Comparative Environmental Evaluation of Straw Resources by LCA in China

Abstract

Crop straw, as a widely used biomass resource, can be processed to produce renewable energy and green products. However, about 70% of straw were burned in the open air, causing serious environmental pollution and air pollution. In order to reduce the burden on the environment, the different straw management strategies are comparatively studied and evaluated by applying the life-cycle assessment (LCA) method. Within the system boundary from cradle to grave, three alternative scenarios, including straw particleboard, straw cement-bonded particleboard, and straw direct combustion power generation, are compared with the current common treatment (straw open burning). e comprehensive inventory analysis on each treatment scenario is carried out indepth, and the corresponding resource consumption and environmental impact of each treatment scenario are calculated, respectively. e LCA results showed that the environmental impacts of reusing crop straw to produce straw particleboard and cement-bonded particleboard (Scenario 1 and Scenario 2) is significantly reduced by 6% and 10%, by comparison with the use of wood resource. Greenhouse gas emissions from straw direct combustion power generation (Scenario 3) processes are reduced by 30% compared with coal power generation. From the environmental point of view, the scenario of straw particleboard product has the smallest impact on the environment, while straw open burning is not an advisable way due to the highest environmental impact from the highest greenhouse gas emissions and acidification effects. From the perspective of energy consumption, the energy consumption for the combustion power generation is the smallest in all scenarios. It is suggested that governments are supposed to construct reasonable scenarios for the straw disposition based on the local development status and condition. e research results can provide scientific guidance for the management strategy of the comprehensive utilization of straw resources.

Fungal Mycelium Bio-Composite Acts as a CO2-Sink Building Material with Low Embodied Energy

“…The calculations for rapeseed straw include transportation from fields (a 100 km range) to a processing plant, grinding, and another transportation of 100 km to the production factory. The energy input for the straw processing is 21.67 kW h per ton, 18 from the stage of field collection to final processing (crushed 5− 10 mm straw fibers, which represents a higher level of processing than is required for our bio-composites). Since specific data on rapeseed straw were not available in Ecoinvent 3, the option of "wheat straw" was used as a proxy, adding to it the energy for processing and the sequestered carbon.…”

Do Miscanthus lutarioriparius-Based Oriented Strand Boards Provide Environmentally Benign Alternatives? An LCA Case Study of Lake Dongting District in China

“…A direct comparison of our research with previous literature was complicated by differences in system boundaries, inventory integration, databases, and environmental assessment methods. Shang X. et al [35] conducted a relative comparative LCA based on data from China. Both studies agreed that less GHG emissions and less non-renewable energy aregenerated and consumed in the production process of straw or M. lutarioriparius particleboard compared to that of conventional wood particleboard.…”

“…The HCT of MDF was hundreds of times that of M.OSB, which was related to fuel wood and wood fuel. Wood burning and electricity consumption were the hotspots for MDF manufacturing [35].…”

Combined Straw and Plastic Film Mulching Can Increase the Yield and Quality of Open Field Loose-Curd Cauliflower

“…Northwest China is rich in straw resources, but the straw recycling rate is low, and straw burning is a common phenomenon (7). This practice produces many harmful gases, causes serious air pollution, and severely threatens human health (8)(9)(10)(11)(12). The application of straw returning technology can avoid the environmental problems caused by straw burning, while also effectively reducing soil water evaporation, enhancing the rainwater infiltration rate, increasing soil water storage, improving soil structure and microbial diversity and abundance, enhancing soil enzyme activity, improving soil fertility, promoting crop quality, and facilitating improved crop yield and water use efficiency (13)(14)(15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20).…”