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- Marginal soils for bioenergy production : How to identify these soils in Portugal?Publication . Abreu, Mariana; Reis, Alberto; Fernando, Ana LuisaABSTRACT: n the bioenergy/biorefineries sector, energy crops have achieved a relevant position as a feedstock for bio-based products, biofuels and bioenergy. To produce the energy crops, soils with low Indirect Land Use Change (ILUC) risk must be utilized, such as marginal/degraded/contaminated (MDC) soils. Locating these types of soils in any territory, region, or country is challenging. Several criteria, e.g. soil drainage, dryness, temperature, have been identified by the European Union, and allow to classify soils as marginal. Yet, the dispersed information makes the identification and selection of marginal soils a challenging process. Therefore, this study details the tools and baseline documents that can be used to identify marginal areas, presenting low ILUC risk for the cultivation of energy crops. The application of the methodology to Continental Portugal allowed to obtain a preliminary map that indicates available soils for the cultivation of energy crops.
- Mapping municipal solid waste to boost circular valorization practices in ŁódzkiePublication . Moura, Patrícia; Eusebio, Ana; Patinha, Pedro; Quental, Lídia; Lukasik, Rafal M.ABSTRACT: Geographic Information System (GIS) is a powerful instrument that can be used for the spatial representation of waste and by-product flows at various levels, allowing to improve municipal solid waste (MSW) management. The mapping obtained can be advantageously targeted to build a regional network of technological, economic, social and environmental linkages and to boost circular economy practices. In this work, the data on MSW produced in the Łódzkie region, Poland, during 2021 were used to generate a geolocalized database and an interactive web map, using ArcGIS software. The geodatabase and the map visualization were organized in three layers of information with increasing detail to foster a map-driven symbiosis between waste suppliers and waste recipients, paving the way for a more circular regional economy.
- Water integration applied to microalgaebased systemsPublication . Lopes, Tiago; Reis, AlbertoABSTRACT: Microalgae-based systems have emerged as a promising solution for sustainable production of food, feed, and biofuels. However, water stress and scarcity are major challenges that limit the viability and scalability of microalgae production. To address this challenge, water integration has been proposed as a means to optimize water use efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of microalgae-based systems. This chapter reviews the current state of knowledge on water integration in microalgae-based systems, with a focus on different types of microalgae cultivation systems, process integration for water optimization, and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of microalgae-based systems. The chapter concludes with research gaps and future directions in water integration and LCA of microalgae-based systems.
- Production of Hemicellulosic Sugars from Residual Lignocellulosic Biomass in an Integrated Small-Scale Biorefinery: Techno-Economic and Life Cycle AssessmentsPublication . Lopes, Tiago; Duarte, Luís C.; Carvalheiro, Florbela; Cardona, Carlos A.; Gírio, FranciscoABSTRACT: Biorefineries design, as for other industries, usually target the economy of scale approach, maximizing processing capacities to achieve economic viability. However, the installation of large-scale biorefineries has some drawbacks, namely their high capital costs and the difficulty to assure a proper supply of biomass at regional level. Small-scale, self-sustainable, biorefineries can solve several of the challenges of their larger competitors and are also reported to expand environmental and social benefits, but several hurdles for their deployment still exist. This chapter describes a methodology for the implementation of an integrated small-scale self-sustainable biorefinery in a rural area, based on a design that takes advantage of the synergies of processing two types of feedstock (corn stover and swine manure). A detailed explanation for the process selection by performing a heuristic analysis, process simulation, mass and energy balances alongside with the techno-economic assessment of the biorefinery is provided. The full life cycle assessment (LCA) of producing xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) and ethanol from lignocellulosic residues, i.e. corn stover, under a biorefinery concept to be located in Portugal is also assessed.
- Future perspectives of microalgae in the food industryPublication . Ferreira, Alice; Guerra, Inês; Costa, Margarida; Silva, Joana; Gouveia, LuisaABSTRACT: Microalgae have been consumed by humans for thousands of years. Research has shown that microalgae exhibit huge potential to meet the dietary needs of the growing population, generating great interest in these organisms. Thanks to their nutritional composition, mainly their high protein content, but also to the presence of bioactive compounds with functional properties that provide added health benefits, microalgae hold major opportunities for innovative and sustainable product development within the food industry. Furthermore, they possess compounds with stimulant properties that can be used to enhance agricultural yields, while providing an environmental benefit to sustainable agriculture. However, current microalgae exploitation for the food industry still presents some drawbacks, mainly because of the underdeveloped technologies and processes currently available for microalgae cultivation and processing. This chapter describes the use of microalgae as an ingredient in innovative food products with potential health benefits. It displays the research work done in a wide range of food products with incorporated microalgae, as well as some marketed microalgae-based food products commercially available today. Finally, the most promising future trends in microalgae food applications are highlighted.
- Microalgal biorefineriesPublication . Ferreira, Alice; Gouveia, LuisaABSTRACT: Microalgae-based bioproducts remain expensive mainly due to microalgae cultivation, harvesting, and downstream processing costs. Nonetheless, microalgae are a high potential source of several biofuels, biofertilizers, and bioproducts (e.g., carbohydrates, long-chain fatty acids, pigments, and proteins), which can provide important nutritional, cosmetical, pharmaceutical, and health benefits. In addition, they are able to perform wastewater bioremediation and carbon dioxide mitigation. This not only contributes to a more sustainable microalgae production, with environmental benefits, but also offers cost savings on the whole process. Hence, from these small cellular factories, a large source of compounds and products can be obtained, providing a real microalgal-based biorefinery. This type of approach is crucial for the full application and commercialization of microalgae in a large range of products and industries, with added benefits for bioeconomy and society in general. This chapter addresses the potential transformation of microalgal biomass into a wide range of marketable products, presenting examples of experimental microalgae-based biorefineries grown in an autotrophic mode at a laboratory scale.
- Advances in the reduction of the costs inherent to fossil fuel biodesulfurization towards its potential industrial applicationsPublication . Paixão, Susana M.; Silva, Tiago; Arez, B. F.; Alves, LuísABSTRACT: The biodesulfurization (BDS) process consists of the use of microorganisms for the removal of sulfur from fossil fuels. Through BDS it is possible to treat most of the organosulfur compounds recalcitrant to the conventional hydrodesulfurization (HDS), the petroleum industry's solution, at mild operating conditions, without the need for molecular hydrogen or metal catalysts. This technique results in lower emissions, smaller residue production, and less energy consumption, which makes BDS an eco-friendly process that can complement HDS making it more efficient. BDS has been extensively studied and much is already known about the process. Clearly, BDS presents advantages as a complementary technique to HDS; however, its commercial use has been delayed by several limitations both upstream and downstream the process. This study will comprehensively review and discuss key issues, like reduction of the BDS costs, advances, and/or challenges for a competitive BDS towards its potential industrial application aiming ultra-low sulfur fuels.
- Measurement of total reactive phosphorus in natural water by molecular spectrophotometry (SMEWW 4500-P D)Publication . Silva, Ricardo Bettencourt da; Trancoso, Maria Ascensão; Teixeira, P. Alexandra; Oliveira, Cristina M. R. Ramiro de; Mosca, Alice I. de Jesus; Dias, Florbela A. do Sacramento; Camões, M. Filomena G. F. CrujoABSTRACT: Phosphorus occurs in natural waters almost solely as phosphates.
- Advances in the reduction of the costs inherent to fossil fuel biodesulfurization towards its potential industrial applicationsPublication . Paixão, Susana M.; Silva, Tiago; Arez, B. F.; Alves, LuísABSTRACT: The biodesulfurization (BDS) process consists of the use of microorganisms for the removal of sulfur from fossil fuels. Through BDS it is possible to treat most of the organosulfur compounds recalcitrant to the conventional hydrodesulfurization (HDS), the petroleum industry's solution, at mild operating conditions, without the need for molecular hydrogen or metal catalysts. This technique results in lower emissions, smaller residue production, and less energy consumption, which makes BDS an eco-friendly process that can complement HDS making it more efficient. BDS has been extensively studied and much is already known about the process. Clearly, BDS presents advantages as a complementary technique to HDS; however, its commercial use has been delayed by several limitations both upstream and downstream the process. This study will comprehensively review and discuss key issues, like reduction of the BDS costs, advances, and/or challenges for a competitive BDS towards its potential industrial application aiming ultra-low sulfur fuels.
- Dark fermentative hydrogen production: from concepts to a sustainable productionPublication . Moura, Patrícia; Ortigueira, Joana; Valdez-Vazquez, Idania; Saratale, Ganesh D.; Saratale, Rijuta G.; Silva, Carla M.ABSTRACT: The use of renewable sources and environmentally friendly processes is considered a priority for the construction of a sustainable energy future. The harmful impact of fossil fuels and the fact that we are reaching a disrupting point regarding environmental damage require the rapid implementation of new energy systems and a substantial increase in the use of alternative, unconventional energy sources. Hydrogen (H2) is considered one of the most promising sources as a clean energy vector, because of its high energy density (120 MJ/kg) and carbon-free combustion (Argun and Kargi, 2011). Hydrogen is the simplest and most abundant element on earth; however, it barely exists in nature in its molecular state. Instead, it is almost always found as part of other compounds from which it should be separated, either by thermochemical processes or through biological conversion.