Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nathalia Ribeiro Silva, Thiago Oliveira Rodrigues, Tiago Emmanuel Nunes Braga, Andre Luis Christoforo, Diogo Aparecido Lopes Silva
Summary: This paper compared the environmental performance of two end-of-life strategies for Lubricant Oil Used and Contaminated (LOUC) in Brazil, namely combustion in cement kilns for thermal energy co-generation and re-refining for base oil production. The results showed that LOUC re-refining had higher circularity and lower environmental life cycle impacts compared to combustion. However, when considering energy demand in the cement industry, LOUC combustion proved to be a viable alternative for the replacement of coke consumption.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ricardo Rebolledo-Leiva, Maria Teresa Moreira, Sara Gonzalez-Garcia
Summary: Life cycle methodologies are recognized as useful tools in assessing sustainability issues, but there is a need for more attention on social sustainability assessment in promoting bioeconomy strategies. This study reviews the state of the art of Social Life Cycle Assessment methodology under the bioeconomy framework and highlights methodological weaknesses and specific challenges. Efforts are necessary to address these challenges and align the S-LCA method with other life cycle approaches.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sergi Vinardell, Jose Luis Cortina, Cesar Valderrama
Summary: The feasibility of using membrane technologies and struvite crystallisation (SC) for nutrient recovery from anaerobic digestion supernatant was investigated. The combination of ultrafiltration, SC, and liquid-liquid membrane contactor (LLMC) was found to have the least environmental impact. SC and LLMC were the most significant environmental and economic contributors in scenarios using membrane technologies.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Studies
Thomas Elliot, Alan Carter, Sumedha Ghattuwar, Annie Levasseur
Summary: Road pavement has significant environmental impacts throughout its life cycle. Recycling methods, such as using reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP), can improve environmental performance, although they are not without drawbacks. In this study, we assessed the environmental trade-offs of a road rehabilitation project using different quantities and blends of RAP over a 30-year service life. The results show that using RAP with cold in-place recycling can improve environmental indicators, such as climate change, with only a slight increase in transportation impact. This research contributes to understanding the potential improvements in pavement rehabilitation supply chains.
TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART D-TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carmen Ferrara, Valeria Migliaro, Francesco Ventura, Giovanni De Feo
Summary: The main aim of this study was to compare the environmental and economic performance of different wine packaging systems in Italy. Aseptic cartons and bag-in-box systems were found to be the most sustainable alternatives, while glass bottle systems had the poorest performance due to their high weight and energy consumption during production. The size of the containers was a key factor that impacted both the environmental and economic results.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Chemical
Joana Carvalho, Lucas Nascimento, Margarida Soares, Nadia Valerio, Andre Ribeiro, Luciana Faria, Andre Silva, Nuno Pacheco, Jorge Araujo, Candida Vilarinho
Summary: This study critically analyzes the life cycle assessment of biochar production from different sources and technologies, demonstrating the great potential of biochar in circular economy for carbon-efficient resource circulation, climate change mitigation, and economic sustainability.
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ilesanmi Daniyan, Khumbulani Mpofu, Boitumelo Ramatsetse, Munish Gupta
Summary: The study aims to evaluate the efficient management of machine tools throughout their lifecycle, with a focus on using life cycle assessment methodology to reduce energy consumption and enhance environmental sustainability. An integrated life cycle and cyber physical machine tool model is proposed for this purpose.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Vibeke Grupe Larsen, Nicola Tollin, Peter Andreas Sattrup, Morten Birkved, Tine Holmboe
Summary: The article discusses the importance of integrating life cycle thinking methodologies into Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment to support the transition of the construction and real estate industry towards a circular economy. It concludes that closer attention to various phases of buildings' life cycles and further research in integrating LCA, LCC, and S-LCA are essential for the success of circular economy implementation in the sector.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Annarita Paiano, Teodoro Gallucci, Andrea Pontrandolfo, Giovanni Lagioia, Paolo Piccinno, Amedeo Lacalamita
Summary: The paint industry has been focusing on developing environmentally friendly products, with a life cycle thinking approach to reduce environmental impacts. The use of waste paint blending and recycled packaging materials can effectively reduce environmental impacts.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Editorial Material
Engineering, Environmental
Lucia Rigamonti, Eliana Mancini
Summary: Circularity indicators and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) have great potential in circular decision making, but they cannot be used alone to choose the best circular economy projects as they only provide a partial view on the environmental performance of a system. However, a high degree of circularity can help build good relationships with customers, increase reputation, and facilitate access to funding.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Velma Mukoro, Maria Sharmina, Alejandro Gallego-Schmid
Summary: Business model innovation can contribute to environmental sustainability, and the circular economy principles are an effective integration approach. This study introduces a new framework, the Environmental performance of Business Models (EBuM), which evaluates business models based on their environmental performance in creating and delivering value. The framework includes life cycle assessment, participatory decision-making, and business model innovation, enabling organizations to incorporate environmental considerations into their operations and decision-making processes.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Paola Federica Albizzati, Davide Tonini, Thomas Fruergaard Astrup
Summary: The use of food waste as feedstock in high-value product manufacturing shows promise for achieving circular economy goals. Animal feed production from food waste decreases global warming and socio-economic impacts. Biochemical manufacturing, however, incurs higher impacts and requires focus on improving technology readiness for sustainable competitive technologies.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Bruna Moura, Helena Monteiro, Teresa M. Mata, Muriel Iten, Antonio A. Martins
Summary: Mushroom farming has been rising to meet consumer demand, however, a significant amount of fresh mushrooms are wasted annually. Mushroom residues, a natural source of high value-added ingredients, can be utilized through the extraction of ergosterol. Despite the growing interest in natural food additives, their environmental impacts have not been widely addressed. This study conducted an environmental life cycle assessment (LCA) of the early-stage development of ergosterol extraction from mushroom bio-residues, identifying the processes with the highest environmental impact and proposing improvement measures. The results showed that electricity consumption was responsible for a significant share of the environmental impacts.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
B. Soust-Verdaguer, I. Bernardino Galeana, C. Llatas, M. V. Montes, E. Hoxha, A. Passer
Summary: The built environment plays a significant role in the current climate crisis, making the development of more sustainable projects a pressing issue. The use of Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment (LCSA) in digital design tools like Building Information Modelling (BIM) is crucial for evaluating building sustainability. This method aims to provide consistent results by aligning early stage information with a detailed data structure for cost estimation, as demonstrated in a case study analysis.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Rebeka Kovacic Lukman, Vasja Omahne, Damjan Krajnc
Summary: This paper examines the sustainability of toy production, focusing on environmental, economic, and social aspects. Through analyzing the toy life cycle, the main environmental impacts of the system were identified and alternative design options based on the principles of the circular economy were proposed.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Richard Cabrera-Jimenez, Josep M. Mateo-Sanz, Jordi Gavalda, Laureano Jimenez, Carlos Pozo
Summary: This article analyzes the performance of 72 different biofuels routes based on 12 indicators covering the economic, environmental, and social dimensions. Results show that renewable diesel is a better option than ethanol-based blends or biodiesel, and waste biomass is preferred over cellulosic biomass or bio-oils. The selection of the carbon source is the most important decision and regional factors related to soil and climate should be considered.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Aldwin-Lois Galvan-Cara, Moises Graells, Antonio Espuna
Summary: Utility exchanges between different plants can improve the energetic, economic, and environmental efficiency, but whether to consider cooperative or non-cooperative scenarios in conflicting situations will affect the outcomes. Cooperative scenarios may produce total energy savings and cost reductions, while non-cooperative scenarios ensure desirable outcomes for each individual company. The optimization model developed in this work can identify economic barriers and improve decision-making support for managing utility networks.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Harini Narayanan, Mariano Nicolas Cruz Bournazou, Gonzalo Guillen Gosalbez, Alessandro Butte
Summary: This paper introduces a new hybrid modeling framework, the Functional-Hybrid model, which incorporates domain-specific functional beliefs and symbolic regression, showing strong interpretability and applicability in various fields. Compared to traditional hybrid models, the Functional-Hybrid model outperforms in situations with limited data and demonstrates superior extrapolation capabilities.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Husain Baaqel, Jason P. Hallett, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez, Benoit Chachuat
Summary: This study compares the impact of different production routes on a specific ionic liquid, finding that halide-free synthesis can significantly reduce costs and environmental impacts, with better performance in the use phase. It underscores the importance of synthesizing routes of ILs on their sustainability and the need to comprehensively consider both the production and use phases of solvents for more accurate life-cycle assessments.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diego Iribarren, Raul Calvo-Serrano, Mario Martin-Gamboa, Angel Galan-Martin, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez
Summary: This study presents the first social life cycle assessment of green methanol and compares it to conventional methanol. The results show that green methanol performs unfavorably in some negative social indicators, but outperforms conventional methanol in terms of economic development. Technical improvements and better social working conditions are needed to enhance the social life cycle performance of green methanol.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Selene Cobo, Angel Galan-Martin, Victor Tulus, Mark A. J. Huijbregts, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez
Summary: This paper assesses the co-benefits and side-effects of DACCS and BECCS for human health and the planet. The health co-benefits of BECCS may exceed those of DACCS, but both technologies may lead to trade-offs between Earth-system processes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Guido Zichittella, Amedeo Ceruti, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez, Javier Perez-Ramirez
Summary: This article introduces the educational background and research interests of Guido Zichittella, Amedeo Ceruti, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez, and Javier Perez-Ramirez.
Editorial Material
Engineering, Chemical
Luis Puigjaner, Antonio Espuna, Edrisi Munoz, Elisabet Capon-Garcia
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fatemeh Rostami, Zoltan Kis, Rembrandt Koppelaar, Laureano Jimenez, Carlos Pozo
Summary: This study compares the sustainability of 27 energy storage alternatives, which is important for the transition to energy systems with a high share of renewable energy. The results provide guidance for decision-making and research and development purposes.
ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Daniel Vazquez, Roger Guimera, Marta Sales-Pardo, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez
Summary: Precisely predicting the relationship between countries' energy consumption and pollution levels and socioeconomic drivers is crucial for supporting effective sustainable policy-making. Traditional predictive models based on rigid mathematical expressions with constant elasticities are limited, while a Bayesian approach to symbolic regression can find analytical expressions that outperform traditional models and challenge the assumption of constant elasticities.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Till Weidner, Angel Galan-Martin, Morten Walbech Ryberg, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez
Summary: Energy systems analysis plays a crucial role in designing and operating reliable and cost-effective energy solutions. However, the current global energy system has profound impacts on the planet, potentially exceeding its safe operating space for humanity. Traditional life cycle assessments may fall short in designing truly sustainable alternatives. The concept of absolute sustainability can be incorporated into energy systems modeling to achieve a green energy transition and ensure sustainable development.
COMPUTERS & CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Fabian Lechtenberg, Javier Farreres, Aldwin-Lois Galvan-Cara, Ana Somoza-Tornos, Antonio Espuna, Moises Graells
Summary: A novel query-by-document approach using Monte-Carlo sampling of relevant keywords is introduced to simplify the information retrieval task. The method reduces human bias by eliminating the need for expert knowledge and human intervention, and achieves good practical results in two case studies.
EXPERT SYSTEMS WITH APPLICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Iasonas Ioannou, Angel Galan-Martin, Javier Perez-Ramirez, Gonzalo Guillen-Gosalbez
Summary: Carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) offers a promising approach to convert carbon emissions into valuable fuels and chemicals. However, the environmental implications of CCU and fossil chemicals on sustainable development goals are not well-understood. This study evaluates the environmental performance of various technologies and highlights the importance of integrating SDGs in technology development to support the low-carbon energy and chemicals transition.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Andres Gonzalez-Garay, Clara Heuberger-Austin, Xiao Fu, Mark Klokkenburg, Di Zhang, Alexander van der Made, Nilay Shah
Summary: The aviation industry accounts for a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions, and reducing its carbon footprint is crucial. This study analyzes the requirements for promoting Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAFs) from solar energy to mitigate emissions. The study finds that solar PV, electricity storage, and water electrolysis are key drivers for the performance of solar SAFs, while the optimal location of facilities depends on factors such as solar radiation and jet fuel demand. The study also highlights the importance of using renewable sources to guarantee a reduction in CO2 emissions. However, the high production costs and the need for technological improvements and carbon taxes pose challenges to the competitiveness of SAFs.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
D. Faust Akl, D. Poier, S. C. D'Angelo, T. P. Araujo, V Tulus, O. Safonova, S. Mitchell, R. Marti, G. Guillen-Gosalbez, J. Perez-Ramirez
Summary: The Pd-Cu catalysed Sonogashira coupling is a significant strategy for C-C bond formation. Traditional homogeneous systems are not reusable, but using heterogeneous catalysts based on isolated metal atoms allows for efficient Pd utilization. Recovering and reusing Pd atoms anchored on nitrogen-doped carbon is possible. The hybrid homogeneous-heterogeneous catalytic process has a smaller footprint compared to the purely homogeneous process.
