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Displaying One Session

Session Type
Pecha Kuchas
Date
02/23/2022
Session Time
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Room

Hall B

INVASIVE PLANTS IN SUPPORT OF URBAN FARMING: ORGANIC FERTILISER FROM JAPANESE KNOTWEED

Session Type
Pecha Kuchas
Date
02/23/2022
Session Time
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Room

Hall B

Lecture Time
02:00 PM - 02:05 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica (Houtt.) Ronse Decr) is an invasive species that causes significant structural and functional changes in urban ecosystems and substantial economic damage in the US, UK and Europe. Is there any benefit of Japanese knotweed in cities and could it somehow be used in urban farming? In this research, the aboveground parts of Japanese knotweed were considered as an alternative local resource for the production of organic fertilizer (OF). To obtain an average yield of 5 kg/m2 for the selected crops and cover 100 % crop N requirement an application of 2 kg/m2 OF would be required; the application covers two thirds of P crop requirements and almost ninety percent of K crop requirements. The results indicate OF from Japanese knotweed has a potential to fuel urban food production. Such use could serve as a complementary method to existing approaches for managing Japanese knotweed in cities. The OF production is DIY friendly (replicable by small urban farmers) and has the potential to be replicated on a larger scale, e.g. by waste management companies. Further research should focus on different soil types, a wider variety of plants, and consider possible reluctance of farmers to use OF made from invasive plant.

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LIFE-COMP0LIVE: NEW GENERATION OF BIOCOMPOSITES BASED ON OLIVE FIBERS FOR INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS. FIRST RESULTS

Session Type
Pecha Kuchas
Date
02/23/2022
Session Time
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Room

Hall B

Lecture Time
02:05 PM - 02:10 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

The European project LIFE COMP0LIVE (LIFE18 ENV/ES/000309) aims for the valorisation of the pruning waste into new biocomposites (polymer matrix plus olive fibre) for both automotive and furniture (urban and house) sectors. It follows a Circular Economy strategy, highlighting a double benefit in terms of environmental effects, avoiding (i) the burning of the residues and (ii) the use of fossil fuel raw materials to produce the composites for industrial uses. Olive farmers are expected to be aware of the valorisation of olive waste. Moreover, policy makers and public administrations are expected to stimulate the valorisation of this olive waste through regulation.

The consortium is coordinated by Andaltec Plastic Technological Centre (Spain), and is formed by Caliplast and Plasturgia (France), Ford-Werke GmbH (Germany), and the Spanish partners: University of Jaén (UJA), Citoliva, and Matricería Peña. This project is funded by the EASME (European Commission), in the frame of the LIFE programme, and takes place in the period 2019-2023.

Project stages can be summarised as follows: Firstly, the type of olive fibre was optimised: size and composition. Secondly, polymer matrices were selected to be recycled and according to the industrial applications. Thirdly, different fibre chemical treatments, for an optimised coupling between fibre and polymer matrix, were performed. They were optimised in terms of temperature, reagents concentration and reaction time. Fourthly, biocomposites were fabricated from different batches. Sixthly, their mechanical characterisation allowed to obtain the optimum treatment (response surface) based on the mechanical requirements. Seventhly, the scaling-up of the chemical treatment of the olive fibre is in progress. In a final stage, a prototype for each industrial application will be developed and validated.

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THE EFFECT OF ECO-FRIENDLY PRE-TREATMENTS ON STRENTHENING OF WHEAT STRAW POLY (LACTIC ACID) BIO-COMPOSITE

Session Type
Pecha Kuchas
Date
02/23/2022
Session Time
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Room

Hall B

Lecture Time
02:10 PM - 02:15 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

Several superior features of wheat straw biomass, including its renewability, local availability, lightweight, low density, and economic, have made it a suitable, reinforcing-agent material for incorporation into bio-based polymer composites. The growth of straw in a cereal crop or reed bed, converts airborne CO2 into carbon by photosynthesis. Consequently, its incorporation into the fabric of a long-lived building after suitable processing would guarantee the effective capture and long-term storage of atmospheric CO2. It can also ensure the formation of a "closed-loop" cycle of material growth, use, and ultimate safe return to nature. However, emerging applications of wheat straw reinforced bio-composites in the field of construction demand the utilisation of eco-friendly pre-treatment methods to make it high-performance, economically, and environmentally suitable. Our previous research has proven that the micro-architecture of straw stem is critical in bio-refinery process and the products yielded from it. We proved that nodes behave as a defect in straw based composites. Due to the node's morphology and surface chemical functional groups, it is much less structurally competent, and distributions of node and soluble starch from nodes have been found to deteriorate the straw stem's performance when these are reconfigured into a bio-composite material. Therefore, herein, an eco-friendly pre-treatment was applied to mitigate the surface quality deficiencies of wheat straw internode section to be incorporated as an effective reinforcing agent in Polylactic Acid (PLA) matrix. Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis indicated that the pre-treatment effectively altered the microstructure of wheat straw to promote entanglement between wheat straw and a polymeric binder. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) showed that hot water followed by steam pre-treated (H+S) effectively reduced silica and wax levels on the wheat outer layer and increased its lignin intensity on the surface. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that the crystallinity index of wheat straw was increased as the result of pre-treatment method. Finally, mechanical testing showed that the tensile strength, elastic modulus, and toughness of bio-composites loaded with H+S pre-treated wheat straw increased by 166%, 68 %, and 285%, respectively.

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ADAPTING THE NEXUS APPROACH FOR BUILT ENVIRONMENT CIRCULAR ECONOMY ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS

Session Type
Pecha Kuchas
Date
02/23/2022
Session Time
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Room

Hall B

Lecture Time
02:15 PM - 02:20 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

The aim of circular economy is to avoid the use of virgin materials in particular by recycling, reusing and extending the service life of products. Managing existing anthropogenic material stocks is of central importance in order to achieve this. A major part of the anthropogenic material flows are induced from and stocked in the built environment. This results in multiple and complex local and global sustainability challenges. Circular economy concepts have to cope with this complexity and are to be conceived in such a way that negative trade-offs will be avoided. In this respect, the Nexus approach provides a strong concept for structuring and addressing complex relationships between different environmental dimensions.

In this contribution, we exemplify the benefits of Nexus thinking to systematically consider complex interrelationships between different environmental impact dimensions of circular economy applications in the built environment. This helps to identify and mitigate negative trade-offs and developments, and to exploit positive synergies.

We start to adapt the Nexus approach to an application in built environment circular economy analysis by translating the typical Nexus components to soil, energy/climate, water, and waste, and pointing out general relationships between them. In a second step these model relations are underpinned with empirical findings reported in literature and in particular from our own research. Two case studies are presented: One case study with a more general perspective on options of circular handling/recycling of excavated soil and rocks and a second more differentiated case study on concrete recycling, which goes into the details of particular process chains. In addition to this technical/physical perspective we also discuss social considerations as a crosscutting extension of the Nexus approach

The findings confirm that the Nexus concept is excellently suited to systematically consider complex linkages of circular economy environmental impacts. A comprehensive Nexus thinking approach can help to advance a responsible implementation of technical circular built environment solutions and should be pursued much more consistently. So far, however, such approaches are rather the exception – in particular with respect to the consideration of the social dimension.

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POST-DEMOLITION AUTOCLAVED AERATED CONCRETE: RECYCLING OPTIONS AND VOLUME PREDICTION IN EUROPE

Session Type
Pecha Kuchas
Date
02/23/2022
Session Time
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Room

Hall B

Lecture Time
02:20 PM - 02:25 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

Autoclaved aerated concrete (AAC) is a building material with increasing popularity due to its exceptional thermal properties. Currently, post-demolition AAC is mainly disposed of in landfills because of lacking established recycling processes. However, landfilling misses the opportunity for sustainable use of primary resources and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Besides, the growing demand for sustainable products, decreasing landfill capacities and new legal frameworks require recycling options for post-demolition AAC.

Therefore, in the first step, AAC recycling options in literature and current research approaches are reviewed and compared. Crushed post-demolition AAC could be used in open-loop recycling options like lightweight aggregate concrete, lightweight mortar, no-fines concrete, floor screed, animal bedding, and fertiliser. Closed-loop recycling could be achieved by substituting primary resources like sand and cement in the AAC production by finely ground AAC powder. Most recent research works on the chemical conversion of AAC powder to belite (C2S) to substitute primary materials in the production of AAC or other mineral building materials. Especially primary cement causes high greenhouse gas emissions, which could be substituted by closed-loop recycled AAC.

Besides investigating new recycling options for AAC, the prediction of the generation of post-demolition AAC volume as the second step is crucial for decision support for the establishment of recycling options and circular management of AAC along its life cycle and supply chain. However, only negligible information about recyclable volumes and their regional distribution is available as official statistics and comprehensive studies are lacking. Therefore, a post-demolition AAC prediction model is presented that quantifies post-demolition AAC based on AAC production, construction activity, AAC popularity, and buildings’ lifetimes. The approach is tested in a German case study. Results show a significant increase over the last years (from 160,000 m³ in 2000 to 1,200,000 m³ in 2020) which will continue in the future (4,200,000 m³ in 2050). Furthermore, the prediction will be extended to other European countries and Russia.

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Germany within the research project REPOST [grant number: 033R249B].

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THE EFFECT OF DIRECT INTRODUCTION OF EARTHWORMS TO A GROWING MEDIUM IN DIGEPONICS; AN URBAN VEGETABLE CULTIVATION SYSTEM CONNECTED TO BIOGAS PLANTS

Session Type
Pecha Kuchas
Date
02/23/2022
Session Time
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Room

Hall B

Lecture Time
02:25 PM - 02:30 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

Greenhouses and vertical indoor farms can potentially contribute to sustainable and efficient year-round urban food production. Biogas plants are becoming mandatory for the treatment of food waste. Since biogas plants produce CO2 and a nutrient slurry, digestate, they can potentially supply urban farms with necessary elements, making crops circular. However, the digestate is not easily applicable to intensive soil-less cultivation systems, being both toxic to plants and having nutrients in an unavailable form, thus representing an obstacle for integrating closed urban farming with the organic waste stream. Digeponics is a growing system developed to overcome this challenge. Here, earthworms are added into the compost growing medium. They thrive there, while eating digestate added during cultivation. The worms seem to play a central role in converting nutrients, improving the overall situation of the growing medium. However, the effect of adding earthworms in soil-less organic cultivation systems has not yet been investigated quantitatively.

The effect of the earthworm Eisenia fetida on nutrient status and plant growth of tomato was tested in a semi-closed bubble insulated greenhouse using digeponics. The growing media comprised three treatments including compost-mix introduced with 200 earthworms per 40 L container upon planting, compost-mix without earthworms added, and a peat based commercial growing medium with no composting earthworms. The compost-mix used for the first two treatments already contained some earthworms naturally present in the compost materials, thus treatment one and two represented two levels of earthworm density. Three growing cycles were included in the study (one is in progress spring 2021). In addition, a pot experiment including a compost mix completely free of earthworms and cocoons (hatchlings) is also under way spring 2021 (with additional vegetable species).

The results so far showed that the tomato yield obtained from the treatment with compost mix with worms added was significantly higher.

Direct introduction of earthworms into the growing medium stimulates plants when using digestate as a fertiliser in soil-less systems. Detailed advice based on our results will be given.

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CAN A CITY-COUNCIL PUSH ITS OWN FOOD SYSTEM STRATEGY? – LESSONS LEARNT OVER A DECADE IN VITORIA-GASTEIZ

Session Type
Pecha Kuchas
Date
02/23/2022
Session Time
02:00 PM - 03:00 PM
Room

Hall B

Lecture Time
02:30 PM - 02:35 PM

Abstract

Abstract Body

The City-Region Food-System of Vitoria-Gasteiz imports virtually all food it consumes, the vast majority of which is produced conventionally. It is estimated that current European food chains are responsible for 25% of the energy consumed within the EU, as well as for 17% of domestic GHG emissions (EU average). Furthermore, estimates revealed consumption rates of phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) as high as 5.32 kg P/cap.year and 35.52 kg N /cap.year in Vitoria-Gasteiz, most of which being used as fertilizer. Compared to planetary limits, these exceed by +591% (P) and +399.1% (N).

In spite of 43% of the 276 km2 of the municipality area being farmland, new farmers find it extremely difficult to start up a business. Only 0.6% of farmland is produced organically, and the vast majority of produce is exported for transformation. This is due to an array of legislative, social and economic barriers. This situation hinders any paradigm change, perpetuates current natural resource consumption rates in terms of artificial fertilizers and prevents the diversification of local production.

Vitoria-Gasteiz City-Council set up a long-term participatory food system strategy. Lack of generational handover, complicated permitting procedures, inhibiting urban planning regulations and lack of access to land were identified as some of the main barriers in the sector.

An important goal is to foster and diversify production by creating attractive conditions for new potential farmers. The city-council created in 2012 a farm-business incubator. However, it did not yield the expected results. The City-Council is currently preparing a new strategy addressing several aspects: improvement of the physical infrastructure onsite, adapting the regulation that sets the terms and conditions of use, readjusting the target public, as well as redesigning the advertisement campaign.

The city of Vitoria-Gasteiz compiled a vast experience during almost 10 years of working on an agro-food strategy. Under the auspices of the Farm to Fork strategy, it would be an honour to share our lessons learnt with other cities working along this path.

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