Fabrizio Passarini

Heating systems LCA: comparison of biomass-based appliances

PurposeBiomass provides an attractive solution for residential heating systems based on renewable fuels, even though biomass-based domestic heating systems are recognized as significant particulate matter emitters; thus, a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach was used in the study to compare two different appliances: a wood stove and a pellet stove, both modeled according to the best available technologies definition.MethodsSystem boundaries of each scenario refer to a cradle-to-grave approach, including production, use and disposal of the heating appliance, as well as the preparation of biomass feedstock. The assessment of environmental impacts was performed assuming 1xa0MJ of thermal energy as the reference flow, considering the categories of particulate matter formation, human toxicity, climate change, and fossil fuel depletion, according to the ReCiPe 1.07 method. Finally, the comparison was extended to certain innovative heating systems in order to qualitatively evaluate potential improvements in residential heating performances.Results and discussionThe results show that the wood stove reaches the highest scores in the categories of particulate matter formation and negative effects for human toxicity, as a consequence of the stove’s lower combustion efficiency, which would lead to a preference for the pellet stove. However, when climate change affecting human health and the ecosystem, and fossil depletion are considered, the choice appears more uncertain due to the energy consumption from the pelletizing step. Alternative technologies (e.g., solar panels in combination with a gas boiler) show better scores related to fine particles emission reduction, even if a worsening in other categories is observed. The results were validated by a sensitivity analysis.ConclusionsThe study suggests that a LCA approach can support the choice of the best domestic heating system, helping to promote policy initiatives on a sound basis and to understand which are the main key levers to act for reducing the total environmental burdens of biomass-based heating appliances.

Bulk deposition close to a Municipal Solid Waste incinerator: One source among many

In order to assess the contribution of a Municipal Solid Waste incinerator to the areas total contamination, metals and soluble ions have been determined in bulk deposition collected at sites affected by different levels of plant emissions, according to the results of the Calpuff air dispersion model. Results show that in general fluxes monitored at the different sites during the same period are quite similar for each analyte. Deposition fluxes of nitrite and ammonium are significantly lower at the more distant site, while copper is significantly higher at this site, possibly because of copper fungicide used on the nearby agriculture land. The presence of sea spray and resuspended soil dust can be inferred from Pearson correlation coefficients, while enrichment factors indicate that Cu, Pb and Zn have a probable anthropogenic origin. A more complete evaluation of the sources affecting the area was obtained with PMF analysis. The sources associated with each factor were identified from the source profile and temporal trends. Six factors were identified, three sources associate with natural matrices, while three factors represent anthropogenic sources. The greatest contribution of heavy metals, the most toxic and persistent components determined, is associated with resuspended soil dust, especially when weighted according to their toxicity. The anthropogenic source contribution is similar at all sites, and therefore the incinerators relative contribution to the total pollutant load appears to be negligible compared to other sources affecting the area.

Environmental impact assessment of a WtE plant after structural upgrade measures.

The study focuses on analysing the evolution of environmental impacts caused by a medium-large Italian WtE plant before and after revamping and maintenance operations, with the aim of providing an evaluation of how much these structural upgrade measures may affect the total environmental performance. LCA methodology was applied for the modelling and comparison of six WtE scenarios, each describing the main structural upgrades carried out in the plant over the years 1996-2011. The comparison was conducted by adopting 1ton of MSW as the functional unit, and the net contribution from energy recovery to power generation was distinguished by defining consistent national grid electricity mixes for every year considered. The Ecoindicator99 2.09 impact assessment method was used to evaluate the contribution to midpoint and endpoint categories (e.g. carcinogens, respiratory inorganics and organics, climate change, damage to human health). Lastly, the Pedigree quality matrix was applied to verify the reliability and robustness of the model created. As expected, the results showed better environmental scores after both the implementation of new procedures and the integration of operations. However, while a net reduction of air emissions seems to be achievable through dedicated flue gas treatment technologies, outcomes underscored potentials for improving the management of bottom ash through the adoption of alternative options aimed to use that solid residue mainly as filler, and to decrease risks from its current disposal in landfill. If the same effort that is put into flue gas treatment were devoted to energy recovery, the targets for the WtE plant could be easily met, achieving a higher sustainability. This aspect is even more complex: national policies for implementing greener and renewable energy sources would result in a lower impact of the national energy mix and, hence, in a lower net avoided burden from energy recovery. The study confirmed the expected improvements, indicating quantitatively the lower environmental impact resulting from structural upgrade operations in a WtE plant. Furthermore, the work highlights the importance of considering the evolution of the national energy mix in LCA studies, especially during the present years of transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources.

Source apportionment and location by selective wind sampling and Positive Matrix Factorization

In order to determine the pollution sources in a suburban area and identify the main direction of their origin, PM2.5 was collected with samplers coupled with a wind select sensor and then subjected to Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) analysis. In each sample, soluble ions, organic carbon, elemental carbon, levoglucosan, metals, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined. PMF results identified six main sources affecting the area: natural gas home appliances, motor vehicles, regional transport, biomass combustion, manufacturing activities, and secondary aerosol. The connection of factor temporal trends with other parameters (i.e., temperature, PM2.5 concentration, and photochemical processes) confirms factor attributions. PMF analysis indicated that the main source of PM2.5 in the area is secondary aerosol. This should be mainly due to regional contributions, owing to both the secondary nature of the source itself and the higher concentration registered in inland air masses. The motor vehicle emission source contribution is also important. This source likely has a prevalent local origin. The most toxic determined components, i.e., PAHs, Cd, Pb, and Ni, are mainly due to vehicular traffic. Even if this is not the main source in the study area, it is the one of greatest concern. The application of PMF analysis to PM2.5 collected with this new sampling technique made it possible to obtain more detailed results on the sources affecting the area compared to a classical PMF analysis.

Fourteenth National Congress of the Environmental and Cultural Heritage Chemistry Division, “Chemistry in a Sustainable Society,” held in Rimini (Italy) in June 2013

This report briefly presents the aims and the fields of interest of the Environmental and Cultural Heritage Division (Italian Chemical Society) and the issues addressed during its national congress, held in Rimini in June 2013. The broad range of topics raised by different speakers, the variety of affiliations and institutions participating at the conference, the scientific organisations and private companies co-sponsoring the different sessions give a clear picture of the interdisciplinarity which is a hallmark of this division.

Chemistry in a sustainable society.

“Chemistry in a Sustainable Society” is the title chosen for the 14th Italian Congress of the Environmental and Cultural Heritage Chemistry Division held in Rimini in June 2013 (Bernardi et al. 2014). Since the 1970s, several definitions have been given in order to explain what sustainability is. The most well known and frequently cited is the one stated in 1987 by the Brundtland Commission: “Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” (WCED 1987). According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “Everything that we need for our survival and well-being depends, either directly or indirectly, on our natural environment. Sustainability creates and maintains the conditions under which humans and nature can exist in productive harmony, that permit fulfilling the social, economic and other requirements of present and future generations” (EPA 2014). In order to indicate whether the world is becoming more sustainable, in 2006, the Sustainable Society Foundation started to calculate the Sustainable Society Index (SSI), based on three dimensions: environmental well-being, human well-being and economic well-being. The last evaluation available (van de Kerk et al. 2012) indicates that the overall global sustainability score is improving, but environmental well-being is declining mainly due to financial crisis, fast growing countries and climate skepticism. Therefore, actions are needed because environmental sustainability is one of the pillars of a sustainable society. Thinking about both environmental and human well-being, some questions come immediately to mind: protection of natural resources, impact of human activities on air, water and soil quality, and impact of environmental conditions on human health. Nevertheless, a further aspect cannot be neglected: culture and cultural heritage conservation, as no society can be said sustainable if source and symbols of its identity get lost. In facing these issues, Environmental and Cultural Heritage Chemistry can play a crucial role, helping in understanding environmental and decay processes, identifying causes and finding possible solutions. Papers included in this special issue are a selection from the scientific works presented at the “Chemistry in a Sustainable Society” Congress and cover several topics related to chemistry and sustainability, ranging from pollutants characterization and identification of emission sources to the fate of pollutant in environmental matrixes with possible health effects, techniques to assess environmental contamination, waste management, decay, cleaning and conservation of cultural heritage. In particular, the first group of papers deals with atmospheric pollution due to particulate matter. Gatto et al. present a study performed within the LIFE+ European Project “EXPAH” and aimed at monitoring the personal exposure of elementary school children and elders to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons contained in fine particulate matter in the city of Rome. Riccio et al. extend traditional source apportionment techniques using a joint Eulerian/ Lagrangian approach; this approach applied to the urban area Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues E. Bernardi : F. Passarini (*) : L. Morselli Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna, Italy e-mail: fabrizio.passarini@unibo.it