No abstract

BioLPG is a partially renewable fuel that can be produced by different conversion routes, with vegetable oil hydrotreatment (HVO) being one of the most promising processes. This study uses the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to assess the environmental impacts associated with this processing. The analysis considered the conditions practiced in Brazil with soybean oil (SO) as raw material, different hydrogen sources, and raw materials’ feed rates in the reaction system. The model was based on secondary data collected for the 2020–2021 biennium, and the environmental impacts were determined for Global Warming Potential, Primary Energy Demand, Terrestrial Acidification, Fine Particulate Matter Formation, Terrestrial Ecotoxicity, and direct Land Use Change. The results show that the SO produced by soybeans grown in Paraná/BR and hydrotreated with H2 obtained by electrolysis ([SO/H2]mol/mol = 1:30) had the best environmental performance in four of the six impact categories analyzed. A complementary analysis also identified the best environmental performances for bioLPG obtained from blending SO from different sources to avoid supplier dependence. Even accumulating worse environmental performance than fossil LPG, renewable fuel has promising prospects for deployment in Brazil. Nevertheless, for this to occur, some actions must be implemented in its production cycle.

High azoxystrobin (AZO), difenoconazole (DFZ), and imidacloprid (IMD) pesticide removal rates in sixteen bench-scale experiments concerning tomato washing water treatment were obtained through a UVC/H2O2 advanced oxidative process. Experimental conditions ([H2O2]0) and irradiance (EUVC) were optimized for higher degradation rates (pseudo-first-order reaction). To consider both economic aspects and environmental impacts when defining the treatment technology, as well as technological requirements, this study applied a multi-criteria decision-making method (MCDM) to assess and differentiate similar UVC/H2O2 process configurations. This allowed for the identification of the cheapest experimental arrangement with the lowest associated environmental impacts, coupled to the highest degradation rate (kIMD). After consulting experts to determine the importance of the applied criteria and measuring alternative performances, experiment E7 ([H2O2]0 = 43.5 mg L−1; EUVC = 15.0 W m−2; kIMD = 0.236 s−1) was determined as meeting the three criteria in a balanced manner. Although E7′s technological performance regarding degradation rate did not achieve the best individual result, it presented the lowest impacts and costs among the analyzed series, although alternatives are sensitive to decision-maker priorities. This study considered different factors of a process displaying potential industrial applications still in the design stage to achieve a more efficient and balanced solution.

AGRADECIMENTOS"Combati o bom combate, terminei a minha carreira, guardei a fé" (2Tm,4,(7)(8). Essas foram as palavras escritas pelo apóstolo Paulo a Timóteo quando se encontrava encarcerado em Roma, aguardando seu martírio eminente. Essas palavras de São Paulo visaram estimular o seu amigo a ser firme em seu propósito de zelar pela pregação do Evangelho, sempre com a fidelidade necessária.Comecei o curso de mestrado na busca de contribuir com o desenvolvimento sustentável do nosso país, quiçá do planeta, já tão sofrido com as explorações degradantes, muitas realçadas pela mídia em geral.Muitos desafios surgiram, ora demonstravam-se fáceis de resolver, estavam ali perto do meu alcance as soluções. Ora pareciam ultrapassar minha capacidade humana, e que somente o Criador poderia me mostrar o caminho a seguir. E seguindo esse caminho, percebi que um bom combate não se faz sozinha. E, assim, guardando a fé, me foi permitido conhecer pessoas maravilhosas, que, direta ou indiretamente, contribuíram significativamente para a concretização desse trabalho, sustentando os esforços despendidos para o seu alcance.Nesse sentido, venho assentar nessas linhas os meus mais sinceros agradecimentos a esses amigos, coadjuvantes nessa minha carreira: Ao meu orientador, Prof. Dr. Antonio Carlos Silva Costa Teixeira, pela paciência, pelo apoio, e, sobretudo, por estimular minha perseverança nas pesquisas e acreditar que os resultados podem fazer a diferença na busca de tecnologias sustentáveis.Aos meus pais, Sérgio e Regina, meu alicerce. Se sou capaz de sonhar e ir cada vez mais longe, tudo isso se deve ao seu apoio diário e amor incondicional.Ao Thiago, companheiro de vida e jornada, pelo carinho, ombro amigo, paciência para escutar meus raciocínios, contribuindo construtivamente no desempenho de minhas tarefas.Aos amigos e colegas de laboratório do AdOx, que animaram os dias de labuta, em especial Carolina Mendes Rocha (amizade desde os tempos de graduação, parceria para a vida dentro e fora do meio acadêmico); Juliana Mendonça Silva de Jesus (minha designer e consultora), Patrícia Metolina (sempre atenciosa e pelo apoio no cálculo dos rendimentos quânticos da fotólise direta), Natalia Klanovicz (por transmitir com tanto domínio o conhecimento para os testes de citotoxicidade genotoxicidade), Priscila Hasse Palharim, Arlen Mabel Lastre-Acosta e Bruno Ramos. À Gracyelle Nuves Leocádio do CIRRA, pela assistência nos testes de caracterização das matrizes reais da agroindústria.Aos engenheiros agrônomos da EMATER-MG, Srs. Georgeton Soares Ribeiro Silveira, Gilberto Dias Villela, Deny Sanábio e Bernardino Cangussu Guimarães, pela disposição em dividir conhecimentos e informações sobre a produção agrícola de tomates, morangos e café (e demais produtos agrícolas cultivados no território nacional), essenciais ao desenvolvimento das pesquisas acadêmicas.À equipe da empresa Predilecta Alimentos Ltda., em especial à Profa. Katia Ribeiro e aos Srs. Antônio Carlos e Bruno Trevizanelli, pela disposição em recebernos sempre tão bem nas visitas té...

This study investigated the effects of partial and total substitutions of fossil polypropylene (PP) for recycled plastic cap equivalents in the manufacture of signage labels used by the telephone industry. Four alternative scenarios to using virgin PP were evaluated considering recycled material in flake and pellet forms based on environmental performance, degree of circularity, and technical behavior. The environmental analysis was performed by the life cycle assessment (LCA) technique, and for all impact categories evaluated, using recycled material to replace the virgin reduced adverse effects on the environment. The most significant results in this dimension, with gains of 81% in the Global Environmental Indicator, occurred when recycled PP flakes entirely replaced the fossil polymer. Once again, the highest values of the Materials Circularity Indicator (MCI) were achieved by scenarios with full recycled resin in processing the tags; however, this product must also be reused. The mechanical behavior of the tags measured technical performance, and in this case, the product made with virgin PP outperformed the recycled options except for elongation. An analysis that integrated the three dimensions into a single performance index pointed to the complete substitution of virgin material for recycled as the most balanced option.