Life cycle assessment of biochar produced from forest residues using portable systems

Puettmann, Maureen; Sahoo, Kamalakanta; Wilson, Kelpie; Oneil, Elaine

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119564

Cited by 71 publications

(43 citation statements)

References 28 publications

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“…Resins are integral components and contributors to the performance of wood composites [ 56 ]. Compared with other countries, China produces 1 m 3 of MDF, consumed 125 kg of UF resin in China, and only 44.44, 70.30, 83.30, and 85.3 kg of UF resin were required in Spain, Brazil, the USA, and Canada, respectively [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 39 ]. MDF manufacturing enterprises in China are mostly small and medium-scale with self-produced UF resin.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Comparison of Product Carbon Footprint Protocols: Case Study on Medium-Density Fiberboard in China

Wang

Yang

2018

IJERPH

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Carbon footprint (CF) analysis is widely used to quantify the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of a product during its life cycle. A number of protocols, such as Publicly Available Specification (PAS) 2050, GHG Protocol Product Standard (GHG Protocol), and ISO 14067 Carbon Footprint of Products (ISO 14067), have been developed for CF calculations. This study aims to compare the criteria and implications of the three protocols. The medium-density fiberboard (MDF) (functional unit: 1 m3) has been selected as a case study to illustrate this comparison. Different criteria, such as the life cycle stage included, cut-off criteria, biogenic carbon treatment, and other requirements, were discussed. A cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) for MDF was conducted. The CF values were −667.75, −658.42, and 816.92 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) with PAS 2050, GHG protocol, and ISO 14067, respectively. The main reasons for the different results obtained were the application of different cut-off criteria, exclusion rules, and the treatment of carbon storage. A cradle-to-grave assessment (end-of-life scenarios: landfill and incineration) was also performed to identify opportunities for improving MDF production. A sensitivity analysis to assess the implications of different end-of-life disposals was conducted, indicating that landfill may be preferable from a GHG standpoint. The comparison of these three protocols provides insights for adopting appropriate methods to calculate GHG emissions for the MDF industry. A key finding is that for both LCA practitioners and policy-makers, PAS 2050 is preferentially recommended to assess the CF of MDF.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, studies on improving the environmental profile of the MDF industry should be conducted. The energy consumption and environmental impact of MDF production were the focus of previous studies [ 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. Despite the same method of LCA, researchers followed different protocols.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Product Carbon Footprint Protocols: Case Study on Medium-Density Fiberboard in China

Wang

Yang

2018

IJERPH

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“…This importance of biochar microporosity in terms of water and nutrient retention has been alluded to in previous studies (Batista et al, 2018;Suliman et al, 2017). Moreover, in addition to greater water retention, smaller particle size is assumed to reduce the nutrient losses attributable to leaching, which is associated with the higher density of electrical charges present in the biochar particle micropores (Jeffery et al, 2015;Puettmann et al, 2020).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 88%

Biochar as an alternative substrate for the production of sugarcane seedlings

Mota

Damião

Torres

et al. 2021

Rev. bras. eng. agríc. ambient.

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Biochar, which has emerged as an important form of the transformation and final disposal of biomass, can be used directly in soil or in seedling nurseries. In this study, the use of biochar of different particle sizes and percentages was evaluated in replacement to a conventional substrate used in the production of sugarcane seedlings. To this end, an experiment was carried out based on a completely randomized design, with a 5 × 4 factorial scheme, consisting of five different percentages of biochar (with 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% v/v substitution of the conventional substrate) and four particle sizes (<1, 2, 4, and 9 mm), with nine repetitions. As seedling growth variables, the average sprouting time, sprouting speed index, plant height, leaf number, leaf length, and width + 2, as well as the dry mass of the aerial parts and roots were evaluated. Irrespective of the percentage of commercial substrate replaced with biochar, sprouting time was found to be shorter when 6-mm-diameter biochar particles were used. With respect to the sprouting speed index, it was found that regardless of particle size, the highest value occurred when biochar was used to replace 42% of the commercial substrate. The substitution of the commercial substrate with biochar had the effect of reducing the growth of sugarcane seedlings.

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“…Second-generation biofuels (2GB), which were developed as a solution to some of the drawbacks associated with 1GB, can be produced from inedible feedstocks like waste cooking oil [127], waste animal fats [128], recovered oil [129], and lignocellulosic biomass, like grass, wood, sugarcane bagasse, agricultural residues, forest residues, and municipal solid waste [130,131], as well as from bioethanol, biodiesel, biosyngass, biomass to liquid biodiesel conversion, bio-oil, biohydrogen, bioalcohols, biodimethylfuran, and bio-Fischer-Tropsch [115,132]. The generation of 2GB does not affect the food chain and the cost of feedstocks is relatively low, but the production technologies are still complex and have not been commercialized yet [98,133].…”

Section: Second-generation Biofuelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Overview of the Classification, Production and Utilization of Biofuels for Internal Combustion Engine Applications

et al. 2021

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Biofuel, a cost-effective, safe, and environmentally benign fuel produced from renewable sources, has been accepted as a sustainable replacement and a panacea for the damaging effects of the exploration for and consumption of fossil-based fuels. The current work examines the classification, generation, and utilization of biofuels, particularly in internal combustion engine (ICE) applications. Biofuels are classified according to their physical state, technology maturity, the generation of feedstock, and the generation of products. The methods of production and the advantages of the application of biogas, bioalcohol, and hydrogen in spark ignition engines, as well as biodiesel, Fischer–Tropsch fuel, and dimethyl ether in compression ignition engines, in terms of engine performance and emission are highlighted. The generation of biofuels from waste helps in waste minimization, proper waste disposal, and sanitation. The utilization of biofuels in ICEs improves engine performance and mitigates the emission of poisonous gases. There is a need for appropriate policy frameworks to promote commercial production and seamless deployment of these biofuels for transportation applications with a view to guaranteeing energy security.

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Life cycle assessment of biochar produced from forest residues using portable systems

Cited by 71 publications

References 28 publications

Comparison of Product Carbon Footprint Protocols: Case Study on Medium-Density Fiberboard in China

Comparison of Product Carbon Footprint Protocols: Case Study on Medium-Density Fiberboard in China

Biochar as an alternative substrate for the production of sugarcane seedlings

An Overview of the Classification, Production and Utilization of Biofuels for Internal Combustion Engine Applications

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