Suchergebnisse

Production of biodiesel is one of the most important European targets within renewables for the future. To consider biodiesel a feasible alternative to fossil fuel, unconventional resources need to be exploited. This review aims to provide up-to-date knowledge on the existing reuse of lipids from urban wastewater to produce biodiesel. Lipids are readily removed by mixed microbial populations during wastewater treatments in sewage plants. Assessment results on potential annual European market supply indicate 3 – 414 104 tons (min for activated and max for grease trap sludge) of potentially extractable biodiesel from wastewater and an expected biodiesel demand of 14.8 106 tons. Considering the prospect of transforming sewage plants into biorefineries, we may cover on average 1.5, 6.2, 6.7 and 24.4% of activated, primary, scum and grease trap sludge respectively, of the European biodiesel market from wastewater-derived lipids. In addition, by implementing an optimized biotechnology selector, the overall biodiesel yield could be higher due to increased lipid incorporation into microbial biomass. This is not an insignificant amount and, if efficiently implemented, could represent an exploitable resource for biofuel production, an important and desired step towards a circular economy. The technology readiness level is still very low. There are several challenges and possible drawbacks, e.g., biogas yield loss, substrate depletion, or formation of floating sludge. Finally, no definitive legislative barriers towards wastewater-derived lipids have been identified; however, quality criteria as well as waste status have to be defined.

Climate change has been described as the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. As a result, governments around the world are committing to legislative change in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs). The healthcare sector makes a significant contribution to GHGEs and in line with national legislation in the UK, the NHS has recently committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The management of asthma and COPD largely depends on the prescribing of medications that are delivered through inhalers. In the UK, the use of pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), which rely on hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) propellants accounts for 3.5% of the NHS's total carbon footprint. In contrast, dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have a much lower carbon footprint due to the absence of a HFC propellant. Here we review evidence of the impact of inhaler choices across four domains: environmental impact, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and patient preferences. We find that as well as a lower global‐warming potential, DPIs have additional benefits over pMDIs in other domains and should be considered first line where clinically appropriate.

Climate change has been described as the biggest global health threat of the 21st century. As a result, governments around the world are committing to legislative change in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGEs). The healthcare sector makes a significant contribution to GHGEs and in line with national legislation in the UK, the NHS has recently committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The management of asthma and COPD largely depends on the prescribing of medications that are delivered through inhalers. In the UK, the use of pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), which rely on hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) propellants accounts for 3.5% of the NHS's total carbon footprint. In contrast, dry powder inhalers (DPIs) have a much lower carbon footprint due to the absence of a HFC propellant. Here we review evidence of the impact of inhaler choices across four domains: environmental impact, clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness and patient preferences. We find that as well as a lower global‐warming potential, DPIs have additional benefits over pMDIs in other domains and should be considered first line where clinically appropriate.

By adopting a Circular Economy Package in 2015, European Commission aimed at stimulating transition towards a stronger and more circular economy where waste (including sewage) is no longer recognized as waste, but as a valuable resource of raw materials. This review study assesses the existing methodologies to produce biodiesel from wastewater-derived lipids. Depending on the stage of wastewater treatment where biodiesel would be extracted, it may cover up to 20% of the current European biodiesel demand. Further studies in regards to the biodiesel quality, legislative conditions and techno-economic assessment towards respective transition are needed.

Im Dezember 2022 endete das Interreg VA-Projekt CoMinGreat, in dem unter anderem eine Mikroschadstoff-Plattform entstanden ist. Untersuchungen von verschiedenen Verfahren und Verfahrenskombinationen zur gezielten Spurenstoffelimination lieferten wichtige Ergebnisse.