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Martín-Hernández E, Montero-Rueda C, Ruiz-Mercado GJ, Vaneeckhaute C, Martín M. Multi-scale techno-economic assessment of nitrogen recovery systems for livestock operations. SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION 2023; 41:49-63. [PMID: 37986715 PMCID: PMC10659086 DOI: 10.1016/j.spc.2023.07.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Intensive livestock farming generates vast amounts of organic materials, which are an important source of nitrogen releases. These anthropogenic nitrogen releases contribute to multiple environmental problems, including eutrophication of water systems, contamination of drinking water sources, and greenhouse gas emissions. Nitrogen recovery and recycling are technically feasible, and there exists a number of processes for nitrogen recovery from livestock material in the form of different products. In this work, a multi-scale techno-economic assessment of techniques for nitrogen recovery and recycling is performed. The assessment includes a material flow analysis of each process, from material collection to final treatment, to determine nitrogen recovery efficiency, losses, and recovery cost, as well as an environmental cost-benefit analysis to compare the nitrogen recovery cost versus the economic losses derived from its uncontrolled release into the environment. The results show that transmembrane chemisorption process results in the lowest recovery cost, 3.4-10.4 USD per kilogram of nitrogen recovered in the range of studied processing scales. The recovery of nitrogen from livestock material through three technologies, i.e., transmembrane chemisorption, MAPHEX, and stripping in packed bed, reveales to be cost-effective. Since the economic losses due to the harmful effects of nitrogen into the environment are estimated at 32-35 USD per kilogram of nitrogen released, nitrogen recycling is an environmentally and economically beneficial approach to reduce nutrient pollution caused by livestock operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edgar Martín-Hernández
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Salamanca, Plza. Caídos 1-5, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
- BioEngine - Research Team on Green Process Engineering and Biorefineries, Chemical Engineering Department, Université Laval, 1065 Ave. de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
- CentrEau, Centre de recherche sur l’eau, Université Laval, 1065 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Clara Montero-Rueda
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Salamanca, Plza. Caídos 1-5, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Gerardo J. Ruiz-Mercado
- Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response (CESER), US Environmental Protection Agency, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, United States
- Chemical Engineering Graduate Program, Universidad del Atlántico, Puerto Colombia 080007, Colombia
| | - Céline Vaneeckhaute
- BioEngine - Research Team on Green Process Engineering and Biorefineries, Chemical Engineering Department, Université Laval, 1065 Ave. de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
- CentrEau, Centre de recherche sur l’eau, Université Laval, 1065 Avenue de la Médecine, Québec, QC, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mariano Martín
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Salamanca, Plza. Caídos 1-5, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
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Dukes E, Cheng S, Mogen S, Galloway J, Leach A, Trimble AR, Pettit A, Compton J, Pennino M. Footprints in Action: How UVA Is Managing Its Sustainability Stewardship. SUSTAINABILITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE 2023; 16:48-63. [PMID: 36910689 PMCID: PMC9994435 DOI: 10.1089/scc.2022.0067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Evaluating sustainability stewardship at higher educational institutions is essential to working towards improving our environment. Many institutions have used environmental footprint indicators as a way to evaluate, track, and improve their impact on the environment. In this article, we present the web-based Integrated Environmental Footprint Tool (IEFT), which allows users to test how changes in certain activities impact nitrogen (N), greenhouse gases (GHG), phosphorus (P), and water (W) footprints for a university campus. This study uses the University of Virginia (UVA) as a model to show the impacts of their existing sustainability plans on multiple footprint indicators. Strategies from the University of Virginia's (UVA) two exisiting action plans, the GHG Action Plan and the N Action Plan, are evaluated to determine their impact on each of the footprints (GHG, N, P, and W). Based on the 2025 goal year, the strategies in these action plans are estimated to reduce the GHG, N, P, and W footprints by -38%, 32%, 25%, and 2.7% respectively. The damage costs associated with GHG and N footprints are assessed and reveal a 38 percent reduction in damage costs for GHG and a 42 percent reduction in costs for N. Using the IEFT to evaluate the impact of these action plan strategies, UVA optimized environmental outcomes. The model shown here can be used at other institutions to evaluate the environmental impact of planned changes to an institutions' operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Dukes
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Selina Cheng
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Samuel Mogen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - James Galloway
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Allison Leach
- Sustainability Institute, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire, USA
| | - Andrea Ruedy Trimble
- Office for Sustainability, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Andrew Pettit
- Office for Sustainability, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Jana Compton
- Environmental Protection Agencies, Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment Division, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Michael Pennino
- Environmental Protection Agencies Office of Research and Development, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment Division, Washington, DC, USA
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Baca-López K, Fresno C, Espinal-Enríquez J, Martínez-García M, Camacho-López MA, Flores-Merino MV, Hernández-Lemus E. Spatio-Temporal Representativeness of Air Quality Monitoring Stations in Mexico City: Implications for Public Health. Front Public Health 2021; 8:536174. [PMID: 33585375 PMCID: PMC7874227 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.536174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Assessment of the air quality in metropolitan areas is a major challenge in environmental sciences. Issues related include the distribution of monitoring stations, their spatial range, or missing information. In Mexico City, stations have been located spanning the entire Metropolitan zone for pollutants, such as CO, NO2, O3, SO2, PM2.5, PM10, NO, NO x , and PM CO . A fundamental question is whether the number and location of such stations are adequate to optimally cover the city. By analyzing spatio-temporal correlations for pollutant measurements, we evaluated the distribution and performance of monitoring stations in Mexico City from 2009 to 2018. Based on our analysis, air quality evaluation of those contaminants is adequate to cover the 16 boroughs of Mexico City, with the exception of SO2, since its spatial range is shorter than the one needed to cover the whole surface of the city. We observed that NO and NO x concentrations must be taken into account since their long-range dispersion may have relevant consequences for public health. With this approach, we may be able to propose policy based on systematic criteria to locate new monitoring stations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karol Baca-López
- School of Medicine, Autonomous University of the State of Mexico, Toluca de Lerdo, Mexico
- Computational Genomics Division, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Cristóbal Fresno
- Technological Development Office, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jesús Espinal-Enríquez
- Computational Genomics Division, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Mireya Martínez-García
- Sociomedical Research Unit, National Institute of Cardiology ‘Ignacio Chávez’, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Enrique Hernández-Lemus
- Computational Genomics Division, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico City, Mexico
- Centro de Ciencias de la Complejidad, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, Mexico
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Castner EA, Leach AM, Compton JE, Galloway JN, Andrews J. Comparing Institution Nitrogen Footprints: Metrics for Assessing and Tracking Environmental Impact. SUSTAINABILITY (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2017; 10:105-113. [PMID: 29350218 PMCID: PMC5765843 DOI: 10.1089/sus.2017.29090.eac] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
When multiple institutions with strong sustainability initiatives use a new environmental impact assessment tool, there is an impulse to compare. The first seven institutions to calculate nitrogen footprints using the Nitrogen Footprint Tool have worked collaboratively to improve calculation methods, share resources, and suggest methods for reducing their footprints. This article compares those seven institutions' results to reveal the common and unique drivers of institution nitrogen footprints. The footprints were compared by scope and sector, and the results were normalized by multiple factors (e.g., population, amount of food served). The comparisons found many consistencies across the footprints, including the large contribution of food. The comparisons identified metrics that could be used to track progress, such as an overall indicator for the nitrogen sustainability of food purchases. The comparisons also pointed to differences in system bounds of the calculations, which are important to standardize when comparing across institutions. The footprints were influenced by factors both within and outside of the institutions' ability to control, such as size, location, population, and campus use. However, these comparisons also point to a pathway forward for standardizing nitrogen footprint tool calculations, identifying metrics that can be used to track progress, and determining a sustainable institution nitrogen footprint.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A Castner
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Allison M Leach
- Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, The Sustainability Institute, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
| | - Jana E Compton
- Western Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Corvallis, Oregon
| | - James N Galloway
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jennifer Andrews
- The Sustainability Institute, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
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Leach AM, Galloway JN, Castner EA, Andrews J, Leary N, Aber JD. An Integrated Tool for Calculating and Reducing Institution Carbon and Nitrogen Footprints. SUSTAINABILITY (NEW ROCHELLE, N.Y.) 2017; 10:140-148. [PMID: 29350217 PMCID: PMC5765844 DOI: 10.1089/sus.2017.29092.aml] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The development of nitrogen footprint tools has allowed a range of entities to calculate and reduce their contribution to nitrogen pollution, but these tools represent just one aspect of environmental pollution. For example, institutions have been calculating their carbon footprints to track and manage their greenhouse gas emissions for over a decade. This article introduces an integrated tool that institutions can use to calculate, track, and manage their nitrogen and carbon footprints together. It presents the methodology for the combined tool, describes several metrics for comparing institution nitrogen and carbon footprint results, and discusses management strategies that reduce both the nitrogen and carbon footprints. The data requirements for the two tools overlap substantially, although integrating the two tools does necessitate the calculation of the carbon footprint of food. Comparison results for five institutions suggest that the institution nitrogen and carbon footprints correlate strongly, especially in the utilities and food sectors. Scenario analyses indicate benefits to both footprints from a range of utilities and food footprint reduction strategies. Integrating these two footprints into a single tool will account for a broader range of environmental impacts, reduce data entry and analysis, and promote integrated management of institutional sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison M Leach
- The Sustainability Institute, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire.,Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
| | - James N Galloway
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Elizabeth A Castner
- Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Jennifer Andrews
- The Sustainability Institute, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
| | - Neil Leary
- Center for Sustainability Education, Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pennsylvania
| | - John D Aber
- Department of Natural Resources & the Environment, University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire
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