Loading...
4 results
Search Results
Now showing 1 - 4 of 4
- Lithium: From mining to recoveryPublication . Santos, Carolina A.; Ribeiro, Alexandra B.Climate change and environmental degradation are threats to Humanity. Europe has been addressing these problems, namely through the Green Deal with the use of batteries. However, these require the use of critical raw materials, like lithium, which demand is estimated to grow 60 times in the next 30 years, and its prospection in European territories faces the opposition of locals. Thus, it is fundamental to find an equilibrium between the mining industry, local communities, and other stakeholders, considering sustainable and benefits for the population. On the other hand, it is also relevant to promote a circular economy with lithium recovery from secondary resources. Therefore, one of our main goals is to review two methods of lithium retrieval from secondary sources, bioleaching and electrodialysis, and assess them regarding their sustainability. These are nowadays key topics, which will be even more relevant in the future, so a new way to approach them is needed and must be encouraged.
- Spirulina in the creation of new nutritionally fortified productsPublication . Santos, C.; Caetano, N.(Introduction) Protein sources will experience great increase in demand due primarly to the growing population and the change in consumer's habbits. Animal proteins account for about 40% of global protein consumption, however, they are associated with a high environmental footprint. Microalgae are emerging as promising sustainable alternatives. Beyond their rich protein content, Spirulina has a spectrum of dietary bioactive compounds, essential fatty acids, and vitamins, positioning it as a valuable addition to mainstream foods, with the potential to increase their nutritional value and mitigate environmental impact.
- Maximizing Spirulina's value in a biorefinery approachPublication . Santos, Carolina Ascenso dos; Caetano, Nidia de SáWith the pressing global environmental challenges there is an increasing need for sustainable and circular bioresource management. This thesis explores the multifaceted potential of Spirulina in various sectors, leading to the idealisation of a biorefinery. The study begins by assessing Spirulina’s properties, culture conditions and applications that boost its potential for a sustainable biorefinery development, emphasizing its versatility in producing high-value compounds and its contributions to several industrial sectors. Experimentally, Spirulina was cultivated and high-value compounds, such as lipids, phycocyanin and antioxidants, were obtained with the use of eco-friendly extraction methods. Additionally, Spirulina was incorporated as a functional ingredient in butter. Sensorial analyses were conducted revealing positive consumer acceptance and the potential for Spirulina to enhance the nutritional profile of everyday foods. Then, Spirulina was tested as an organic soil corrective. Through comparative tests, it was shown that Spirulina improved germination, by 150%, and plant growth, underscoring its potential in promoting sustainable agricultural practices. Finally, aggregating the results and inputs from the literature, the concept of a Spirulina-based biorefinery was explored, identifying viable process routes and multiple processes integration, such as the reuse of waste streams. The results indicate that with strategic process optimization, Spirulina-based biorefineries could contribute significantly to reducing environmental negative impact while offering economically viable solutions, supporting a circular bioeconomy.
- Beyond compost: Using urban biowaste derived compost to produce new fertilizing productsPublication . Machado, Telmo; Santos, Carolina Ascenso; Raimundo, Délio; Chaves, BeneditaThe agro-food sector is a contributor to CO2 emissions and polluter due to its difficulty to deal with waste generation. Using the farm to fork concept we can observe that waste is produced in every link of the food value chain. Nevertheless, efforts are being made worldwide to reduce its environmental impact - from producing food with precision agriculture to sustainable food packaging systems – hoping to influence the way each country manages its biowaste. In this work we present the first results of an experiment, conducted under the project “BIOMA – Bioeconomy integrated solutions for the mobilization of the Agro-food market”, to produce a Urban waste compost based plant biostimulant.