ABSTRACT: Fossil fuels drive global warming, necessitating renewable alternatives such as biomethane (or renewable natural gas). Biomethane, primarily produced through anaerobic digestion (AD), offers a cleaner energy solution but is limited by the slow AD process. Biomass gasification followed by syngas methanation has emerged as a faster alternative. This review examines advancements in these processes over t...
ABSTRACT: The urgent need to mitigate climate change requires finding sustainable and efficient alternatives to fossil fuel-based materials. Biosequestration by microalgae has been suggested as a potential method for climate change mitigation due to its environmentally friendly nature and ability to produce high-value compounds. However, the large-scale application of microalgal biorefineries faces significant ...
ABSTRACT: Fossil fuels drive global warming, necessitating renewable alternatives such as biomethane (or renewable natural gas). Biomethane, primarily produced through anaerobic digestion (AD), offers a cleaner energy solution but is limited by the slow AD process. Biomass gasification followed by syngas methanation has emerged as a faster alternative. This review examines advancements in these processes over t...
ABSTRACT: This review examines the disregarded role of social dimensions in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) within biorefinery implementation, addressing the question: "How can the inclusion of social factors in LCA improve sustainability assessments, and what are the implications of the limited Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) studies in biorefineries?" A systematic literature review was conducted using Web of...
ABSTRACT: Collagen from blue shark skins offers a promising solution to utilize fishery by-products, reducing waste and improving resource efficiency. This study develops green chemistry-based extraction processes to minimize reliance on traditional chemical methods and lower environmental impacts, prioritizing sustainability and circularity. Two methods for collagen extraction are compared: a conventional alka...
ABSTRACT: The ongoing climate change phenomenon requires the reduction of atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Microalgal biorefineries, which convert atmospheric CO2 into chemical energy, offer a viable alternative to fossil fuel-based industrial systems. This study assesses the social impacts of microalgal biorefineries using the Product Social Impact Life Cycle Assessment database approach, focusing on an industr...
ABSTRACT: Portugal has a vast coastal area and significant offshore wind resources. The country has set ambitious targets and designated specific areas for offshore wind development. Current national policies are actively encouraging investment in these projects. This report compiles the latest strategies for offshore wind and green hydrogen in Portugal. It introduces the Power-to-X (P2X) concept, explores pote...
ABSTRACT: Biochar, a carbon-rich material produced from the pyrolysis of organic matter, has garnered attention for its potential agricultural and environmental benefits, including soil improvement, enhanced crop yields and climate change mitigation. Despite its promise, biochar adoption has been hindered by limited social awareness, particularly in industrialised countries. This review explores the factors inf...
RESUMO: O Hidrogénio (H2) Verde perspetiva-se como um vetor energético indispensável para alcançar a neutralidade carbónica em 2050, porém a economia deste vetor está em desenvolvimento e os agentes económicos precisam de fontes de informação confiáveis e ajustadas ao contexto nacional e Europeu. Neste sentido, o LNEG desenvolve investigação em vários domínios relacionados com o H2 verde, desde o estudo e desen...
ABSTRACT: The development of sustainable biofuels can help to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels and mitigate the impact of climate change. This study analyzes bioethanol production from agro-forestry residual biomass, namely eucalyptus residues and corn stover. The study includes process simulation using Aspen Plus software, followed by economic analysis and life cycle assessment (LCA) with the help of SimaPr...