Carbon footprint and energy requirement of the biopolymers polyhydroxyalkanoates: a review

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are naturally occurring biopolymers, obtained from microorganisms. Through LCA it is possible to account for all the environmental impacts associated with PHAs. The review analysis is based on 28 LCA studies for PHAs and PHB. In this study, first of all a review analysis of published LCA studies for PHAs production using different approaches was performed, showing that both the choice of feedstock and the use of process residues and co-products for energy production can lower the environmental impacts of the production process. Moreover, the downstream process for the extraction of biopolymer grains usually has the highest influence on results. Climate change impact values generally are between 1 and 6 kilos of CO2-eq. per kilo of PHA produced, whereas in most studies the energy requirement is higher than 50 MJ per kilo of biopolymer

Environmental impacts evaluation of a ceramic industry processes through integration of Life Cycle Assessment and Risk Assessment

This study aims to assess the impacts of three waste management scenarios, two representing internal recycling and one landfill disposal of ceramic powders generated by tiles edge-grinding in ceramic tile production processes. In eight out of nine environmental categories examined through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, results show that the two recycling scenarios have impacts at least one order of magnitude smaller than the disposal scenario, confirming the effectiveness of the circular economy approach. An additional Risk Assessment (RA) analysis is carried out through WinDimula 3.0 model applied to recycling scenarios to measure and compare the dispersed powder impacts on human health. The combined use of site-generic (LCA) and site-specific (RA) assessment methods allows analysed system knowledge to increase towards a more complete and holistic evaluation of critical environmental issues

Indicators, emergetic thresholds and constraints for coastal spatial planning and management

The article describes the method chosen for the definition of a development scenario and a set of indicators for integrated coastal zones management. The case studies are in the Center and North Adriatic Sea (Italy, Mediterranean Sea). Selected areas are the Lagoon of Venice, the Province of Rimini and the Conero coastal area. The development of indices and indicators set focuses on sub-regional and local sustainability of coastal management. A multi-scale and diachronic approach based on landscape and seascape ecology is build in order to develop the dynamics of indices set. The indices results are the threshold for carbon, ecological and space footprints. The used approach provides the following results: identification of conflicts and urban sprawl, assessment of degree of sustainability (carbon footprint, ecological footprint, emergy and LDI), assessment of change during the last 30 years. Indicators are developed dealing with both landscape ecology and health of ecosystems. Modeling these changes is critical for formulating effective environmental policies and management strategies The developed model provides suitability maps per each area in order to maximize different policy objectives reducing the coastal conflicts. A final scenario is proposed and assessed in each case studied

Life Cycle Assessment del processo di produzione di PHA da coltura pura di Pseudomonas putida

I poliidrossialcanoati (PHA) sono polimeri biodegradabili prodotti dai batteri e che costituiscono una possibile alternativa \u201cgreen\u201d alle plastiche di origine fossile. Obiettivo dello studio \ue8 l\u2019applicazione della metodologia Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) ad un processo innovativo di produzione di PHA utilizzando scarti vitivinicoli come fonte di carbonio. Il sistema analizzato comprende la produzione di acidi grassi volatili (VFA), la coltivazione della biomassa microbica, l\u2019estrazione del polimero ed il fine vita del prodotto finito. Sono stati confrontati quattro differenti metodi di estrazione. L\u2019elevata domanda energetica del processo \ue8 la causa principale degli impatti ambientali. Come conseguenza, anche le emissioni di GHG sono elevate. Tuttavia, il processo \ue8 di grande interesse e promettente considerando sia la biodegradabilit\ue0 del polimero sia gli ampi margini di miglioramento possibili nel processo produttivo stesso

An Evaluation of Hospital Cleaning Regimes—Microbiological Evaluation and LCA Analysis after Traditional and Sustainable/Green Procedures

The development of sustainable processes has a significant role in balancing social productivity demands, environmental protection, and natural resources. The control of microbial contamination has so far been concentrated on the use of chemical-based sanitation procedures, which may have various limitations, as testified by the persistence of contamination itself, by the growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of hospital microbes, and by chemical-related pollution. This communication aims to present a comparative analysis between the use of traditional and green sanitation products and processes in hospital environments. The sampling campaign was conducted in a day hospital ward of a general hospital (Imola, Santa Maria della Scaletta Hospital). Each sample comes from a specific surface, furniture or sanitary, and was taken using RODAC contact plates and swabs with a neutralizing agent in order to standardize the result of the microbiological evaluation. Sampling occurred before and after traditional and green cleaning procedures. The green experimental protocol using 100% natural and biodegradable products in sanitization procedures of hospital areas at a medium-high health risk was found to be a technique of relevant interest. From CAM requirements, the green protocol must give equal or better results than the traditional protocol. It can be concluded that the green experimental system meets this criterion and has shown better antimicrobial activity performance than the traditional system; all findings are in an acceptable state of sanitation, with no evidence of pathogenic micro-organisms specified in the guideline

Life cycle assessment of a novel polyhydroxyalkanoates production process with mixed microbial cultures fed on winery waste

The study aims to assess the environmental performances of a novel process of bio-plastic (polyhydroxyalkanoates, PHAs) production using winery waste. Sustainability is measured by an attributional life cycle assessment and compared both with results reported in literature for PHAs, and with results of a fossil-based plastic (polypropylene, PP), and of an alternative bio-based plastic (bio-polypropylene, bio-PP). PHAs produced from wine industry residues, although generally better than other PHAs in terms of greenhouse emissions and energy demand, show mixed results. Large environmental benefits in terms of both global warming potential reduction, lesser energy use and resource depletion, are counterpoised to higher impacts on other categories also when compared to both PP and bio-PP. Research shall deeper investigate the effects of combining different waste and residues in input and of the fate of co-products and waste obtained by their processing

An Evaluation of Hospital Cleaning Regimes—Microbiological Evaluation and LCA Analysis after Traditional and Sustainable/Green Procedures

The development of sustainable processes has a significant role in balancing social productivity demands, environmental protection, and natural resources. The control of microbial contamination has so far been concentrated on the use of chemical-based sanitation procedures, which may have various limitations, as testified by the persistence of contamination itself, by the growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of hospital microbes, and by chemical-related pollution. This communication aims to present a comparative analysis between the use of traditional and green sanitation products and processes in hospital environments. The sampling campaign was conducted in a day hospital ward of a general hospital (Imola, Santa Maria della Scaletta Hospital). Each sample comes from a specific surface, furniture or sanitary, and was taken using RODAC contact plates and swabs with a neutralizing agent in order to standardize the result of the microbiological evaluation. Sampling occurred before and after traditional and green cleaning procedures. The green experimental protocol using 100% natural and biodegradable products in sanitization procedures of hospital areas at a medium-high health risk was found to be a technique of relevant interest. From CAM requirements, the green protocol must give equal or better results than the traditional protocol. It can be concluded that the green experimental system meets this criterion and has shown better antimicrobial activity performance than the traditional system; all findings are in an acceptable state of sanitation, with no evidence of pathogenic micro-organisms specified in the guideline