Biofuel or excavation? - Life cycle assessment (LCA) of soil remediation options

Suèr, Pascal; Andersson-Sköld, Yvonne

doi:10.1016/j.biombioe.2010.11.022

Cited by 78 publications

(39 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Hence, the cultivations can be seen as both ecological and economical sustainable options to conventional risk management of these sites. In addition, several wider benefits and ecosystem services, such as contribution to increased biodiversity, water-holding capacity, carbon sequestration and other soil improvements, are expected to be gained during the continuing growth (Bardos et al 2011;Suer and Andersson-Sköld 2011;Volchko et al 2013). Furthermore, the cultivation can also contribute to perceived increased aesthetical value (Andersson-Sköld et al 2009;Andersson-Sköld et al 2015) due to the increased greenery in the area.…”

Section: Potential Revenues and Ecosystem Services Provided By Phytosmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…excavators) and landfill costs, or other equipment depending of remediation method. Moreover, compared to conventional remediation options, phytostabilisation is reported to be a technique with very low, or no, environmental impacts, due to less transportation and less use of land and energy resources (Suer and Andersson-Sköld 2011). Hence, the cultivations can be seen as both ecological and economical sustainable options to conventional risk management of these sites.…”

Section: Potential Revenues and Ecosystem Services Provided By Phytosmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Risk management and regeneration of brownfields using bioenergy crops

et al. 2015

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Purpose The potential of phytoremediation, as a costeffective in situ alternative to conventional technologies for remediation of contaminated brownfields, has often been pointed out. Yet, phyto-technologies have failed to find widespread adoption in practice. To gain social and commercial acceptance of these technologies, there is a clear requirement of field studies that provide information on success and failures. The aim of this study was to investigate benefits and potential risks with phyto-stabilisation on brownfields using bioenergy-crops. Materials and methods Two field trials with willow (Salix Klara and Salix Inger) were set up aiming for phytostabilisation on metal-contaminated sites. By the use of a tiered risk assessment approach, the cultivation's effect on ecological risks in different environmental compartments, such as soil, porewater and up-take to biota (including potential risks for wild grazers), was investigated before the cultivation was started and during following three growth seasons. Growth assessments were also made to evaluate the biomass' potential revenue. Results and discussionThe risks to the soil fauna proved to be unchanged or declining. The uptake in the plants was, as aimed for, low to moderate, and the growth rate depended on the soil texture rather than the contamination level of the sites. The low uptake indicated a negligible risk for wild grazers. The field trials were accomplished using no, or low, amounts of amendments, minimum soil interventions, no, or very simple, weeding control and conducted at sites with low annual temperature. Despite harsh conditions, the biomass production was high enough to potentially provide revenue. Conclusions This study shows that cultivation of brownfields using phytostabilising willow clones can reduce the ecological risks, improve the soil quality of the site and provide revenue if the biomass is sold for e.g. bioenergy production. By choosing phytostabilisation willow clones, potential risks associated with phytoextraction of metals, such as biomass combustion and food chain transfer of metals, were eliminated. Consequently, using bioenergy crops for phytostabilisation on brownfields can contribute to preserve and improve ecosystem services, create economic regeneration of these areas and at the same time be a sustainable risk management option.

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Section: Potential Revenues and Ecosystem Services Provided By Phytosmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Potential Revenues and Ecosystem Services Provided By Phytosmentioning

confidence: 98%

Risk management and regeneration of brownfields using bioenergy crops

et al. 2015

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“…[16] Previous oil depot ReCiPe EPD [15] Industrial site with distribution centre for new cars REC 10 years. Besides primary impacts, associated with the state of the site and secondary impacts, associated with the site remediation itself [12], LCA for contaminated site management should also account for tertiary impacts, associated with the effects of the reoccupation of the site [13].…”

Section: Application Of Lca To the Remediation Of Contaminated Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A preliminary selection of remediation technologies could be based on a BATNEEC analysis, followed by a detailed analysis of the selected remediation options by means of LCA. When alternatives for soil remediation are compared, one should be aware that environmental effects occur on very different environmental problems and geographical scales [16], pointing to the importance of including land use in LCA.…”

Section: Application Of Lca To the Remediation Of Contaminated Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Possibilities and limitations of LCA for the evaluation of soil remediation and cleanup

Cappuyns¹

2011

WIT Transactions on Ecology and the Environment

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When evaluating remediation technologies for contaminated soil and groundwater, the beneficial effect of the remediation, namely cleaner soil and groundwater, are mostly emphasized without consideration of the environmental impact of the remediation activities themselves. Nevertheless, practitioners and decision makers can rely on a broad range of decision tools that can help them to achieve a better balance between economic, social and environmental health aspects of contaminated land remediation. A holistic approach for the management of contaminated land should ideally include an assessment of the environmental risk of the contamination, an assessment of the environmental, social and health impact of the remediation process and a cost-benefit analysis of the remediation project.A life cycle framework, including a life cycle management (LCM) approach structuring environmental activities and life cycle analysis (LCA) for a quantitative examination, can be helpful for the selection of site remediation options with minimum impact on the ecosystem and human health. During the last 10 years, several instances have emerged in which a life cycle approach has been applied to the remediation of contaminated sites. Besides addressing the environmental impact of the remediation activities for a specific site, attention should also be paid to the consequence of reintroducing a remediate site into the economy. From a legal point of view, there should be ways to encourage the use of sustainable remediation technologies, together with a disconnection of treated soils from the definition of waste. Finally, the focus should move from remediation, whether sustainable or not, to the prevention of soil contamination..

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“…Although phytoremediation is generally perceived as a sustainable green technology, like any agricultural activity it can cause many environmental impacts, mainly due to harvesting (von Blottnitz and Curran, 2007), the application of fertilizers and pesticides, direct emissions (Suer and Andersson-Sköld, 2011), and the biomass after care.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%