Cleaner Environmental Systems最新文献

{"title":"Life cycle sustainability assessment of microbial oil from organic waste","authors":"Santiago Abelleira ,&nbsp;Pedro L. Cruz ,&nbsp;Diego Iribarren","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100236","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100236","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microbial oils (MOs) are lipids produced by oleaginous microorganisms, which constitute an alternative to vegetable and fossil-derived oils. They can be produced from organic waste by coupling acidogenic fermentation (AF) with oleaginous fermentation (OF). This study addresses a life cycle sustainability assessment (LCSA) of MO produced from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste. First, a system was modelled using simulation tools. This model combines AF for the production of volatile fatty acids from organic waste, OF for the production of lipid-rich yeasts, and MO extraction. LCSA results indicate the need for improvements in the disruption of yeasts and the overall efficiency of the system. Particularly, slightly acidified thermolysis turned out to involve excessively high steam requirements. An enhanced sustainability performance could be achieved by exploring alternative disruption methods or alternative sources of energy for the production of steam such as biogas from the valorisation of the sludges produced in the system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100236"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142655757","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Techno-economic feasibility study of ammonia recovery from sewage sludge digestate in wastewater treatment plants","authors":"Mohammad Alrbai ,&nbsp;Sameer Al-Dahidi ,&nbsp;Bashar Shboul ,&nbsp;Mosa Abusorra ,&nbsp;Hassan Hayajneh","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100235","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100235","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Wastewater treatment plants play a vital role in resource recovery, particularly through biogas production, a key renewable energy source. Beyond biogas, the digestate from anaerobic digestion is rich in nutrients like ammonia. This study explored the feasibility of recovering ammonia from sewage sludge digestate using air stripping. The process was modeled using Aspen Plus® software, utilizing real data from As-Samra WWTP in Jordan. Various operational parameters, such as digestate feed flow, air flow rate, temperature, and pressure, were analyzed to optimize ammonia recovery. The results showed that with a feed flow rate between 10,000 and 30,000 kg/hr, ammonia recovery reached 85%, with production exceeding 100 kg/hr, where the effect of the flow rate appears mostly at elevated feeding temperatures. Increased air flow rates significantly boosted recovery, achieving 90% efficiency at 60 °C with 50,000 kg/h as air flow. Flashing pressure peaked at 1.5 bar, with 85% efficiency at 95 °C, while higher pressures yielded diminishing returns, stabilizing production around 106 kg/hr. The NaOH feed rate also influenced output, rising from 100 kg/hr at a 50 kg/hr feed rate to 107 kg/hr at 750 kg/hr, with recovery efficiency exceeding 85%. The economic analysis showed that the project had a payback period of 6.07 years, reflecting a reasonable recovery of the initial investment. The net present value was 122,924 USD over 15 years, with 8% amortization rate, indicating that the project created value beyond the initial cost. The internal rate of return was 14.23%, surpassing the discount rate and highlighting the project's financial attractiveness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100235"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142655756","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Life focycle assessment of Brazilian bleached eucalyptus kraft pulp: Integrating bleaching processes and biogenic carbon impacts","authors":"Rhonald Ortega ,&nbsp;Naycari Forfora ,&nbsp;Isabel Urdaneta ,&nbsp;Ivana Azuaje ,&nbsp;Keren A. Vivas ,&nbsp;Ramon E. Vera ,&nbsp;Jorge Franco ,&nbsp;Ryen Frazier ,&nbsp;Camilla Abbati ,&nbsp;Daniel Saloni ,&nbsp;Hasan Jameel ,&nbsp;Richard Venditti ,&nbsp;Ronalds Gonzalez","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100234","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100234","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) pulp dominates global pulp production, yet the environmental impacts of its bleaching sequences in Brazil are not fully explored. Addressing this gap, we conducted a comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) of three bleaching sequences: conventional elemental chlorine-free (ECF), ECF with oxygen delignification, and ECF with oxygen delignification plus acid washing. We estimated the average global warming potential (GWP) for BEK delivered to the U.S. and examined how forest carbon cycle (FCC) elements, specifically biogenic GWP (GWPbio) and potential soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration, influence GWP outcomes. Results show that the ECF sequence with oxygen delignification and acid washing reduces GWP by 11% and outperforms conventional ECF in 10 out of 11 environmental impact categories. The average GWP for Brazilian BEK delivered to the U.S. is 576 kg CO₂-eq/ton. Sensitivity analyses demonstrate that adding GWPbio increases GWP by 18%, whereas accounting for potential SOC sequestration reduces it by 39%. These findings highlight the necessity of optimizing bleaching processes and developing a standardized BEK LCA model for comparing the environmental impact of different fibers. This work sets a precedent for integrating FCC elements into LCAs and underscores the potential of SOC sequestration in mitigating climate change impacts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100234"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142655698","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A novel integrated material flow cost accounting (MFCA)- IoT-lean management system approach to improving water use efficiency and reducing costs in the beverage industry","authors":"Thanwarhat Sodkomkham ,&nbsp;Chavalit Ratanatamskul ,&nbsp;Achara Chandrachai","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The purpose of this study is to present a novel approach of integrating Material Flow Cost Accounting (MFCA), Internet of Things (IoT) and lean management systems to improve water use efficiency and reduce costs in the beverage industry. The positive and negative product costs of water purification, syrup manufacture, concentrate mixing, and packing were analyzed. The MFCA analysis showed 78.5% positive and 21.5% negative product costs. The use of the Power BI application to display real-time positive and negative costs in each process, scenario modeling and simulation was able to promote water savings and cost reductions, as well as supporting factory team ideation for choosing one of three improvement plans: 1) RO flushing water recovery in water purification; 2) water conservation with automated pH correction at packaging warmer; or 3) wastewater treatment and reuse of the rejected RO brine. According to our two-scenario water conservation testing, an automation process could improve pH adjustment in the packaging process, while MFCA, IoT, and lean management systems could be applied to improve industrial water use efficiency, demonstrating the potential for sustainable water use. The beverage-industry case in the present study validated this approach, resulting in a 24.1% production rate increase and a 4.5% cost reduction of 71,010 THB savings per year.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100232"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142527512","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Eco-efficiency of coffee production and consumption in the UK at the product and sectoral levels","authors":"Piya Gosalvitr ,&nbsp;Rosa M. Cuéllar-Franca ,&nbsp;Robin Smith ,&nbsp;Adisa Azapagic","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Coffee is one of the most consumed products globally, and yet its eco-efficiency is still unknown. To address this knowledge gap, this paper examines for the first time the life cycle eco-efficiency of different coffee drinks to identify the most sustainable options and opportunities for improvements in the coffee industry. Nine types of coffee are considered: espresso, latte, cappuccino, Americano, drip-filter, coffee pods, spray-dried and freeze-dried instant, and instant coffee mix. Taking a cradle-to-grave approach, the following life stages are included: coffee cultivation, production and consumption, and end-of-life valorisation of spent coffee grounds. The methodology follows the eco-efficiency ISO 14045 standard to measure the environmental efficiency of a system relative to the economic value it generates. The eco-efficiency is estimated at both the product (one serving) and sectoral (annual consumption) levels based on life cycle assessment (LCA), life cycle costing (LCC) and economic value added (VA). The results show that latte has the highest environmental impacts and LCC but it also has the highest VA at both the product and sectoral levels. Spray-dried instant coffee, on the other hand, has the lowest impacts but also the lowest VA, which makes it the least eco-efficient option. Espresso emerges as the most eco-efficient drink because it has moderate environmental impacts and high VA. Latte and coffee pods are the second most eco-efficient drinks, followed by cappuccino, Americano, and instant coffee mix. Valorising spent coffee grounds could reduce the environmental impacts, LCC and increase the VA at the sectoral level. For example, the climate change impact would be reduced by 80.5–132.1 kt CO₂ eq./yr and primary energy demand by 0.9–2.3 PJ/yr while also increasing the VA by £50.2–95 M/yr. When compared to some other food sectors, coffee is 6.4 times more eco-efficient than cheddar cheese and 5.4 times than ice cream and biscuits, respectively. The findings of this study can be used to guide businesses, consumers and policy makers in identifying more eco-efficient coffee products and improving the environmental and economic sustainability of the coffee industry.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100231"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142427818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Climate policy uncertainty and environmental degradation: Does democracy moderate this relationship?","authors":"Antonios Persakis,&nbsp;Ioannis Tsakalos,&nbsp;Vasileios Gkonis,&nbsp;Michail Nerantzidis","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100230","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100230","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the impact of climate policy uncertainty on environmental degradation and examines the moderating role of democracy in this relationship. Utilizing annual data from 126 economies spanning the years 1996–2021, and employing dynamic least squares and fully modified ordinary least squares models, the analysis reveals a significant negative relationship between climate policy uncertainty and environmental degradation. The findings indicate that higher uncertainty in climate policies is associated with reduced environmental degradation, suggesting that uncertainty in climate policies can drive cautious and ecologically conscious behaviors. Additionally, the study finds that democracy amplifies this negative relationship, implying that democratic environments enhance the effectiveness of climate policies in reducing environmental degradation which is attributed to greater transparency, accountability, public participation, and policy stability inherent in democratic systems. The study offers valuable practical implications for policymakers by highlighting how political and economic systems can influence environmental outcomes amid climate change.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100230"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142359418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated approach of waste analysis and life cycle assessment for the management of non-recyclable plastics in recycling shops","authors":"Jobaer Ahmed Saju ,&nbsp;Quazi Hamidul Bari ,&nbsp;Philipp Lorber ,&nbsp;Islam M. Rafizul ,&nbsp;Eckhard Kraft","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100229","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100229","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The unbound usage of plastic products in modern society has brought convenience and poses significant environmental challenges. Recycling Shops (RS) are vital in mitigating plastic waste problems in urban waste management. During the recycling process, RS generates non-recyclable plastics that demand scientific solutions for its management. This study conducted material flow analysis (MFA) to estimate the yearly recycled plastic waste in the RSs of Khulna City. Subsequently, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was performed to explore the suitable management facilities for non-recyclable plastics. The results highlighted the contribution of the informal plastic recycling sector to the city's waste management system by recycling 6324 tons of plastic waste per year. Polypropylene (PP) and Polyethylene (PE) were the most abundant polymers among the recycling plastics in RS. The LCA results revealed that among the five considered cases, Open Burning showed the maximum impact on the environment while Sanitary Landfill exhibited the lowest environmental impact across eighteen impact categories. The sanitary landfilling of non-recyclable plastics was identified as an environmentally friendly approach for managing non-recyclable plastics. This study addressed the urgency for appropriately managing non-recyclable plastics to protect the human and environment from plastic pollution in Bangladesh including recommendations for improving current practices.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100229"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789424000679/pdfft?md5=6291efecd651f8c2121b4111f2729b78&pid=1-s2.0-S2666789424000679-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142316180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implementation and improvement of Integrated Management Systems: recommendations for their adaptation to the ISO High-Level structure","authors":"Fernanda Ellen Francisco ,&nbsp;Ana Carolina Ferreira Costa ,&nbsp;Paulo Alexandre Costa Araújo Sampaio ,&nbsp;Pedro Domingues ,&nbsp;Otávio José de Oliveira","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In the face of the high competitiveness in the marketplace, many companies have sought ways to differentiate themselves from others by improving the quality of their products and services, reducing the environmental impact, and ensuring employee safety. In this context, many companies implemented some management systems such as ISO 9001 (Quality Management), ISO 14001 (Environmental Management), and ISO 45001 (Occupational Health and Safety Management) to improve their performance. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) created in 2012 a high-level structure (Annex SL) that serves as the basis for the development and integration of these Certifiable Management systems (CMSs), making them more compatible and effective. However, many companies do not have sufficient expertise about the latest versions of ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 and about the publication of ISO 45001 based on the structure proposed by Annex SL, bringing difficulties for their Integrated Management Systems (IMS). The objective of this work is to propose recommendations that direct companies to adapt their IMSs to the modifications arising from Annex SL. To develop this study, four case studies were made in Brazilian industrial companies with the following data collection instruments (semi-structured interviews, on-site observation, and document analysis). Our case studies were carried out in large companies because these types of organizations generally have more than two management systems implemented, and our article focuses on systems integration. In addition, these companies develop several interesting solutions that can serve as benchmarking for small and medium-sized companies. With this study it was possible to develop guidelines related to greater emphasis on the analysis of the organizational context; the importance of promoting a culture of integration; the need for leadership responsible for the integration of CMSs, etc. The main scientific contribution of this work was to deepen and update the theory about certifiable management systems and IMS according to the results obtained from empirical studies. The main applied contribution of this study is to generate a competitive advantage for the company over its competitors by providing leaders with management solutions that make it possible to implement or improve IMS based on the modifications resulting from Annex SL.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100227"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789424000655/pdfft?md5=f1d9a9d729e564fe3083840b37001673&pid=1-s2.0-S2666789424000655-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142272222","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Life cycle assessment based optimization of scenarios of reusable glass bottles using context-specific key parameters","authors":"Samuel Le Féon ,&nbsp;Geneviève Gésan-Guiziou ,&nbsp;Gwenola Yannou-Le Bris ,&nbsp;Joël Aubin ,&nbsp;Caroline Pénicaud","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Reusable glass bottles are experiencing a resurgence, driven notably by societal concerns and regulations. While single-use glass bottles generally have higher environmental footprint compared to plastic bottles, reusable systems could reduce both impacts related to single-use (e.g., climate change, energy consumption) and plastics (e.g., microplastic pollution). The environmental benefits of reusable bottles can vary across systems and this can be overlooked by stakeholders who rely on generic results for communication and a limited number of parameters to design their systems. This study addresses this gap by developing a systematic analysis of the variability of life cycle assessment results, within the specific case study of a new beverage. As a result, a list of key parameters to consider for the specific case study is set, enabling to propose targeted mitigation strategies. The commonly used generic key parameters are complemented with context-specific key parameters, empowering stakeholders to develop efficient systems and communicate their environmental performance accurately. Different configurations are likely to be influenced by other key parameters, and require specific mitigation strategies. In this perspective, stakeholders need assistance in: (1) designing context-specific strategies, and (2) translating – complex and plural – life cycle assessment results into actionable decisions.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100225"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789424000631/pdfft?md5=819bece5a69f85c0c588d39ec75b4e41&pid=1-s2.0-S2666789424000631-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142238096","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implementing strong sustainability in a design process","authors":"Melissa Escobar Cisternas ,&nbsp;Jenny Faucheu ,&nbsp;Nadege Troussier ,&nbsp;Valerie Laforest","doi":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cesys.2024.100224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The emergence of a post-growth era is expected that implies rethinking the production and consumption patterns with novel design models this forces higher educational institutions to reconsider their traditional ways of teaching sustainability in their curricula. Companies also need to overcome strategies that compartmentalize environment, society and economy in their industrial strategy in order to evolve in their support for the transition. The aim of this paper is to present a design process anchored in the Strong Sustainability paradigm to overcome the gap of how Strong Sustainability could be operationalised. Design Research Methodology (DRM) has been chosen as the supporting framework for the development of this project. The Design for Strong Sustainability (DfSoSy) methodology proposed, is built on three aspects of Strong Sustainability (Milieu, Regeneration, Safe and just operating space) successively applied in a sequenced iterative design process. The latter enable the integration of thought patterns associated with integrative, systemic and fractal or multi-scale thinking respectively. Moreover, the principle of sub-optimality is highlighted as a decision principle in SoSy. Results obtain has been validated as well on the pedagogical objectives as in the usefulness of the DfSoSy. The practical contribution of this study is the DfSoSy toolkit©.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":34616,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Environmental Systems","volume":"15 ","pages":"Article 100224"},"PeriodicalIF":6.1,"publicationDate":"2024-09-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266678942400062X/pdfft?md5=07fa30ed2ac22fb2d27336fe3f7353b6&pid=1-s2.0-S266678942400062X-main.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142238175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}