Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
D. Lerede, C. Bustreo, F. Gracceva, M. Saccone, L. Savoldi
Summary: This paper reviews the technological outlook in five industrial subsectors and builds a dataset containing technologies currently in use or announced for use in various macro-scale energy models, particularly focusing on the TIMES family. The dataset aims to showcase the level of sustainability each industrial sector can achieve in the long term.
RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Pichaya In-na, Fergal Byrne, Gary S. Caldwell, Jonathan G. M. Lee
Summary: This study compares the performance of biocomposites and other algal cultivation systems in capturing carbon dioxide, finding that biocomposites have a significant advantage in reducing water and energy consumption.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wei Wu, Hui Xu, Bin Shi, Po-Chih Kuo
Summary: To address plastic waste reduction and reutilization, three designs of mixed plastic wastes-based poly-generation processes are proposed. Designs 1 and 2 produce methanol and electricity simultaneously, while Design 3 involves the calcium looping process to produce H2 and CO2 as well as recover waste heat. Design 3 has a higher cost due to the complicated CaLP, but shows superior carbon capture performance and economic evaluation results when considering the carbon revenue.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING AND PROCESSING-PROCESS INTENSIFICATION
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Javad Asadi, Pejman Kazempoor
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive evaluation of membrane separation processes for carbon capture systems, revealing that considering sweep gas and increasing CO2 concentration can reduce energy consumption.
ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Joe Mammen John, Sharifah Rafidah Wan Alwi, Daniel Ikhu Omoregbe
Summary: The emergence of global warming is largely attributed to the increase of greenhouse gases, with a proposed framework of utilizing CO2 to reduce emissions by producing added-value products. The study found that capturing CO2 from industrial emissions to produce methanol, calcium carbonate, and baking soda, as well as baking production, are sustainable options.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shaghayegh Vajdi, Alireza Aslani
Summary: This research investigates the techno-economic analysis of directly capturing carbon through microalgae cultivation in photobioreactors integrated into the building facade. The results show that the designed system produced 2.2 tons of microalgae and captured 3.9 tons of CO2 yearly. The sensitive analysis demonstrates that increasing cultivation capacity or changing the microalgae species can decrease the cost of microalgae production.
SUSTAINABLE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES AND ASSESSMENTS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Birendra Adhikari, Christopher J. Orme, Caleb Stetson, John R. Klaehn
Summary: Rising levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere contribute to global warming and climate change, making carbon capture crucial. Our research group has developed a highly efficient membrane technology, using MEEP-based membranes, for carbon capture. Compared to other membrane processes and traditional methods, it offers a lower cost for carbon capture.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Daison Yancy-Caballero, Ryan Hughes, Miguel A. Zamarripa, Benjamin Omell, Michael Matuszewski, Debangsu Bhattacharyya
Summary: This study investigates the potential of tetraamine-appended metal-organic frameworks (MOF) for CO2 capture from flue gas conditions relevant to natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) power plants, through isotherm modeling, process modeling, scale up, and techno-economic optimization. The results suggest that a moving bed carbon capture system with tetraamine-appended MOF can be competitive compared to conventional MEA solvent-based capture processes for NGCC plants, under certain conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yang Han, W. S. Winston Ho
Summary: A single-stage membrane process using facilitated transport membranes has been designed to decarbonize coal-derived syngas, with a reactive diffusion model integrated to address carrier saturation. The study found that mitigated carrier saturation can significantly enhance CO2 permeance and selectivity, achieving high CO2 purity and H2 recovery. Furthermore, a hybrid membrane configuration with different FTMs characteristics can further improve H2 recovery and decrease the cost of electricity compared to the benchmark Selexol process.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ana Somoza-Tornos, Omar J. Guerra, Allison M. Crow, Wilson A. Smith, Bri-Mathias Hodge
Summary: The electrochemical reduction of CO2 is seen as a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuel technologies for chemical synthesis, but the low technology readiness levels make it difficult to predict performance at an industrial scale. Researchers have developed various techniques to assess these technologies, focusing on technical, environmental, and economic aspects, in order to evaluate the challenges and opportunities for industrial implementation of CO2 reduction through electrolysis.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Thai Ngan Do, Chanhee You, Jiyong Kim
Summary: In this study, a framework for CO2 capture and utilization for energy products (CCU4E) was developed and examined for its techno-economic and environmental performance. A total of 72 CO2-to-fuel pathways were analyzed to understand the trade-off between economic output and environmental impact, with a focus on the role of H2 in mitigating CO2eq emissions and economic potential. The study also highlighted the significance of green hydrogen price as a key factor in future CCU4E for reducing CO2eq emissions at a more stable and lower cost.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Mohamed Bahloul, Mohamed Daoud, Shafiuzzaman K. Khadem
Summary: This paper presents a bottom-up approach for techno-economic analysis of a Li-ion battery based Energy Storage System (BESS) to provide grid ancillary services under the Delivering a Secure, Sustainable Electricity System (DS3) programme in the Irish market. The goal is to assess the economic performance of BESS for different contracted capacity systems under the different operating and financial conditions.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Prabakaran Ganeshan, V. S. Vigneswaran, Sarath C. Gowd, Dhamodharan Kondusamy, C. Sanjay Kumar, Nageshwari Krishnamoorthy, Deepak Kumar, Ankita Juneja, Balasubramanian Paramasivan, Nithin N. Raju, Karthik Rajendran, Arivalagan Pugazhendhi
Summary: Hydrogen is considered as the fuel of the future due to its high energy density and zero-carbon emission potential. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle analysis (LCA) of various bio-hydrogen generation processes can help identify cost-effective and low-carbon methods, attracting investors and overcoming barriers to hydrogen integration in the energy market. Gasification was found to be the most economical method for bio-hydrogen production, followed by anaerobic digestion. The gasification of eucalyptus wood was found to have the least carbon footprint.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Josef Marousek, Anna Marouskova, Beata Gavurova, Babak Minofar
Summary: Concrete production is a major source of pollution, with cement production accounting for 88% of the environmental burden. To reduce carbon emissions, using carbon-negative char as a substitute for cement has gained interest. By converting biowaste into activated char and capturing phosphorus at wastewater treatment plants, a novel cement substitute was produced. Testing and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to optimize the strength characteristics of the concrete and understand the interaction between activated char and phosphorus.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Tianqi Gao, Baokai Xia, Kang Yang, Di Li, Tianye Shao, Sheng Chen, Qiang Li, Jingjing Duan
Summary: Currently, CO2 electrolysis technologies are being extensively studied in laboratories, with limited pilot-scale applications. In this study, a comprehensive workflow of the CO2 electrolysis system is established, and a techno-economic analysis (TEA) is conducted on four main products: formic acid, carbon monoxide, ethanol, and ethylene. The levelized cost of formic acid and carbon monoxide is competitive with conventional methods, but ethanol and ethylene are not yet economically viable. To improve the feasibility of multicarbon products, higher faradaic efficiency, lower cell voltage, and reduced electricity prices are needed. Additionally, the production process of formic acid is optimized using heat-pump-assisted pressure swing distillation (HPA-PSD) to reduce energy consumption. Furthermore, the production of formic acid from CO2 electrolysis coupled with concentrating solar power can achieve a carbon-negative effect based on carbon footprint accounting.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuan Yao
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in reduced travel and increased household food and energy consumption. This study investigates the overall environmental impacts of these changes by estimating the life cycle environmental impacts of U.S. households during the pandemic. The results show that the decrease in travel outweighed the increase in household energy consumption, leading to a nationwide decrease in greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, smog formation, minerals and metal use, commercial wastes, and acidification. However, there was an increase in life cycle freshwater withdrawals and slight increases in eutrophication, ozone depletion, and freshwater ecotoxicity due to increased household energy and food consumption.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kai Lan, Yuan Yao
Summary: This study presents a dynamic approach to analyze the life-cycle global warming potential (GWP) of energy technologies in different timeframes and representative greenhouse gas (GHG) concentration pathways. The results show that higher atmospheric GHG concentrations lead to higher life-cycle GWP for long-term analysis. The impacts of background GHG concentrations are more significant for technologies with large operational emissions or CH4 emissions.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Mochen Liao, Kai Lan, Yuan Yao
Summary: This study reviewed relevant AI literature in the chemical industry and proposed a conceptual framework that encompasses approaches from industrial ecology, economics, and engineering to guide the selection of performance indicators and evaluation methods for a holistic assessment of AI's impacts. The study also highlights future research directions for addressing the data challenges in assessing AI's impacts and developing AI-enhanced tools to support the sustainable development of the chemical industry.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhenzhen Zhang, Katherine L. Martin, Kathryn T. Stevenson, Yuan Yao
Summary: Green infrastructure is crucial for health, well-being, and sustainability in urban areas. However, its distribution is often uneven, leading to unequal access for low-income residents and underserved racial/ethnic communities. This study found that while green infrastructure was distributed more equitably in schoolyards, it was still less prevalent compared to surrounding neighborhoods. There is an opportunity for school districts to expand green infrastructure in schoolyards to provide more ecosystem services for all students.
URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhihan Li, Chaoji Chen, Hua Xie, Yuan Yao, Xin Zhang, Alexandra Brozena, Jianguo Li, Yu Ding, Xinpeng Zhao, Min Hong, Haiyu Qiao, Lee M. Smith, Xuejun Pan, Robert Briber, Sheldon Q. Shi, Liangbing Hu
Summary: The study presents a top-down approach for producing high-performance natural macrofibres from bamboo stems that outperform wood-derived fibres and are comparable to synthetic carbon fibres. The use of these natural fibres could lead to substantial reduction in carbon emissions, offering a pathway towards sustainability in various industries such as automotive, aeronautics, and construction.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Darlene Echeverria, Richard Venditti, Hasan Jameel, Yuan Yao
Summary: This research uses process simulations to generate life cycle inventory data for different grades of dissolving pulp (DP) and finds that biomass feedstock directly affects the environmental impacts of DP. The study shows that hardwood acetate grade has a higher global warming potential compared to softwood acetate, but lower impacts in other categories related to ecosystems and human health.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shiva Zargar, Yuan Yao, Qingshi Tu
Summary: Missing data is a key challenge in life cycle inventory (LCI) modeling. This study critically reviews 12 common methods for addressing missing data in LCI modeling, analyzes their features, scope, assumptions, and limitations, and identifies areas for future improvement.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Rodrigo Buitrago-Tello, Richard A. Venditti, Hasan Jameel, Yuan Yao, Darlene Echeverria
Summary: This study analyzed the carbon footprint of wood-based fluff pulp production and evaluated the environmental impacts of switching energy sources and key operational conditions. The results showed that using residual biomass wood pellets as energy source can significantly reduce carbon emissions, and the lignin content of biomass is a critical factor affecting greenhouse gas emissions.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yu Ding, Zhenqian Pang, Kai Lan, Yuan Yao, Guido Panzarasa, Lin Xu, Marco Lo Ricco, Douglas R. Rammer, J. Y. Zhu, Ming Hu, Xuejun Pan, Teng Li, Ingo Burgert, Liangbing Hu
Summary: The building sector is responsible for a significant amount of global energy-related CO2 emissions. Developing carbon-storage materials and novel designs using wood has the potential to address sustainability challenges and mitigate climate change.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Na Wu, Kai Lan, Yuan Yao
Summary: BECCS is a potential solution for addressing climate change and regional wildfires, and supporting circular economy. The study shows that forest residue-derived hydrogen is economically competitive and only BECCS can provide carbon-negative hydrogen, which is more favorable regarding human health impact and near-term economics.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bingquan Zhang, Kai Lan, Thomas B. Harris, Mark S. Ashton, Yuan Yao
Summary: This study fills the gap in understanding the climate mitigation potential of protection and commercial AR with different combinations of forest plantation management and wood utilization pathways. The results show that innovative commercial AR generally mitigates more GHGs across 100 years through cross-laminated timber (CLT) and biochar, especially in moderately cooler and dryer regions. The study also highlights the importance of planting density and thinning regimes in GHG mitigation. Rating: 8/10.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Hannah Szu-Han Wang, Yuan Yao
Summary: This paper reviews 53 papers published since 2008 to understand the capabilities, limitations, and potentials of machine learning (ML) in supporting sustainable development and applications of biomass-derived materials (BDM). Previous ML applications in BDM systems focus on material and process design, end-use performance prediction, and sustainability assessment. However, there are limitations in the interpretability of models and the lack of studies considering geo-temporal dynamics in sustainability assessment.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bingquan Zhang, Jennifer Kroeger, Noah Planavsky, Yuan Yao
Summary: Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a CDR strategy for combating climate change. This study develops an optimization-based framework for ERW, demonstrated by a case study applying mining waste to croplands in the Midwestern U.S. The study reveals the importance of ERW supply chain design and provides an example of U.S. CDR implementation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kai Lan, Yuan Yao
Summary: Gasification of waste plastic for hydrogen production, combined with carbon capture and storage, is a viable option for addressing the plastic waste challenge. Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment show that this option is competitive and has lower environmental impacts compared to fossil fuel hydrogen with carbon capture and storage and current electrolysis hydrogen.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Kai Lan, Bingquan Zhang, Yuan Yao
Summary: This study quantifies the life-cycle environmental benefits of utilizing urban tree waste in the US and finds that full utilization of urban tree waste through circular pathways can significantly reduce nationwide greenhouse gas emissions and eutrophication potential. Through process-level comparisons, it is identified that using merchantable logs for lumber and residues for biochar is the most environmentally beneficial combination. These results contribute to the development of circular bioeconomy in urban environments.