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Sun X, Xie M, Mai L, Zeng EY. Biobased plastic: A plausible solution toward carbon neutrality in plastic industry? JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 435:129037. [PMID: 35650741 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Biobased plastic exhibits unique benefits for achieving carbon neutrality, a key step toward reducing atmospheric greenhouse gases, due to its stability, high carbon content, and origin of carbon by photosynthesis. Herein we evaluate the role and potential of biobased plastic as an alternative carbon reservoir which is completely artificial, since most plastic polymers are synthetic and massively produced after the 1950 s. Model simulation indicates that plastic, under usage, burial, and littering, forms a growing carbon reservoir, sinking 6.82 gigatons of carbon (GtC) in 2020. Plastic-formed carbon is estimated to stack up to 19.4-23.2 GtC in 2060 under various production scenarios. However, only 18-40% of carbon stored in plastic is biobased carbon, equivalent to approximately 31-48 gigatons of carbon dioxide. Without any low carbon energy upgrade, carbon neutrality is difficult to achieve even with 90% biobased plastic substitution and 50% recycling ratio. Because extra GHG emissions are generated as a result of increasingly using incineration as a post-treatment strategy in response to increasing waste generation, the annual net GHG emission continues to rebound after the bio-based plastic substitution and plastic recycling approach their upper limits. Additional strategies are therefore needed to achieve complete carbon neutrality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangfei Sun
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Mengyi Xie
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Lei Mai
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China
| | - Eddy Y Zeng
- Center for Environmental Microplastics Studies, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou 511443, China; Research Center of Low Carbon Economy for Guangzhou Region, Key Laboratory of Philosophy and Social Science in Guangdong Province of Community of Life for Man and Nature, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Jamil F, Aslam M, Al-Muhtaseb AH, Bokhari A, Rafiq S, Khan Z, Inayat A, Ahmed A, Hossain S, Khurram MS, Abu Bakar MS. Greener and sustainable production of bioethylene from bioethanol: current status, opportunities and perspectives. REV CHEM ENG 2020. [DOI: 10.1515/revce-2019-0026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The economic value of bioethylene produced from bioethanol dehydration is remarkable due to its extensive usage in the petrochemical industry. Bioethylene is produced through several routes, such as steam cracking of hydrocarbons from fossil fuel and dehydration of bioethanol, which can be produced through fermentation processes using renewable substrates such as glucose and starch. The rise in oil prices, environmental issues due to toxic emissions caused by the combustion of fossil fuel and depletion of fossil fuel resources have led a demand for an alternative pathway to produce green ethylene. One of the abundant alternative renewable sources for bioethanol production is biomass. Bioethanol produced from biomass is alleged to be a competitive alternative to bioethylene production as it is environmentally friendly and economical. In recent years, many studies have investigated catalysts and new reaction engineering pathways to enhance the bioethylene yield and to lower reaction temperature to drive the technology toward economic feasibility and practicality. This paper critically reviews bioethylene production from bioethanol in the presence of different catalysts, reaction conditions and reactor technologies to achieve a higher yield and selectivity of ethylene. Techno-economic and environmental assessments are performed to further development and commercialization. Finally, key issues and perspectives that require utmost attention to facilitate global penetration of technology are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farrukh Jamil
- Department of Chemical Engineering , COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) , Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road , Lahore , Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Aslam
- Department of Chemical Engineering , COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) , Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road , Lahore , Pakistan
| | - Ala’a H. Al-Muhtaseb
- Department of Petroleum and Chemical Engineering , College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University , Muscat , Oman
| | - Awais Bokhari
- Department of Chemical Engineering , COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) , Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road , Lahore , Pakistan
| | - Sikander Rafiq
- Department of Chemical, Polymer and Composite Material Engineering , University of Engineering and Technology , Lahore – New Campus , Pakistan
| | - Zakir Khan
- Department of Chemical Engineering , COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) , Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road , Lahore , Pakistan
| | - Abrar Inayat
- Department of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Engineering , University of Sharjah , 27272 Sharjah , United Arab Emirates
| | - Ashfaq Ahmed
- Department of Chemical Engineering , COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) , Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road , Lahore , Pakistan
- School of Environmental Engineering , University of Seoul , Seoul, 02504 , Republic of Korea
| | - Shakhawat Hossain
- Department of Industrial and Production Engineering , Jashore University of Science and Technology , Jashore-7408 , Bangladesh
| | - Muhammad Shahzad Khurram
- Department of Chemical Engineering , COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) , Lahore Campus, Defense Road, Off Raiwind Road , Lahore , Pakistan
| | - Muhammad S. Abu Bakar
- Faculty of Integrated Technologies , Universiti Brunei Darussalam , Jalan Tungku Link , BE1410, Gadong , Brunei Darussalam
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