Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Ammonia-Based Electricity

In recent years, several researchers have studied the potential use of ammonia (NH3) as an energy vector, focused on the techno-economic advantages and challenges for full global deployment. The use of ammonia as fuel is seen as a strategy to support decarbonization; however, to confirm the sustainability of the shift to ammonia as fuel in thermal engines, a study of the environmental profile is needed. This paper aims to assess the environmental life cycle impacts of ammonia-based electricity generated in a combined heat and power cycle for different ammonia production pathways. A cradle-to-gate assessment was developed for both ammonia production and ammonia-based electricity generation. The results show that electrolysis-based ammonia from renewable and nuclear energy have a better profile in terms of global warming potential (0.09–0.70 t CO2-eq/t NH3), fossil depletion potential (3.62–213.56 kg oil-eq/t NH3), and ozone depletion potential (0.001–0.082 g CFC-11-eq/t NH3). In addition, surplus heat for district or industrial applications offsets some of the environmental burden, such as a more than 29% reduction in carbon footprint. In general, ammonia-based combined heat and power production presents a favorable environmental profile, for example, the carbon footprint ranges from −0.480 to 0.003 kg CO2-eq/kWh.

Análisis del perfil socioeconómico y ambiental de la comuna las huacas, archipiélago de jambelí

El presente artículo presenta un panorama general sobre el perfil socioeconómico y ambiental de la captura artesanal de conchas (Anadara tuberculosa) en la comuna Las Huacas ubicada en el archipiélago de Jambelí de la provincia de El Oro de Ecuador. El objetivo de la investigación es analizar el perfil socioeconómico y ambiental de la comuna en función de los indicadores de dimensión social, económica y ambiental. Esta investigación obedeció a un diseño no experimental, de campo y transversal, la cual se realizó mediante una ficha técnica de cuestionarios aplicados a los asociados. la población fue dominada por el género masculino (119) sobre el femenino (19); de forma relativa representa un (14%) la participación de la mujer entre los asociados. Se aplicó la prueba de Chi-cuadrado para determinar significancia (α<0.05) en los indicadores razón de emprender/necesidad u oportunidad y Escolaridad/ingresos promedio. Se concluye que existe una relación de dependencia entre las variables necesidad y oportunidad de emprender, mientras que no existe asociación estadística entre las variables categóricas nivel de instrucción formal e ingresos económicos. Un dato relevante se pudo evidenciar en el indicador ambiental que el 67,15% de los asociados establecieron que siempre aplican cuidados ambientales en la actividad conchera, y el 53,63% revelaron que siempre realizan actividades de mejora para sanear el medio ambiente. This article presents an overview of the socioeconomic and environmental profile of the artisanal capture of conch (Anadara tuberculosa) in the Las Huacas commune located in the Jambelí archipelago of the El Oro province of Ecuador. The objective of the research is to analyze the socioeconomic and environmental profile of the commune based on the indicators of social, economic and environmental dimension. This research obeyed a non-experimental, field and cross-sectional design, which was carried out using a technical sheet of questionnaires applied to the associates. the population was dominated by the male gender (119) over the female (19); Relatively, it represents (14%) the participation of women among the associates. The Chi-square test was applied to determine significance (p <0.05) in the indicators reason for undertaking / need or opportunity and Schooling / average income. It is concluded that there is a dependency relationship between the variables need and opportunity to undertake, while there is no statistical association between the categorical variables level of formal education and income. A relevant data could be evidenced in the environmental indicator that 67.15% of the associates established that they always apply environmental care in the shellfish activity, and 53.63% revealed that they always carry out improvement activities to clean up the environment.

Análisis de Correspondencias Múltiple para Describir el Comportamiento Proambiental del Ciudadano de Manabí-Ecuador para el Año 2018

El presente estudio propone describir un perfil del ciudadano manabita con respecto al comportamiento proambiental con un enfoque multivariante. Para la elaboración de la descripción del perfil se trabajó con una muestra obtenida mediante un muestreo probabilístico polietápico elaborado por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Censo del Ecuador, sobre la información de hogares del año 2018 mediante la Encuesta Nacional Multipropósito, en la que se seleccionaron diferentes variables referentes a las condiciones de vidas y problemas ambientales que puedan perturbar sus condiciones de vida y salud. Mediante el análisis de correspondencias múltiples se pudo observar que el perfil del ciudadano manabita con respecto al comportamiento proambiental es muy bajo: se caracteriza en que entre un 66,2% y un 95,1% no clasifican los residuos ni orgánicos ni inorgánicos. Con respecto a los problemas ambientales en la comunidad donde viven, las estadísticas muestran entre un 57,2% y un 72,8% y favorables a la conservación del ambiente, se determinaron tres grupos de ciudadanos proambientalistas. La técnica de análisis de correspondencias múltiples permitió definir perfiles proambientales en los ciudadanos. Palabra clave: Perfil proambiental, Encuesta Nacional Multipropósito, Correspondencias Múltiples, Ecuador. Abstract The present study proposes to describe a profile of the Manabí citizen with respect to pro-environmental behavior with a multivariate approach. For the elaboration of the description of the profile, a sample obtained through a polyethapic probability sampling elaborated by the National Institute of Statistics and Census of Ecuador. This was based on the information of households of the year 2018 through the National Multipurpose Survey, where different variables referring to living conditions and environmental problems that could disturb their living conditions and terminating health were selected. Through the multiple correspondence analysis it was observed that the profile of the Manabí citizen with respect to environmental behavior is very low. They are characterized in that between 66.2% and 95.1% do not classify the waste as neither organic nor inorganic. With regard to environmental problems in the community where they live, the statistics between 57.2% and 72.8% are favorable to the conservation of the environment, three groups of pro-environmental citizens were determined. The technique of multiple correspondence analysis allowed defining pro-environmental profiles in citizens. Keywords: Pro-environmental profile, National Multipurpose Survey, Multiple Correspondences, Ecuador.

Evaluation of Starch as an Environmental-Friendly Bioresource for the Development of Wood Bioadhesives

The environment is a very complex and fragile system in which multiple factors of different nature play an important role. Pollution, together with resource consumption, is one of the main causes of the environmental problems currently affecting the planet. In the search for alternative production processes, the use of renewable resources seeks a way to satisfy the demands of resource consumption based on the premises of lower environment impact and less damage to human health. In the wood sector, the panel manufacturing process is based on the use of formaldehyde-based resins. However, their poor moisture resistance leads to hydrolysis of amino-methylene bonds, which induces formaldehyde emissions throughout the lifetime of the wood panel. This manuscript investigates the environmental profile associated with different wood bioadhesives based on starch functionalization as a renewable alternative to formaldehyde resins. Considering that this is a process under development, the conceptual design of the full-scale process will be addressed by process modeling and the environmental profile will be assessed using life cycle assessment methodology. A comparative study with synthetic resins will provide useful information for modify their development to become real alternatives in the wood-based panel industry. The results obtained show the enormous potential of starch bioadhesives, as their environmental impact values are lower compared to those based on petrochemicals. However, certain improvements in the energy process requirements and in the chemical agents used could be developed to provide even better results.

Coherent Investigation on a Smart Kinetic Wooden Façade Based on Material Passport Concepts and Environmental Profile Inquiry

Wood is one of the most fully renewable building materials, so wood instead of non-renewable materials produced from organic energy sources significantly reduces the environmental impact. Construction products can be replenished at the end of their working life and their elements and components deconstructed in a closed-loop manner to act as a material for potential construction. Materials passports (MPs) are instruments for incorporating circular economy principles (CEP) into structures. Material passports (MPs) consider all the building’s life cycle (BLC) steps to ensure that it can be reused and transformed several times. The number of reuse times and the operating life of the commodity greatly influence the environmental effects incorporated. For a new generation of buildings, the developing of an elegant kinetic wooden façade has become a necessity. It represents a multidisciplinary region with different climatic, fiscal, constructional materials, equipment, and programs, and ecology-influencing design processes and decisions. Based on an overview of the material’s environmental profile (MEP) and material passport (MP) definition in the design phase, this article attempts to establish and formulate an analytical analysis of the wood selection process used to produce a kinetic façade. The paper will analyze the importance of environmentally sustainable construction and a harmonious architectural environment to reduce harmful human intervention on the environment. It will examine the use of wooden panels on buildings’ façades as one solution to building impact on the environment. It will show the features of the formation of the wooden exterior of the building. It will also examine modern architecture that enters into a dialogue with the environment, giving unique flexibility to adapt a building. The study finds that new buildings can be easily created today. The concept of building materials passport and the environmental selection of the kinetic wooden façade can be incorporated into the building design process. This will improve the economic and environmental impact of the building on human life.