Consequential life cycle assessment of kraft lignin recovery with chemical recycling.

The recovery of kraft lignin from black liquor allows an increasing of the pulp production of a kraft mill (marginal tonnage) and at the same time provide a valuable material that can be used as energy or chemical feedstock. However, because lignin precipitation is an energy- and material-consuming process, the environmental consequences from a life cycle perspective are under discourse. The aim of this study is to investigate, through the application of consequential life cycle assessment, the potential environmental benefits of kraft lignin recovery and its subsequent use as an energy or chemical feedstock.

A life cycle assessment approach for nitrogen footprint quantification: the reactive nitrogen indicator.

Among the environmental issues that have recently catalyzed the attention of the scientific world, we must undoubtedly include the perturbation in the biogeochemical flows of nitrogen and phosphorus, which have been identified as one of the major risks on a global scale, also considering its social implications, since the use of macronutrients is essential to guarantee the food needs of the world population. In this context, there is a growing interest in the evaluation of the environmental impact related to this issue, particularly with regard to the effects of changes in the nitrogen cycle and the methods for quantifying them. In the latter field, several researches have recently been developed focusing on the indicator known as the nitrogen footprint, associated with the environmental releases of reactive nitrogen.

Combining organizational and product life cycle perspective to explore the environmental benefits of steel slag recovery practices.

Sustainability in steel production is considered a global challenge which needs to be faced with coordinated actions. The aim of this study is to assess the environmental improvements of a steel mill in a circular economy perspective, through the Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (O-LCA) and the Product Life Cycle Assessment (P-LCA) methodologies. This study explores to what extent the improvements and the efforts to recover the steel slag can be detected using an organization perspective and making a comparison with the more traditional product perspective.

Combination of product environmental footprint method and eco-design process according to ISO 14006: The case of an Italian vinery.

To support the sustainable development of the primary sector, in line with green new deals emerging worldwide, eco-design of new agri-food products is a priority. The wine industry, due to its growing market, has matured the need to develop an approach for understanding the environmental impacts of its products and to develop strategies to reduce such impacts in a life cycle perspective. This study has a two-fold aim: presenting the development of a methodological proposal for the use of PEF and PEF-CR in the eco-design of wine products; testing its applicability in a case study in the wine sector.

Life Cycle Assessment of Polyurethane Foams from Polyols Obtained through Chemical Recycling.

In this research, the results of the life cycle assessment of polyurethane (PUR) foams with different recycled polyol contents are presented. A methodological framework implementing laboratory activities directly into the life cycle assessment has been developed. Laboratory activities made the primary data related to the recycled polyol production available through the glycolysis of polyurethane scraps and the subsequent production and characterization of the foams.

Life Cycle Assessment Framework To Support the Design of Biobased Rigid Polyurethane Foams.

A methodological framework implementing laboratory activities and life cycle assessment is presented and applied to determine which parameters should be considered to develop biobased rigid polyurethane foams for thermal insulation with improved environmental performances when compared to their fossil counterparts. The framework was applied to six partially biobased (produced from bio-based polyols obtained from azelaic acid and/or lignin) and one fossil-based formulations. A comprehensive set of impact assessment categories was investigated including uncertainty and sensitivity analysis.