scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment Analysis of Alfalfa and Corn for Biogas Production in a Farm Case Study

Processes ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 1285
Author(s):  
Fabiola Filippa ◽  
Francesco Panara ◽  
Daniela Leonardi ◽  
Livia Arcioni ◽  
Ornella Calderini
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Greenhouse Gases ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment Study ◽  
Energy Inputs

In the last years the greenhouse effect has been significantly intensified due to human activities, generating large additional amounts of Greenhouse gases (GHG). The fossil fuels are the main causes of that. Consequently, the attention on the composition of the national fuel mix has significantly grown, and the renewables are becoming a more significant component. In this context, biomass is one of the most important sources of renewable energy with a great potential for the production of energy. The study has evaluated, through an LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) study, the attitude of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) as “no food” biomass alternative to maize silage (corn), in the production of biogas from anaerobic digestion. Considering the same functional unit (1 m3 of biogas from anaerobic digestion) and the same time horizon, alfalfa environmental impact was found to be much comparable to that of corn because it has an impact of about 15% higher than corn considering the total score from different categories and an impact of 5% higher of corn considering only greenhouse gases. Therefore, the analysis shows a similar environmental load in the use of alfalfa biomass in energy production compared to maize. Corn in fact, despite a better yield per hectare and yield of biogas, requires a greater amount of energy inputs to produce 1m3 of biogas, while alfalfa, which requires less energy inputs in its life cycle, has a lower performance in terms of yield. The results show the possibility to alternate the two crops for energy production from an environmental perspective.

scholarly journals Energy Life-Cycle Assessment of Fruit Products—Case Study of Beira Interior’s Peach (Portugal)

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 3530 ◽  
Author(s):  
João Pires Gaspar ◽  
Pedro Dinis Gaspar ◽  
Pedro Dinho da Silva ◽  
Maria Simões ◽  
Christophe Santo
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Cooling Systems ◽  
Sustainable Technologies ◽  
Energy Inputs ◽  
System Life ◽  
Test Scenarios

Currently, there is a growing demand for cleaner and sustainable technologies due to environmental issues. In this sense, there is a necessity to manage the assessment of production processes and the rationalization of energy consumption. In this study, an Energy Life-Cycle Assessment (ELCA) was carried out through energy efficiency indicators, directed to the characterization and renewability of the peach production system life-cycle in the Portuguese region of Beira Interior. The study intends to investigate the non-renewable energy inputs from fossil fuels, as well as the emissions resulting from machinery. In addition, warehouse energy inputs are analyzed, mainly cooling systems of refrigerated chambers where fruits are preserved. This analysis aims to find opportunities for technological, environmental and best practices improvements. Test scenarios were analyzed and revealing soil groundcover maintenance is the operation with the largest impact in the energy consumption of the production process (3176 MJ·ha−1). In the post-harvest processes, the energy consumption largest impact is given by the warehouse’s operations (35,700 MJ·ha−1), followed by transportation (6180 MJ·ha−1). Concerning the emissions resulting from the fuels consumption, the largest impact is due to the plantation machinery and the transportation from warehouse to retailers.

Incorporating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in Freight Transportation Infrastructure Project Evaluation

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumith Kumar Oduru ◽  
Pasi Lautala
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Freight Transportation ◽  
Evaluation Process ◽  
Planning Stage ◽  
Simplified Lca ◽  
Modal Route

Transportation industry at large is a major consumer of fossil fuels and contributes heavily to the global greenhouse gas emissions. A significant portion of these emissions come from freight transportation and decisions on mode/route may affect the overall scale of emissions from a specific movement. It is common to consider several alternatives for a new freight activity and compare the alternatives from economic perspective. However, there is a growing emphasis for adding emissions to this evaluation process. One of the approaches to do this is through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA); a method for estimating the emissions, energy consumption and environmental impacts of the project throughout its life cycle. Since modal/route selections are often investigated early in the planning stage of the project, availability of data and resources for analysis may become a challenge for completing a detailed LCA on alternatives. This research builds on such detailed LCA comparison performed on a previous case study by Kalluri et al. (2016), but it also investigates whether a simplified LCA process that only includes emissions from operations phase could be used as a less resource intensive option for the analysis while still providing relevant outcomes. The detailed LCA is performed using SimaPro software and simplified LCA is performed using GREET 2016 model. The results are obtained in terms of Kg CO2 equivalents of GHG emissions. This paper introduces both detailed and simplified methodologies and applies them to a case study of a nickel and copper mine in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The analysis’ are done for three modal alternatives (two truck routes and one rail route) and for multiple mine lives.

scholarly journals Anaerobic digestion life cycle assessment (LCA)

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 92-104
Author(s):  
Farhad Sakhaee
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Training Center ◽  
Treatment Facility ◽  
Practical Solution ◽  
Treatment Facilities ◽  
Management Report

Abstract: Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool to evaluate environmental impacts based on products of a process. This research is a case study of wastewater treatment facilities of ERTC (Environmental Resources Training Center), SIUE University, based on available data for two semi-annual sludge quantities (year 2015) from sludge management report. The aim of this study is to compare set of possibilities for a wastewater treatment facility at ERTC. The simulation has been done through SimaPro model. Electricity and methane were considered and the cumulative weight of their impacts has been investigated. Total solids for two semi-annual sludge has been fed to the model in kilogram and different production (electricity and methane) configuration were investigated. The most plausible configuration based on the cumulative environmental impact proposed as best practical solution.

Life cycle assessment of the use of nanomaterials in biogas production from anaerobic digestion of manure

2020 ◽  
Vol 148 ◽  
pp. 417-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. Hijazi ◽  
E. Abdelsalam ◽  
M. Samer ◽  
Y.A. Attia ◽  
B.M.A. Amer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Biogas Production

The Life Cycle Assessment of a Polypropylene Product, Part B: Comparison of Fuel Options for Generating Electricity and Disposal Methods

2014 ◽  
Vol 535 ◽  
pp. 519-522
Author(s):  
Karin Kandananond
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Hydro Power ◽  
Crucial Problem ◽  
The One ◽  
Mixed Oil ◽  
Product Part

Electricity is one of the most important resources in the manufacturing process. This research has demonstrated the environmental impact caused from two fuel options for generating electricity, coal and mixed (oil/ petroleum gas/ hydro power), in Thailand. The case study is conducted on a sample plastic product, a polypropylene (PP) stacking chair. Moreover, the effect from different disposal scenarios, landfill and incineration, is also analyzed as well. Due to the results, the electricity generated from coal has caused more impact than the one from mixed fuels. For coal option, respiratory inorganics seem to be the most crucial problem while the use of fossil fuels is the major impact from mixed fuels option. When the disposal methods are considered, the incineration is a better choice for disposing PP waste since it causes the least impact on the environment. By the categories of impacts, carcinogens are highly contributed to the landfill method while the climate change is the result from the incineration.

scholarly journals Environmental impact evaluation of crumb rubber industry production process by life cycle assessment (LCA) method (case study: PT FRP)

2021 ◽  
Vol 896 (1) ◽  
pp. 012046
Author(s):  
A Yerdianti ◽  
R Aziz
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impact ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Crumb Rubber ◽  
Drying Process ◽  
Iso 14040 ◽  
Single Score ◽  
Ecological Improvement

Abstract PT FRP produces crumb rubber SIR 20 with a total annual production of 42.000 tons. This study aims to analyze the environmental impact of 1-ton crumb rubber production using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method to be further explored for recommendations for ecological improvement. LCA was carried by a gate-to-gate scope using SimaPro software with the eco-indicator 99 method. The steps for completing this research refer to ISO 14040:2016. Characterization step results from the category of fossil fuels impact have the highest value (931 MJ surplus). The total value of the single score generated is 369 Pt, with the highest impact value is respiratory inorganics. The dryer drying process, the usage of electricity, and the generator and boiler are four production processes that significantly impact the environment. Improvement recommendations given to reduce the effects of the four processes are using an economizer in the boiler, the combination of fuel used by the boiler, and substitution of diesel fuel with Pertamina Dex as generator’s fuel.

scholarly journals Exploring the environmental and economic potential for biogas production from swine manure wastewater by life cycle assessment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng-Fen Shih ◽  
Chyi-How Lay ◽  
Chiu-Yue Lin ◽  
Shen-Ho Chang
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Cost Benefit Analysis ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Resource Scarcity ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Swine Farms

Abstract Development of biofuels to replace fossil fuels by bioenergy systems has been attracting attention as an environmental-friendly process. Dealing with biowaste by anaerobic digestion not only disposes of wastes but also producing biogas during the treatment processes for providing the renewable energy source at low-cost while conserving fossil fuel. This study aims to use life cycle assessment and cost-benefit analysis tools in evaluating and comparing the potential environmental impacts and cost benefits for the swine farm operation with and without a rapid-build anaerobic fermentor module installed into the original three-stage wastewater treatment system, which module helps biogas production as energy recovery in swine farms. The results indicate that the module could help reduce carbon footprint by 22.6%, methane by 51.8%, sulfur oxides by 92.6%, nitrogen oxides by 74.2%, carbon monoxide by 54.7%, nitrous oxide by 28.6%, suspended particulate by 95.4%, and non-methane volatile organic compounds by 80%. Using this module made the reductions of damage impacts were human health 82%, ecosystem quality 59%, and resource scarcity 87%. The daily average biogas production was 46.38 m3 and its annual electricity generation income was 6,091 USD. This study allows identifying the lowest environmental impact to support the adoption of sustainable waste treatment and the opportunity for converting waste to be energy and utilization with economic benefits for small-scale swine farms.

Environmental assessment of energy production from anaerobic digestion of pig manure at medium-scale using life cycle assessment

2020 ◽  
Vol 102 ◽  
pp. 85-96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martha E. Ramírez-Islas ◽  
Leonor Patricia Güereca ◽  
Fabiola S. Sosa-Rodriguez ◽  
Mario A. Cobos-Peralta
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Environmental Assessment ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Pig Manure ◽  
Medium Scale

Life cycle assessment of energy from waste via anaerobic digestion: A UK case study

2014 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 226-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Evangelisti ◽  
Paola Lettieri ◽  
Domenico Borello ◽  
Roland Clift
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Energy From Waste
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