| Title | Unlocking the potential of municipal solid waste: Emergy accounting applied in a novel biorefinery |
|---|---|
| ID_Doc | 13901 |
| Authors | Clasen, AP; Agostinho, F; Sulis, F; Almeida, CMVB; Giannetti, BF |
| Title | Unlocking the potential of municipal solid waste: Emergy accounting applied in a novel biorefinery |
| Year | 2024 |
| Published | |
| Abstract | The rampant municipal solid waste (MSW) generation caused mainly by people's lifestyle has required technological solutions to deal with this global issue. This paper assess an innovative and integrated biorefinery (2IB) to manage MSW. The 2IB is rooted in the circular economy concept, and it differs from any other currently existing technological route in managing MSW due to its integrated processes that receives both inorganic and organic fractions at the same time, besides unveiling an innovative aspect related to thermoplastic production. Due to its scientific-based advantages, the emergy accounting (withy 'm') is considered as method to quantify the 2IB environmental performance, comparing the results with alternatives MSW management facilities. Results show that 2IB has similar performance for the three traditional emergy indicators (m-EYR of 1.17, m-ELR of 5.73 and m-ESI of 0.20) compared to incineration and landfilling, indicating low yield, moderate load on the environment, and unsustainable. On the other hand, the emergy return indicator (ERI of 20.33) indicates higher performance for the 2IB, in which for each solar emjoule (sej) - the measure unit of emergy - invested it generates a return of about 20 sej that becomes available as benefits for societal development. From an emergy perspective, results support that 2IB should be considered as a powerful technological alternative to manage MSW. This study contributes from a theoretical perspective with discussions on the emergy accounting procedures applied on systems located at far right side of energy hierarchy, while contributing from a practical perspective by providing technical information about the 2IB that supports decision makers towards more sustainable MSW management systems. |
Similar Articles
| ID | Score | Article |
|---|---|---|
3684
|
Clasen, AP; Agostinho, F; Almeida, CMVB; Liu, GY; Giannetti, BF Advancing towards circular economy: Environmental benefits of an innovative biorefinery for municipal solid waste management(2024) | |
| 4319
|
Hoang, AT; Varbanov, PS; Nizetic, S; Sirohi, R; Pandey, A; Luque, R; Ng, KH; Pham, V Perspective review on Municipal Solid Waste-to-energy route: Characteristics, management strategy, and role in circular economy(2022) | |
| 20941
|
Tsui, TH; Wong, JWC A critical review: emerging bioeconomy and waste-to-energy technologies for sustainable municipal solid waste management(2019)Waste Disposal & Sustainable Energy, 1, 3 | |
| 270
|
Rolewicz-Kalinska, A; Lelicinska-Serafin, K; Manczarski, P The Circular Economy and Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste Recycling Strategies(2020)Energies, 13, 17 | |
| 28521
|
Rada, EC; Cioca, LI; Ionescu, G Energy recovery from Municipal Solid Waste in EU: proposals to assess the management performance under a circular economy perspective(2017) | |
| 28681
|
Malinauskaite, J; Jouhara, H; Czajczynska, D; Stanchev, P; Katsou, E; Rostkowski, P; Thorne, RJ; Colón, J; Ponsá, S; Al-Mansour, F; Anguilano, L; Krzyzynska, R; López, IC; Vlasopoulos, A; Spencer, N Municipal solid waste management and waste-to-energy in the context of a circular economy and energy recycling in Europe(2017) | |
| 28665
|
Karaeva, A; Magaril, E Considering Waste Generation in the Energy Sector during the Transition to a Circular Economy(2023)Recycling, 8.0, 2 | |
| 15001
|
Shanmugam, K; Gadhamshetty, V; Tysklind, M; Bhattacharyya, D; Upadhyayula, VKK A sustainable performance assessment framework for circular management of municipal wastewater treatment plants(2022) | |
| 10631
|
Galván, SL; Bielsa, RO Use of life cycle assessment for estimating impacts of waste-to-energy technologies in solid waste management systems: the case of Buenos Aires, Argentina(2024)Environmental Science And Pollution Research, 31, 7 | |
| 69563
|
Rajaeifar, MA; Ghanavati, H; Dashti, BB; Heijungs, R; Aghbashlo, M; Tabatabaei, M Electricity generation and GHG emission reduction potentials through different municipal solid waste management technologies: A comparative review(2017) |