehensive overview of the main outcomes achieved by the European steel industry and of the ongoing or potential synergies with other industrial sectors.

scholarly journals Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor): Potential and Challenges to Promote Circular Economy

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2568
Author(s):  
Roberta Moruzzo ◽  
Francesco Riccioli ◽  
Salomon Espinosa Diaz ◽  
Chiara Secci ◽  
Giulio Poli ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Potential Contribution ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Development Goals ◽  
By Products

Over the last few years, the concept of Circular Economy (CE) has received a lot of attention due to its potential contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially by reconciling economic growth with the protection of the environment through its grow-make-use-restore approach. The use of insects in circular production systems has been a good example of this concept as insects can transform a wide range of organic waste and by-products into nutritious feedstuffs, which then go back into the production cycle. This paper explores the potential of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) in circular production systems by reviewing their use and applicability in several industries such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food, etc. Despite the high versatility of this insect and its potential as a substitute source of nutrients and other valuable components, there are still many legislative and behavioural challenges that hinder its adoption and acceptance.

scholarly journals Productization of Industrial Side Streams into By-Products—Case: Fiber Sludge from Pulp and Paper Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 185
Author(s):  
Tero Leppänen ◽  
Erno Mustonen ◽  
Henri Saarela ◽  
Matti Kuokkanen ◽  
Pekka Tervonen
Keyword(s):  
Natural Resources ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Paper Industry ◽  
Pulp And Paper Industry ◽  
Pulp And Paper ◽  
Commercial Use ◽  
Fiber Sludge ◽  
Side Stream ◽  
By Products

The increasing pressure on natural resources and the climate has been noted by businesses and governments worldwide, who now face the difficult task of integrating paths of environmental sustainability and economic growth. One promising approach to sustainable development, reducing the pressure on natural resources and solving waste problems is circular economy. From different ways of implementing circular economy, this study focuses on the productization of industrial side streams, which carry a great deal of underutilized potential. In this article, the productization of pulp and paper industry side stream, fiber sludge, for commercial use as a dust-binding agent is studied via a descriptive, in-depth case study. Apart from inconsistent quality, fluctuating supply, cost of storage and logistics, what makes industrial side stream utilization challenging is the lack of knowledge that stakeholders have about side streams and their utilization and the lack of new value chain development for their commercial use. Therefore, it is essential for all parties involved to have a clearer vision of what is being sold for what purposes, through productization. This study found that the productization of side streams follows the same steps as the productization of any other traditional product, and the productized side streams can be added to the company’s product portfolio as by-products.

scholarly journals USE OF THERMAL IMAGING TESTS IN THE STEEL INDUSTRY

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-47
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Distribution ◽  
Steel Industry ◽  
Thermal Imaging ◽  
Imaging Technique ◽  
Steel Production ◽  
Metallurgical Industry ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Charge Preparation ◽  
Non Invasive ◽  
Testing Method

The paper presents the possibilities and selected examples of practical use of the thermal imaging technique in the metallurgical industry as a non-invasive testing method for measuring temperature distribution on the surface of the examined object. This method can be used in all stages of steel production, from charge preparation to finished product, as well as diagnostics of technical devices. The paper emphasises the non-invasive nature of the examination, which does not disturb the production cycle.

scholarly journals Cyanobacterial Polyhydroxyalkanoates: A Sustainable Alternative in Circular Economy

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 4331 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Gomes Gradíssimo ◽  
Luciana Pereira Xavier ◽  
Agenor Valadares Santos
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Durable Goods ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Production Costs ◽  
Biotechnological Production ◽  
Minimum Requirement ◽  
Photosynthetic Organisms ◽  
Low Costs ◽  
By Products

Conventional petrochemical plastics have become a serious environmental problem. Its unbridled use, especially in non-durable goods, has generated an accumulation of waste that is difficult to measure, threatening aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The replacement of these plastics with cleaner alternatives, such as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), can only be achieved by cost reductions in the production of microbial bioplastics, in order to compete with the very low costs of fossil fuel plastics. The biggest costs are carbon sources and nutrients, which can be appeased with the use of photosynthetic organisms, such as cyanobacteria, that have a minimum requirement for nutrients, and also using agro-industrial waste, such as the livestock industry, which in turn benefits from the by-products of PHA biotechnological production, for example pigments and nutrients. Circular economy can help solve the current problems in the search for a sustainable production of bioplastic: reducing production costs, reusing waste, mitigating CO2, promoting bioremediation and making better use of cyanobacteria metabolites in different industries.

scholarly journals The Sustainability of Waste Management Models in Circular Economies

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 7105
Author(s):  
Carmen Avilés-Palacios ◽  
Ana Rodríguez-Olalla
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Waste Management ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
The Other ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Linear Processes ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Crucial Difference

The circular economy (CE) is considered a key economic model to meet the challenge of sustainable development. Strenous efforts are focused on the transformation of waste into resources that can be reintroduced into the economic system through proper management. In this way, the linear and waste-producing value chain problems are solved, making them circular, and more sustainable solutions are proposed in those chains already benefiting from circular processes, so that waste generation and waste are reduced on the one hand, and on the other, the non-efficient consumption of resources decreases. In the face of this current tide, there is another option that proposes a certain nuance, based on the premise that, although circular systems promote sustainability, it does not mean that they are in themselves sustainable, given that, in the first place, the effects of CE on sustainable development are not fully known and, on the other hand, the CE model includes the flow of materials, with only scant consideration of the flow of non-material resources (water, soil and energy). This paper aims to contrast both currents from an empirical viewpoint. To achieve this, a sustainability analysis of the circular waste management systems measured through a sustainability indicator, the carbon footprint (CF), as a main sustainable indicator in climate change action, is carried out. A crucial difference between circular models that promote waste management and those that do not is found in the collective systems of extended producer responsibility (or CPR). One of the most efficient recycling processes in Europe, waste tire management, has been chosen. Thus, the aim is to verify the sense of including environmental sustainability indicators, as CF, in the process of these systems. A sustainability management model (SBA) applies to End-of Life tire collection systems (ELT). This model is based on the accumulation of environmental impacts through the activities that generate them. To be transparent, this study requires a publicly recognized CF, so the study is focused on SIGNUS, the main Spanish waste tires CPR. The results achieved allow us to conclude that CF is much lower using CPR than non-linear processes. Despite the role that CPR have in the management and use of waste as secondary raw material, it is a priority to focus efforts on their redesign in order to reduce waste. In terms of circular economy, all actions are necessary in order to achieve system efficiencies, even when externalities occur in this process.

scholarly journals Residue Valorization in the Iron and Steel Industries: Sustainable Solutions for a Cleaner and More Competitive Future Europe

Metals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1202
Author(s):  
Johannes Rieger ◽  
Valentina Colla ◽  
Ismael Matino ◽  
Teresa Annunziata Branca ◽  
Gerald Stubbe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Steel Industry ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Sustainable Growth ◽  
Added Value ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Steelmaking Process ◽  
Iron And Steel ◽  
Sustainable Solutions

The steel industry is an important engine for sustainable growth, added value, and high-quality employment within the European Union. It is committed to reducing its CO2 emissions due to production by up to 50% by 2030 compared to 1990′s level by developing and upscaling the technologies required to contribute to European initiatives, such as the Circular Economy Action Plan (CEAP) and the European Green Deal (EGD). The Clean Steel Partnership (CSP, a public–private partnership), which is led by the European Steel Association (EUROFER) and the European Steel Technology Platform (ESTEP), defined technological CO2 mitigation pathways comprising carbon direct avoidance (CDA), smart carbon usage SCU), and a circular economy (CE). CE approaches ensure competitiveness through increased resource efficiency and sustainability and consist of different issues, such as the valorization of steelmaking residues (dusts, slags, sludge) for internal recycling in the steelmaking process, enhanced steel recycling (scrap use), the use of secondary carbon carriers from non-steel sectors as a reducing agent and energy source in the steelmaking process chain, and CE business models (supply chain analyses). The current paper gives an overview of different technological CE approaches as obtained in a dedicated workshop called “Resi4Future—Residue valorization in iron and steel industry: sustainable solutions for a cleaner and more competitive future Europe” that was organized by ESTEP to focus on future challenges toward the final goal of industrial deployment.

scholarly journals Monomers, Materials and Energy from Coffee By-Products: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 6921
Author(s):  
Laura Sisti ◽  
Annamaria Celli ◽  
Grazia Totaro ◽  
Patrizia Cinelli ◽  
Francesca Signori ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Food Packaging ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Material Technology ◽  
Coffee Production ◽  
Coffee Pulp ◽  
Coffee Waste ◽  
By Products

In recent years, the circular economy and sustainability have gained attention in the food industry aimed at recycling food industrial waste and residues. For example, several plant-based materials are nowadays used in packaging and biofuel production. Among them, by-products and waste from coffee processing constitute a largely available, low cost, good quality resource. Coffee production includes many steps, in which by-products are generated including coffee pulp, coffee husks, silver skin and spent coffee. This review aims to analyze the reasons why coffee waste can be considered as a valuable source in recycling strategies for the sustainable production of bio-based chemicals, materials and fuels. It addresses the most recent advances in monomer, polymer and plastic filler productions and applications based on the development of viable biorefinery technologies. The exploration of strategies to unlock the potential of this biomass for fuel productions is also revised. Coffee by-products valorization is a clear example of waste biorefinery. Future applications in areas such as biomedicine, food packaging and material technology should be taken into consideration. However, further efforts in techno-economic analysis and the assessment of the feasibility of valorization processes on an industrial scale are needed.

scholarly journals Living lab on sharing and circular economy: The case of Turin

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 146045822098727
Author(s):  
Federico Cuomo ◽  
Nadia Lambiase ◽  
Antonio Castagna
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Swot Analysis ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Living Lab ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Living Labs ◽  
Past Experiences

Cities with their innovative capacity are key places to address critical climate, environmental and health challenges. Urban experimentations, such as Living Labs, can represent a starting point to reintroduce resources into the production cycle and reduce environmental impacts, embracing the paradigm of the circular economy (CE). According to recent studies, Living Labs at a city scale could generate significant environmental benefits, improvements in quality of life and positive impacts on citizens’ health.1 This paper aims at presenting the case of the Torino Living Lab on Sharing and Circular Economy (LLSC) to point out possible future scenarios of urban sustainable policies. The case study is analysed in five sections: (1) the description of the new permanent laboratory proposed by the City of Turin; (2) the past experiences of Living Labs in Turin; (3) the birth of LLSC and the involvement strategy; (4) the introduction of the eight admitted experimentations. In the light of the results collected, the last paragraph (5) came up with the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Treaths (SWOT) analysis in the LLSC. Eventually, it deals with the research question by offering a common ground for global and local policies focused on sustainability and CE.

scholarly journals Valorization of Kiwi by-Products for the Recovery of Bioactive Compounds: Circular Economy Model

Proceedings ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 70 (1) ◽  
pp. 9
Author(s):  
Franklin Chamorro ◽  
María Carpena ◽  
Bernabé Nuñez-Estevez ◽  
Miguel A. Prieto ◽  
Jesus Simal-Gandara
Keyword(s):  
Bioactive Compounds ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Agricultural Production ◽  
Organic Waste ◽  
Antimicrobial Activities ◽  
Added Value ◽  
Economic Returns ◽  
Industrial Processing ◽  
Pharmaceutical Industries ◽  
By Products

Currently, agricultural production generates large amounts of organic waste, both from the maintenance of farms and crops, and from the industrialization of the product. Generally, these wastes are accumulated in landfills or burned, sometimes causing environmental problems. However, many scientific studies suggest that these residues are rich in bioactive compounds, so these matrices could be revalued for their use in food, cosmetic, or pharmaceutical industries. In this way, the circular and sustainable economy is favored, while obtaining products with high added value. In this case, this approach is applied to the residues generated from kiwi production, since numerous studies have shown the high content of kiwi in bioactive compounds of interest, such as phenolic compounds, vitamins, and carotenoids. These compounds have been reported for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial activities, among other beneficial properties for health such as its use as prebiotic. Therefore, this article reviews the potential of residues derived from industrial processing and agricultural maintenance of kiwi as promising matrices for the development of new nutraceutical, cosmetic, or pharmacological products, obtaining, at the same time, economic returns and a reduction of the environmental impact of this industry, attaching it to the perspective of the circular economy.

scholarly journals Towards Deep Decarbonisation of Energy-Intensive Industries: A Review of Current Status, Technologies and Policies

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2408
Author(s):  
Anissa Nurdiawati ◽  
Frauke Urban
Keyword(s):  
Technological Development ◽  
Steel Production ◽  
Political Support ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Price Support ◽  
Reference Case ◽  
Technological Trajectories ◽  
Industrial Sectors ◽  
Energy Intensive Industries

Industries account for about 30% of total final energy consumption worldwide and about 20% of global CO2 emissions. While transitions towards renewable energy have occurred in many parts of the world in the energy sectors, the industrial sectors have been lagging behind. Decarbonising the energy-intensive industrial sectors is however important for mitigating emissions leading to climate change. This paper analyses various technological trajectories and key policies for decarbonising energy-intensive industries: steel, mining and minerals, cement, pulp and paper and refinery. Electrification, fuel switching to low carbon fuels together with technological breakthroughs such as fossil-free steel production and CCS are required to bring emissions from energy-intensive industry down to net-zero. A long-term credible carbon price, support for technological development in various parts of the innovation chain, policies for creating markets for low-carbon materials and the right condition for electrification and increased use of biofuels will be essential for a successful transition towards carbon neutrality. The study focuses on Sweden as a reference case, as it is one of the most advanced countries in the decarbonisation of industries. The paper concludes that it may be technically feasible to deep decarbonise energy-intensive industries by 2045, given financial and political support.

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