IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v15y2023i7p6254-d1116712.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Life Cycle Assessment Applied to End-of-Life Scenarios of Sargassum spp. for Application in Civil Construction

Author

Listed:
  • Cristiane Bueno

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil)

  • João Adriano Rossignolo

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Letícia Missiatto Gavioli

    (Post-Graduation Program in Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Camila Cassola Assunção Sposito

    (Post-Graduation Program in Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Fernando Gustavo Tonin

    (Department of Biosystems Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Mariana Matera Veras

    (Laboratory of Environmental and Experimental Pathology, LIM05 HC-FMUSP, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05403-010, Brazil)

  • Maria Júlia Bassan de Moraes

    (Post-Graduation Program in Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

  • Gabriela Pitolli Lyra

    (Post-Graduation Program in Material Science and Engineering, Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering, University of São Paulo (USP), Pirassununga 13635-900, Brazil)

Abstract

Environmental risks and vulnerabilities in coastal regions include the massive deposits of brown algae of the genus Sargassum in regions such as the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and northern Brazil. Efforts have been made to turn this problem into an opportunity by seeking new uses for this biomass in the sectors of food, agriculture, health, biofuels, bioremediation, and civil construction. Thus, this study aimed to produce quantitative data for different end-of-life scenarios of the Sargassum algae, seeking for potential applications of this macroalgae in the civil construction sector. For this purpose, we conducted a life cycle assessment (LCA) study of the Sargassum algae, in its natural destination, and evaluated its potential impact. This evaluation was then compared to the possible impacts of alternatives to their end of life, such as landfill disposal, drying and grinding to use as fibers or particles, burning the biomass to generate energy and fly ash, using a consequential LCA and the indicators of the ReCiPe 2016 method. For each of the proposed scenarios, the functional unit of 1 kg of the three types of unprocessed Sargassum algae that are found in the Brazilian deposits ( natans I , natans VIII , and fluitans ) was considered separately, and also for a composition that is closer to that found in the Brazilian deposits (50% fluitans , 15% natans I , and 35% natans VIII ). The results for both natural decomposition scenarios demonstrated a dominant contribution to the categories of impact for climate change, marine eutrophication, and land use, thus justifying the search for new initiatives for the use of the algae. The burning process showed a significant contribution to most of the indicators, with emphasis on the massive generation of particulate, inherent to the biomass burning process; however, it showed a reduction in the magnitude of climate change emissions from around 47% to less than 2%. Finally, the proposed scenario of processing Sargassum biomass to obtain particles presented prevalence of magnitude for potential impact in most of the proposed indicators, due to the processes with high electricity consumption, but keeping climate change emissions’ relative reduction from 47% to 6%. Thus, new studies may further investigate the potential of application of these materials in different products and components of civil construction.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristiane Bueno & João Adriano Rossignolo & Letícia Missiatto Gavioli & Camila Cassola Assunção Sposito & Fernando Gustavo Tonin & Mariana Matera Veras & Maria Júlia Bassan de Moraes & Gabriela Pitoll, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment Applied to End-of-Life Scenarios of Sargassum spp. for Application in Civil Construction," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:6254-:d:1116712
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/7/6254/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/15/7/6254/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Horvat, Ivan & Dović, Damir & Filipović, Petar, 2021. "Numerical and experimental methods in development of the novel biomass combustion system concept for wood and agro pellets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 231(C).
    2. John James Milledge & Supattra Maneein & Elena Arribas López & Debbie Bartlett, 2020. "Sargassum Inundations in Turks and Caicos: Methane Potential and Proximate, Ultimate, Lipid, Amino Acid, Metal and Metalloid Analyses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-27, March.
    3. Allen, Eoin & Wall, David M. & Herrmann, Christiane & Xia, Ao & Murphy, Jerry D., 2015. "What is the gross energy yield of third generation gaseous biofuel sourced from seaweed?," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 81(C), pages 352-360.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Enrique Salgado-Hernández & Ángel Isauro Ortiz-Ceballos & Sergio Martínez-Hernández & Erik Samuel Rosas-Mendoza & Ana Elena Dorantes-Acosta & Andrea Alvarado-Vallejo & Alejandro Alvarado-Lassman, 2022. "Methane Production of Sargassum spp. Biomass from the Mexican Caribbean: Solid–Liquid Separation and Component Distribution," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Allen, Eoin & Wall, David M. & Herrmann, Christiane & Murphy, Jerry D., 2016. "A detailed assessment of resource of biomethane from first, second and third generation substrates," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(P1), pages 656-665.
    3. Li, Zhuoyu & Dai, Huaming & Zhai, Cheng, 2024. "Integrated porous self-sustaining combustion of inert pellets and reactive wood lamellae with additives: Dynamic co-production method for heat and hydrogen," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    4. Chung-Yiin Wong & Siti-Suhailah Rosli & Yoshimitsu Uemura & Yeek Chia Ho & Arunsri Leejeerajumnean & Worapon Kiatkittipong & Chin-Kui Cheng & Man-Kee Lam & Jun-Wei Lim, 2019. "Potential Protein and Biodiesel Sources from Black Soldier Fly Larvae: Insights of Larval Harvesting Instar and Fermented Feeding Medium," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-15, April.
    5. Rivera-Hernández, Yessica & Hernández-Eugenio, Guadalupe & Balagurusamy, Nagamani & Espinosa-Solares, Teodoro, 2022. "Sargassum-pig manure co-digestion: An alternative for bioenergy production and treating a polluting coastal waste," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 199(C), pages 1336-1344.
    6. Héctor Alfredo López-Aguilar & Bryan Morales-Durán & David Quiroz-Cardoza & Antonino Pérez-Hernández, 2023. "Lag Phase in the Anaerobic Co-Digestion of Sargassum spp. and Organic Domestic Waste," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-15, July.
    7. Ding, Lingkan & Chan Gutierrez, Enrique & Cheng, Jun & Xia, Ao & O'Shea, Richard & Guneratnam, Amita Jacob & Murphy, Jerry D., 2018. "Assessment of continuous fermentative hydrogen and methane co-production using macro- and micro-algae with increasing organic loading rate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 760-770.
    8. Czyrnek-Delêtre, Magdalena M. & Rocca, Stefania & Agostini, Alessandro & Giuntoli, Jacopo & Murphy, Jerry D., 2017. "Life cycle assessment of seaweed biomethane, generated from seaweed sourced from integrated multi-trophic aquaculture in temperate oceanic climates," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C), pages 34-50.
    9. John J. Milledge & Birthe V. Nielsen & Supattra Maneein & Patricia J. Harvey, 2019. "A Brief Review of Anaerobic Digestion of Algae for Bioenergy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-22, March.
    10. Kumar, Kanhaiya & Ghosh, Supratim & Angelidaki, Irini & Holdt, Susan L. & Karakashev, Dimitar B. & Morales, Merlin Alvarado & Das, Debabrata, 2016. "Recent developments on biofuels production from microalgae and macroalgae," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 235-249.
    11. Tabakaev, Roman & Kahn, Victor & Dubinin, Yury & Rudmin, Maxim & Yazykov, Nikolay & Skugarov, Artem & Alekseenko, Eduard & Zavorin, Alexander & Preis, Sergei, 2022. "High-strength fuel pellets made of flour milling and coal slack wastes," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    12. Montingelli, Maria E. & Benyounis, Khaled Y. & Quilty, Brid & Stokes, Joseph & Olabi, Abdul G., 2016. "Optimisation of biogas production from the macroalgae Laminaria sp. at different periods of harvesting in Ireland," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 671-682.
    13. Heejung Jung & Jaai Kim & Changsoo Lee, 2018. "Biomethanation of Harmful Macroalgal Biomass in Leach-Bed Reactor Coupled to Anaerobic Filter: Effect of Water Regime and Filter Media," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-15, April.
    14. Jingjing Wu & Shane W. Rogers & Rebekah Schaummann & Nichole N. Price, 2023. "A Comparison of Multiple Macroalgae Cultivation Systems and End-Use Strategies of Saccharina latissima and Gracilaria tikvahiae Based on Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-24, August.
    15. Yiru Zhao & Nathalie Bourgougnon & Jean-Louis Lanoisellé & Thomas Lendormi, 2022. "Biofuel Production from Seaweeds: A Comprehensive Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-34, December.
    16. Mhatre, Apurv & Gore, Suhas & Mhatre, Akanksha & Trivedi, Nitin & Sharma, Manju & Pandit, Reena & Anil, Annamma & Lali, Arvind, 2019. "Effect of multiple product extractions on bio-methane potential of marine macrophytic green alga Ulva lactuca," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 742-751.
    17. Tedesco, S. & Daniels, S., 2018. "Optimisation of biogas generation from brown seaweed residues: Compositional and geographical parameters affecting the viability of a biorefinery concept," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 712-723.
    18. Růžičková, Jana & Raclavská, Helena & Juchelková, Dagmar & Kucbel, Marek & Raclavský, Konstantin & Švédová, Barbora & Šafář, Michal & Pfeifer, Christoph & Hrbek, Jitka, 2022. "Organic compounds in the char deposits characterising the combustion of unauthorised fuels in residential boilers," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    19. Raúl Tapia-Tussell & Julio Avila-Arias & Jorge Domínguez Maldonado & David Valero & Edgar Olguin-Maciel & Daisy Pérez-Brito & Liliana Alzate-Gaviria, 2018. "Biological Pretreatment of Mexican Caribbean Macroalgae Consortiums Using Bm-2 Strain ( Trametes hirsuta ) and Its Enzymatic Broth to Improve Biomethane Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-11, February.
    20. Tabassum, Muhammad Rizwan & Xia, Ao & Murphy, Jerry D., 2017. "Potential of seaweed as a feedstock for renewable gaseous fuel production in Ireland," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 68(P1), pages 136-146.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:7:p:6254-:d:1116712. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.