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- Microalgae in a global world: New solutions for old problems?Publication . Vieira De Mendonça, Henrique; Assemany, Paula; Abreu, Mariana; De Aguiar Do Couto, Eduardo; Martins Maciel, Alyne; Duarte, Renata Lopes; Santos, Marcela Granato Barbosa dosABSTRACT: The human population blast has brought several problems related with the overconsumption of a wide range of feedstocks and natural resources conducting to their risk of depletion. The consumption of fossil fuels is an example, with increasing levels of exploitation and negative impacts caused by their use. Anthropogenic activities have triggered the over accumulation of many hazardous substances and wastes which are regarded to be detrimental to life in the Earth and to the various planet ecosystems. There is an urgent need to restore natural resources and unwanted residues and wastes to levels prior the demographic explosion. Microalgal biotechnology appears to be pivotal to achieve this goal in a near future to come. This review presents the current resource problems affecting the Earth and how microalgae are expected to be an important part of the solution, discussing how the production of renewable energy from microalgae can help in an integrated way to mitigate different environmental problems. Microalgae are able to convert wastewaters, CO2 and organic residues in marketable biomass for different uses, including biofuels, converting waste in value. An inventory of current microalgal-based biorefineries in operation as well as a directory of companies, products and applications are also presented.
- 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.
- Infraestrutura de investigação para a biomassa e a bioenergia: BBRI - Biomass and Bioenergy Research InfrastructurePublication . Reis, Alberto; Abreu, Mariana; Pacheco, Marta; Bernardo, Joana; Silva, R.; Domingues, Lucília; Teixeira, J.A.; Gírio, FranciscoRESUMO: A BBRI é a única Infraestrutura Nacional de Investigação em Biomassa e Bioenergia, que integra o Roteiro Nacional de Infraestruturas de Investigação de Interesse Estratégico em Portugal desde 2014, sendo distribuída por dois nós. O nó de Lisboa tem por base as infraestruturas laboratoriais e piloto existentes na Unidade de Bioenergia e Biorrefinarias (UBB) do Laboratório Nacional de Energia e Geologia (LNEG) e o nó de Braga, as infraestruturas laboratoriais e tecnológicas do Centro de Engenharia Biológica (CEB) da Universidade do Minho (UM). As atividades científicas da BBRI estão focadas nas tecnologias de conversão de biomassa para obtenção de biocombustíveis avançados, produtos não-energéticos de base biológica e outros biomateriais, inseridas em seis sub-plataformas de investigação (sub-RIs). O trabalho da BBRI nestas 6 sub-RIs encontra-se complementarmente organizado em atividades de formação, serviços e atividades de disseminação, visando a capacitação de novos profissionais em bioenergia sustentável e contribuindo para a excelência da investigação em Portugal no domínio da Bioenergia e Bioeconomia.