Life cycle assessment as a comparison tool for activated carbon preparations and biomethane storage for vehicular applications

Abstract

The term "future material" is referred for activated carbons (AC) due to their easy/scalable preparation, compatible property, and numerous applications. The applications of such materials for gas adsorption and storage play a vital role in the large-scale feasibility of adsorbed gas storage. This could provide a better alternative to compression-based storage for vehicular applications due to lower energy and materials input. Currently, compression-based storage has been thoroughly studied and widely used; however, there are limited reports on LCA. In this paper, a lifecycle-based approach has been deployed for chemically activated carbon (CAC) production using KOH and compared with inventory-based physically activated carbon (PAC). The PACs have a far lesser impact than the CACs mainly owing to the chemicals used. Potassium hydroxide and electricity account for nearly 70 to 90% of different ecotoxicity indicators. It has also been estimated that if by-products generated using chemicals are recovered, the mid-

Environmental Footprints of the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Pine Needles through Integration of a Nickel-Decorated Chemically Modified Biochar Catalyst

“…For instance, in the present study, chemical activating agents (H 3 PO 4 , NaOH, and ZnCl 2 ) involve the highest environmental impacts among all the involved subprocesses and materials. Thus, the substitution of these high-impact causing activating agents with some low environmental-impact materials or employment of physical activation methods using high-pressure steam for the activation of biochar will substantially assist in reducing the process’s environmental burdens . Moreover, the current study also recommends the utilization of renewable energy sources in place of nonrenewable sources like natural gas or electricity grid mix for meeting the process energy needs, which will significantly assist in reducing the environmental impacts.…”

“…Thus, the substitution of these high-impact causing activating agents with some low environmental-impact materials or employment of physical activation methods using high-pressure steam for the activation of biochar will substantially assist in reducing the process's environmental burdens. 43 Moreover, the current study also recommends the utilization of renewable energy sources in place of nonrenewable sources like natural gas or electricity grid mix for meeting the process energy needs, which will significantly assist in reducing the environmental impacts. Implementing these suggestions in the design will provide the opportunity to lower the environmental impacts, thereby enhancing the environmental friendliness of the process.…”