Integrated Life Cycle Framework for Evaluating the Sustainability of Emerging Drop-In Replacement Biofuels

Mounting concerns over energy independence and security, oil supply volatility and price, and anthropogenic-derived climate destabilization are driving the strategic development of low-carbon biofuels. Recently, second generation biofuels—fuels derived from non-food biofeedstocks including: perennial grasses, short rotation woody crops (SRWCs), and microalgae have gained significant interest from scientific and political actors due to their potential for reduced life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to baseline petroleum fuels, and fungibility with existing transportation infrastructure and vehicles fleets. However, the environmental sustainability of these second generation biofuels and their capacity to meet U.S. regulatory biofuel mandates remains uncertain, and a point of scientific inquiry. This work investigates the sustainability of emerging second-generation drop-in replacement hydrocarbon biofuels, utilizing sustainability metrics and methodologies derived from multiple disciplines including life cycle assessment, industrial ecology, statistics, thermodynamics, and process modeling. This novel interdisciplinary life cycle framework is applied to study the environmental sustainability of several distinct emerging drop-in replacement biofuel platforms including: (1) cultivation of microalgae in open raceways ponds and hydro-processing of algal-oil to renewable diesel, (2) fast pyrolysis of perennial grasses and hydro-upgrading of bio-oil to green gasoline, and (3) multistage torrefaction of SRWCs and catalytic upgrading to hydrocarbon biofuels. Traditional process-based Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and hybrid Ecologically-based Life Cycle Assessment (EcoLCA) models are developed to assess the degradation of ecological good and services, environmental impacts, and resource intensity of producing drop-in replacement biofuels. Rigorous process modeling and statistical analysis is performed to quantify key sustainability metrics including energy return on investment and life cycle GHG emissions for producing hydrocarbon biofuels under different combinations of biofeedstocks, fuel upgrading pathways, and coproduct scenarios, and to determine if renewable fuel(s) meet compliance with life cycle GHG emissions reductions thresholds set by U.S. federal regulatory programs. This interdisciplinary approach captures broader environmental externalities and unintended consequences of biofuel production that are outside the purview of traditional process design, and allows for holistic understanding of the potential tradeoffs, challenges, and broad-based impacts of emerging biofuels prior to their widespread commercialization—information that is pivotal for guiding the sustainable development of the nascent biofuels industry

Physical Habitat and Fish Assemblage Relationships with Landscape Variables at Multiple Spatial Scales in Wadeable Iowa Streams

Landscapes in Iowa and other midwestern states have been profoundly altered by conversion of native prairies to agriculture. We analyzed landscape data collected at multiple spatial scales to explore relationships with reach-scale physical habitat and fish assemblage data from 93 randomly selected sites on second- through fifth-order wadeable Iowa streams. Ordination of sites by physical habitat showed significant gradients of channel shape, habitat complexity, substrate composition, and stream size. Several landscape variables were significantly associated with the physical habitat ordination. Row crop land use was associated with fine substrates and steep bank angles, whereas wetland land cover and greater sinuosity and catchment land area were associated with complex channel and bank morphology and greater residual pool volume, woody debris, and canopy cover. Thirteen landscape variables were significant predictors of physical habitat variables in multiple linear regressions, with adjusted R 2 values ranging from 0.07 to 0.74. Inclusion of landscape variables with physical habitat variables in multiple regression models predicting fish assemblage metrics and a fish index of biotic integrity resulted in negligible improvements over models based on only physical habitat variables. Physical habitat in wadeable Iowa streams is strongly associated with landscape characteristics. Results of this study and previous studies suggest that (1) landscape factors directly influence physical habitat, (2) physical habitat directly influences fish assemblages, and (3) the influence of landscape factors on fish assemblages is primarily indirect. Understanding how landscape factors, such as human land use, influence physical habitat and fish assemblages will help managers make more informed decisions for improving Iowa\u27s wadeable streams

Fish Assemblage Relationships with Physical Habitat in Wadeable Iowa Streams

Fish assemblages play a key role in stream ecosystems and are influenced by physical habitat. We analyzed fish assemblages and physical habitat at 93 randomly selected sites on second- through fifth-order wadeable Iowa streams to explore fish assemblage relationships with reach-scale physical habitat in this agriculturally dominated landscape. Sites were sampled using DC electrofishing and the wadeable streams physical habitat protocol of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency\u27s Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program. In all, 82 species were collected, with species richness at sites averaging 14. Over 80% of the sites had fish assemblages rated as fair (53%) or poor (32%) based on a fish index of biotic integrity (FIBI). Ordination separated sites from the two major river drainages along an axis of impairment, with sites in the Missouri River drainage exhibiting lower FIBI scores than sites in the Mississippi River drainage. Physical habitat at most sites exhibited fine substrates, eroding banks, and low-gradient, nonmeandering channel and was dominated by glides. Thirty physical habitat variables describing channel morphology, channel cross section and bank morphology, fish cover, human disturbance, large woody debris, relative bed stability, residual pool, riparian vegetation, and substrate differed significantly between sites with FIBI scores rated as poor and those with FIBI scores rated as good or excellent. Eighteen physical habitat variables were significant predictors of fish assemblage metrics and FIBI in multiple linear regression models, with adjusted R 2 values ranging from 0.12 to 0.58. Seventy percent of the model coefficients reflected substrate (40%), residual pool (21%), and fish cover (9%) variables. Fish assemblages in wadeable Iowa streams are strongly associated with the quality of physical habitat. Thus, understanding and addressing the determinants of physical habitat are crucial for managing streams in Iowa and other agricultural regions

Crise de abastecimento de água em São Paulo e falta de planejamento estratégico

Embora a crise no abastecimento de água na Região Metropolitana de São Paulo (RMSP) tenha se manifestado de maneira mais intensa no verão de 2013-2014, ela revela um problema crônico que vem afetando toda a Região nos últimos dez anos. Esse problema foi gerado pela falta de um planejamento estratégico que considere questões climatológicas que podem indicar, com meses de antecedência, problemas de recomposição dos níveis dos mananciais, permitindo que ações sejam empreendidas com razoável antecedência, reduzindo os impactos para a população. Este estudo mostra como é possível utilizar informações climáticas na gestão estratégica do sistema de abastecimento da RMSP.Though the crisis in the water supplying system in the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (RMSP) was more intensively felt in the 2013-2014 summer, it reveals a chronic problem that has been affecting the whole RMSP for the past ten years. This problem is originated from the lack of a strategic planning that takes into consideration climate issues that could, months before, foresee problems to restore the levels of water resources, allowing measures to be implemented within a reasonable anticipation, therefore reducing the impacts on the population. This study shows how it is possible to use climate information in the strategic management of the water supply in the RMSP

Simulation and Prediction of Water Allocation Using Artificial Neural Networks and a Spatially Distributed Hydrological Model

Lake Koronia is located in the North part of Greece and is protected by the Ramsar Convention of wetlands. A deficit in the water balance has been presented at the last twenty years due to the excessive water consumption for agricultural uses. This research is an attempt to simulate water flow with MIKE SHE model in order to observe how the water is allocated in the study area. The results of water flow module used for the estimation of Lake’s water balance for 4 hydrological years (2008-2012). Furthermore the Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) was used for the prediction of water flow in two sub-catchments. The coefficient correlation (R) was found for Bogdanas (0.9) and Kolxikos (0.86). The Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and the Mean Absolute Percentages Error (MAPE) were also calculated in order to evaluate the quality of the ANNs results

Conservación de los ecosistemas riparios y deltaicos y mejora de las oportunidades de ecoturismo

The many ecosystem services offered by riparian areas and deltas have led to their intense utilization and degradation by humans. The areas maintain high biodiversity thus providing habitat for animal and fish, reduce nonpoint sources pollutant, erosion and floods, recharge aquifers, increase agricultural production and provide ecotourism opportunities. These have led to a prioritization, worldwide, of the conservation and protection of these ecosystems. This importance was also recognized by UNESCO that establishment the Chair Con-E-Ect in 2016 in Drama Greece that focuses on the conservation, protection and implementation of ecotourism in riparian areas and deltas. Specific activities of the Chair include the development of behavior codes, monitoring tool and ecotourism examples. The behavior codes provide guidelines on what activities should be done in riparian areas and deltas and what activities should be avoided. To enhance conservation a monitoring tool for riparian areas and deltas suited for stakeholders has been modified to meet the environmental conditions of the Mediterranean region. Finally, successful examples of ecotourism have been identified as case studies that could be utilized by local business of rural areas. Overall, these actions along with future ones will lead to the sustainable management of the ecosystems in Mediterranean that have been over-utilized due to the human presence for thousands of years.Las áreas ribereñas y los deltas ofrecen muchos servicios ecosistémicos que han llevado a su intensa utilización y degradación por parte de los humanos. Estos variados y únicos servicios han llevado a una priorización mundial de la conservación y protección de estos ecosistemas. Esta cuestión fue reconocida por la UNESCO al establecer la Cátedra Con-E-Ect en 2016 en la ciudad de Drama, Grecia, centrada en la conservación, protección e implementación del ecoturismo en áreas ribereñas y deltas. Las actividades específicas de la Cátedra incluyen el desarrollo de códigos de conducta, herramientas de monitoreo y ejemplos exitosos de ecoturismo. Los códigos de conducta brindan pautas sobre qué actividades se deben realizar en áreas ribereñas y deltas. Para mejorar la conservación, se recomienda que las herramientas de monitoreo para áreas ribereñas y deltas adecuadas para las partes interesadas cumplan con las condiciones ambientales de la región mediterránea

Design of Sustainable Biofuel Processes and Supply Chains: Challenges and Opportunities

The current methodological approach for developing sustainable biofuel processes and supply chains is flawed. Life cycle principles are often retrospectively incorporated in the design phase resulting in incremental environmental improvement rather than selection of fuel pathways that minimize environmental impacts across the life cycle. Further, designing sustainable biofuel supply chains requires joint consideration of economic, environmental, and social factors that span multiple spatial and temporal scales. However, traditional life cycle assessment (LCA) ignores economic aspects and the role of ecological goods and services in supply chains, and hence is limited in its ability for guiding decision-making among alternatives—often resulting in sub-optimal solutions. Simultaneously incorporating economic and environment objectives in the design and optimization of emerging biofuel supply chains requires a radical new paradigm. This work discusses key research opportunities and challenges in the design of emerging biofuel supply chains and provides a high-level overview of the current “state of the art” in environmental sustainability assessment of biofuel production. Additionally, a bibliometric analysis of over 20,000 biofuel research articles from 2000-to-present is performed to identify active topical areas of research in the biofuel literature, quantify the relative strength of connections between various biofuels research domains, and determine any potential research gaps

Environmental Life Cycle Perspective on Rare Earth Oxide Production

Rare earth elements (REEs) are a collection of 17 chemical elements that are critical to the functionality of a host of modern commercial industries including emerging clean energy technologies, electronics, medical devices, and national defense applications. Despite their key importance in multiple industries, to-date there has been little emphasis on environmental systems analysis of REE production. Rapid growth in these industrial sectors could result in heightened global demand for REE. As such, assessing the broader ramifications of REE production on human health and the environment is crucial for guiding the sustainable development of these industries. In this study, life cycle assessment (LCA) is performed to evaluate the environmental impacts and resource intensity of producing rare earth oxides (REO) from the Bayan Obo mine located in Inner Mongolia, China. Analysis indicates that the mining, as well as extraction and roasting phase(s), had the greatest contribution to overall life cycle environmental impacts. Additionally, the results reveal that the production of heavy REO consumes over 20 times more primary energy as compared to steel (per unit mass). The high primary energy consumption and life cycle environmental impacts of REO production highlight the critical need for development of REE recycling operations and infrastructure

Meta-Analysis of Life Cycle Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions for Priority Biobased Chemicals

Research and development for biobased chemical production has become a strategic priority in many countries, due to the widespread availability of renewable feedstocks and the potential for reduced life cycle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and fossil energy use compared to petrochemicals. These environmental benefits are not assured, however, as a multiplicity of processing features (i.e., biofeedstock, conversion platform, and energy/solvent recovery) and life cycle modeling factors (i.e., coproducts, allocation scheme, study scope, and location) influence the overall GHG emissions and energy use of a biobased chemical production scheme. Consequently, there has been high variability in reported environmental impacts of biobased chemical production across prior life cycle assessment (LCA) studies. This meta-analysis considered 34 priority biobased chemicals across 86 discrete LCA case studies. Most biobased chemicals exhibited reduced GHG emissions and net energy use compared to petrochemical counterparts, with exceptions including <i>p</i>-xylene, acetic acid, and adipic acid. Seven priority biobased chemicals had no reported results, predominantly lignin-derived. GHG emissions reductions were compared against proposed thresholds from the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC), and those applied to U.S. biofuels under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2) program. ANCOVA and ANOVA statistical tests were utilized to identify process and life cycle modeling factors that contribute significantly to environmental metrics. Conversion platform was found to be a statistically significant (α = 0.1) factor for GHG emissions, with thermochemical routes having the highest emissions results, while LCA coproduct allocation scheme was significant for nonrenewable energy use. Recommendations for harmonizing and prioritizing future work are discussed

Improving Soil Erosion Prevention in Greece with New Tools

Unsustainable anthropogenic activities such as agriculture and urbanization have caused excessive erosion rates that exceed soil formation rates. The Mediterranean region has and continues to experience severe erosion because of the inappropriate agricultural management, overgrazing, deforestation, wildfires, land abandonment, intense road construction and other construction activities. The forecasted increase of intensive rainfall events and prolonged drought periods due to climate change, will enhance surface runoff and sediment transport capacity. The objective of this study was to develop new tools to help land managers mitigate erosion in the country of Greece. One of the tools was a new sensor (ASEMS) that is based on the physical properties of ultrasound to detect erosion locally with great accuracy (1 mm), while simultaneously measuring precipitation, soil moisture, and soil and air temperature. The other tool was the development of the Soil Erosion Integrated Information System (SE-I2S) that enables land managers through a series of questions to understand if they are facing erosion problems and what type of erosion. This tool can be applied to large areas. Overall, both new tools are user friendly and help land managers mitigate soil erosion cost-effectively.This proceeding was published as Zaimes, G.N., K. Ioannou, V. Iakovoglou, I. Kosmadakis, P. Koutalakis, G. Ranis, D. Emmanouloudis, & R.C. Schultz. 2016. Improving soil erosion prevention in Greece with new tools. Journal of Engineering Science and Technology Review 9 (2): 66-71. Posted with permission.</p