A Framework for Environmental Impact Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Utilisation Processes

World agreements have stipulated that global temperature should be kept below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels to reduce the risks of climate change. However, there is no one path, technology or solution to achieve this. One potential solution is a range of processes known as carbon dioxide utilisation. With this process, CO2 from waste streams can be captured and used to produce other chemicals. This research focuses on measuring the potential of these conversion processes to avoid environmental impacts and be part of the carbon mitigation agenda. Currently, there is no consensus on how to evaluate these impacts and interpret them in a way that allows for comparison. Therefore, a multi-disciplinary environmental impact assessment framework with specific guidelines for carbon dioxide utilisation processes was developed. To test this new framework, two case studies were chosen: methanol and urea synthesis. Results for the methanol case study showed at best a carbon neutral scenario when methanol is produced through catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 with renewable H2 compared to methanol from natural gas (0.1 kg of CO2 avoided/kg methanol). For urea,the best scenario sees up to 1.3 kg of CO2 avoided/kg of urea produced in a scenario where an electrolyser connected to wind power supplies H2 for ammonia synthesis is compared to ammonia produced from fossil fuels. System expansion was used to allocate emissions in all case studies. Twenty indicators were used for scenario analysis and ranking of each process. Six different rankings were used to analyse impacts. For both case studies, the highest utilisation potential was calculated with a combination of CO2 capture and an utilisation process based on renewable energy. This framework is a decision making tool that can help guide CO2 chemical transformation processes towards reaching environmental targets and contribute to lessening the effects of climate change

Interpretation of LCA results: A Worked Example on a CO2 to Fertilizer Process

This worked example is part of a series of examples that are designed to provide practical guidance to the application of the Techno-Economic Assessment and Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines for CO2 Utilization. In this worked example the impact of “picking and mixing” inventory data on results interpretation is explored in detail. The results of 18 LCA inventories (for a CO2 to nitrogen rich fertilizer pathway) are assessed, showing the inconsistencies in the conclusions drawn from the interpretation phase of the studies.Global CO2 InitiativeEIT Climate-KIChttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154990/4/Interpretation of LCA results (CO2 to fertilizer example).pdfDescription of Interpretation of LCA results (CO2 to fertilizer example).pdf : Report documen

Building an LCA Inventory: A Worked Example on a CO2 to Fertilizer Process

This worked example is part of a series of examples that are designed to provide practical guidance to the application of the Techno-Economic Assessment and Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines for CO2 Utilization. This worked example provides guidance on best practices and potential pitfalls in the production of a LCA inventory utilizing one or more sources of primary/secondary data. The worked example highlights the dangers of “picking and mixing” data by showing how derived results can vary significantly resulting in inconsistencies and uncertainty when considering direct comparisons for products/services and functions. The worked example considers a CO2 to nitrogen rich fertilizer pathway, with 18 inventories produced for assessment.Global CO2 InitiativeEIT Climate-KIChttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154989/3/Building an LCA Inventory (CO2 to fertilizer example).pdfDescription of Building an LCA Inventory (CO2 to fertilizer example).pdf : Report documen

A Guide to Goal Setting in TEA: A Worked Example Considering CO2 Use in the Domestic Heating Sector

This worked example is part of a series of examples that are designed to provide practical guidance to the application of the Techno-Economic Assessment and Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines for CO2 Utilization. This worked example provides guidance on goal setting for TEA, with illustrative examples given for each of the perspectives listed in the guidelines (R&D, Corporate, Market). Multiple goals are derived following the advice of the guidelines with CO2 use in the domestic heating sector as the background. The example also provides advice on assessing the feasibility of using, either alongside a new study or in place of, with illustrative examples provided to demonstrate the impact data variance can have on the results of a study.Global CO2 InitiativeEIT Climate-KIChttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154988/4/Guide to goal setting in TEA (Domestic heating example).pdfDescription of Guide to goal setting in TEA (Domestic heating example).pdf : Report documen

SNG Worked Example for the TEA Guidelines for CO2 Utilization

To meet the high demand for natural gas globally, synthetic natural gas (SNG) can be produced as a substitute for natural gas derived from fossil fuels. Nevertheless, the traditional SNG production process is highly carbon-intensive. In the framework of the Power-to-Gas concept, production of SNG can occur via hydrogenation of CO2, which can be captured from industrial sources. As a result, the reliance of SNG production on fossil fuels can be reduced and, subsequently, associated CO2 emissions can be controlled. The goal of the present study is to assess the technical viability and economic feasibility of producing SNG via CO2 hydrogenation. Additionally, to prepare for integrating the techno-economic analysis (TEA) with a life-cycle assessment (LCA), the challenges and pitfalls of such integration are also discussed. The TEA in this study was carried out mainly from a research & development perspective. The production cost for SNG based on carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is estimated and key cost drivers are identified. The combined indicator of CO2 abatement cost is also estimated as a quantitative indicator for assessing the TEA and LCA results. The methanation plant is assumed to be located next to an iron & steel plant in Germany, from which the CO2 feedstock for producing SNG is by means of MEA-based chemical absorption technology, while the hydrogen (which is produced via electrolysis using surplus electricity) is purchased from a production facility located 250 km away. The output capacity of the methanation plant is 148 MW. Aspen Plus software was used for process modelling and data were taken from the literature. Through discussions, it was found that setting the system boundaries was a central challenge for aligning the TEA and LCA. While LCA tends towards encompassing the full life cycle of products (cradle-to-grave or -gate), it is not necessary to include the upstream and downstream processes to conduct a TEA in the present study. The information on upstream processes is reflected in the characteristics of the input flows entering the product system. Setting identical system boundaries for TEA and LCA would require solving problems of multi-functionality, which can be very challenging for TEA when the market for the products to be analyzed is still uncertain. To align inventories, the relevant environmental parameters (e.g., CO2 emissions) should be documented in addition to the technical and economic parameters. For calculating CO2 abatement cost, system expansion can be used to account for the reduced CO2 emissions, or the CO2 feedstock can be regarded as negative emissions. The results show that the SNG production cost for the analyzed product system is 0.0748 €/MJ and the minimum selling price is 0.271 €/kWh. The production cost is more than 10 times greater than that of the benchmark product (coal-based SNG). The selling price of SNG produced by the proposed system is also significantly higher than that of natural gas in the German market. The CO2 abatement cost, as a combined indicator of TEA & LCA, was calculated as 0.75 €/kgCO2. Sensitivity analysis reveals that the hydrogen purchase price represents the most significant uncertainty for the analyzed system. At a 95% confidence interval, the estimated production cost ranges between 0.065 and 0.173 €/MJSNG. Current legislation of the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is found to be inapplicable to the product system investigated. Thus, the analyzed CCU system cannot benefit from the emissions trading scheme. To drive CCU-based SNG forward in the future market, it is essential to reduce the production cost of hydrogen.Global CO2 InitiativeEIT Climate-KIChttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167382/1/TEA of Synthetic Natural Gas production - worked example.pdfDescription of TEA of Synthetic Natural Gas production - worked example.pdf : Report documentSEL

Multi-Attributional Decision Making in LCA & TEA for CCU: An Introduction to Approaches and a Worked Example

This worked example considers only the elements of the whole process relevant for the integrated assessment in greater detail. This worked example builds on a prior study, covering CO2 to methanol conversion, and as such a more detailed overview of the technology can be found there. A brief overview of the methanol technology is included for familiarization, along with details on the alignment approach taken to ensure that a ‘preference-based’ integration can be completed. The focus of this worked example is the application of multi-attribute decision making (MADM) approaches and their potential use within combined LCA & TEA studies. The practical part of this examples sees the application of one MADM method to a multi-criteria problem with relevancy in CCU that utilizes the outputs of both an LCA & TEA study.This worked example has been released at an intermediate timeframe within the CO2nsistent project, fitting in between the release of version 1.1 and 2.0 of the ‘Techno-economic Assessment & Life Cycle Assessment Guidelines for CO2 Utilization’. This means the subject matter of this worked example (combined assessment, in particular multi-criteria approaches to decision analysis/making) remains to a degree uncovered by the overarching guidelines associated with this project until the release of version 2.0. As such this worked example will include more contextual sections than has been typical in previous examples, in part bridging the gap until a more detailed guidance section on combined assessment can be included in version 2.0. This does not mean that no guidance can be drawn from version 1.1 of the guidelines document in the intermediate timeframe. Version 1.1 contains some guidance on both combined LCA & TEA studies (see section A) and the individual TEA section itself also contains a brief section and guideline rules on multicriteria decision analysis (MCDA) for use within the field. Ultimately this guidance is useful even for application in a combined study, as ultimately the same concept applies with the complication of needing to ensure that both the LCA & TEA study are aligned with suitable precision.Global CO2 InitiativeEIT Climate-KIChttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/167009/3/Multi-attributional Decision-Making in LCA and TEA for CCU and Worked Example.pdfedda1cab-631e-4ed3-880e-28ed1c223cc3SEL

Methanol Worked Examples for the TEA and LCA Guidelines for CO2 Utilization

This document contains worked examples of how to apply the accompanying “Guideline for Techno-Economic Assessment of CO2 Utilization” and “Guideline for Life Cycle Assessment of CO2 Utilization”. The Guidelines can be downloaded via http://hdl.handle.net/2027.42/145436. These worked examples are not intended to be a definitive TEA or LCA report on the process described, but are provided as supporting material to show how the TEA and LCA methodologies described in the guidelines can be specifically applied to tackle the issues surrounding CO2 utilization. This document describes techno-economic assessment and life cycle assessment for methanol production. As methanol production via hydrogenation and PEM electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen are both at high technology readiness levels (TRL7+); a CO2 capture technology currently at a lower TRL (membrane separation at TRL3 or 4) was selected to demonstrate the differences that can be observed in the interpretation phase when working on TEA and LCA studies of processes with lower TRLs. It is acknowledged that there are many unknown variables with membrane capture, and it is not within the remit of this work to draw conclusions on their application. However, it is known that organizations wish to conduct TEA and LCA studies across a range of TRLs and therefore we hope to demonstrate here how this could affect the results. This document is one of several application examples that accompany the parent document “Techno-Economic Assessment & Life-Cycle Assessment Guidelines for CO2 Utilization”.Development of standardized CO2 Life Cycle and Techno-economic Assessment Guidelines was commissioned by CO2 Sciences, Inc., with the support of 3M, EIT Climate-KIC, CO2 Value Europe, Emissions Reduction Alberta, Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, R. K. Mellon Foundation, Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, National Institute of Clean and Low Carbon Energy, Praxair, Inc., XPRIZE and generous individuals who are committed to action to address climate change.https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/145723/5/Global CO2 Initiative Complete Methanol Study 2018.pd

Diseño e implantación de un sistema de seguimiento de calidad mediante la utilización de plataformas online

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Medical versus surgical approach to initial treatment in septic arthritis: A single spanish center’s 8-year experience

Objective The aim of this study was to compare the functional results of 2 different procedure types, medical or surgical used in treating native joint septic arthritis. Methods In this cohort study, we reviewed the clinical registries of patients admitted to a single third-level hospital with the diagnosis of septic arthritis during the period of January 1, 2008, to January 31, 2016. Results A total of 63 cases of septic arthritis were identified in which the initial approach for 49 patients was medical (arthrocentesis), whereas the initial approach for 14 patients was surgical (arthroscopy or arthrotomy). Of the 49 patients who received initial medical treatment (IMT), 15 patients (30%) later required surgical treatment because of poor progress. The median age of the patients was 60 (SD, 18) years. The group who received IMT were older than those who received initial surgical treatment (median, 64 years [interquartile range {IQR}, 54–76 years], vs. 48 years [IQR, 30–60 years]). There was a larger percentage of male patients in the surgical group (78% vs. 42% [p = 0.018]). Thirty percent of the medical group had been receiving corticosteroid treatment (p = 0.018). Results of complete recovery of joint functionality showed no significant differences after 1 year (68% with MT vs. 67% with ST, p = 0.91). Both groups had similar symptom duration until diagnosis, duration of antibiotic therapy (median, 30 days [IQR, 28–49 days], vs. 29.5 days [IQR, 27–49] days), and mortality rate (3 in the medical group). Conclusions The results of the study show that initial surgical treatment in patients with native joint septic arthritis is not superior to IMT. However, half of the patients with shoulder and hip infections treated with IMT eventually required surgical intervention, suggesting that perhaps this should be the preferred initial approach in these cases

Diseño de un sistema de información y gestión documental adaptado a normas ISO y AUDIT

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