A common sustainability issue, arising in production systems, is the efficient use of resources for providing goods or services. With the increased interest in a hydrogen (H₂) economy, the life-cycle environmental performance of H₂ production has special significance for assisting in identifying opportunities to improve environmental performance and to guide challenging decisions and select between technology paths. Life cycle impact assessment methods are rapidly evolving to analyze multiple environmental impacts of the production of products or processes. This study marks the first step in developing process-based streamlined life cycle analysis (LCA) of several H₂ production pathways combining life cycle impacts at the midpoint (17 problem-oriented) and endpoint (3 damage-oriented) levels using the state-of-the-art impact assessment method ReCiPe 2016. Steam reforming of natural gas, coal gasification, water electrolysis via proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEM), solid oxide electrolyzer cell (SOEC), biomass gasification and reforming, and dark fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass were analyzed. An innovative aspect is developed in this study is an analysis of water consumption associated with H₂ production pathways by life-cycle stage to provide a better understanding of the life cycle water-related impacts on human health and natural environment. For water-related scope, Water scarcity footprint (WSF) quantified using Available WAter REmaining (AWARE) method was applied as a stand-alone indicator. The paper discusses the strengths and weaknesses of each production pathway, identify the drivers of environmental impact, quantify midpoint environmental impact and its influence on the endpoint environmental performance. The findings of this study could serve as a useful theoretical reference and practical basis to decision-makers of potential environmental impacts of H₂ production systems.

Cyrene™ as a bio-alternative dipolar aprotic solvent: a waste minimizing and molar efficient protocol for the synthesis of amides from acid chlorides and primary amines in the bio-available solvent Cyrene™ is disclosed. This protocol removed the use of toxic solvents, such as dimethylformamide and dichloromethane. A simple aqueous work-up procedure for the removal of the high boiling solvent Cyrene™ resulted in up to a 55-fold increase in molar efficiency (Mol E.%) versus standard operating procedures. In order to rapidly compare the molar efficiency of this process against other methodologies an Excel based Mol. E% calculator was developed that automates many of the calculations. An investigation into the hydration of Cyrene™ found that it readily hydrates to form a geminal diol in the presence of water and that this process is exothermic.

In recent years several strategies have been developed and adopted to reduce the levels of the Greenhouse Gas Emissions released to the atmosphere. The adoption of Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) technologies may contribute towards carbon sequestration as well as to the creation of high value products. This study presents a methodology to assess the potential of CO2 utilization across Europe, and to identify the European regions with the greater potential to deploy nine selected carbon dioxide utilization technologies. The results show that Germany, UK and France at the first level followed by Spain, Italy and Poland are the countries where the larger quantities of available CO2 could be found but also where the majority of the potential receiving processes are located, and therefore with the greatest potential for CO2 utilization. The study has also revealed several specific regions where reuse schemes based on CO2 could be developed both in Central Europe (Dusseldorf and Cologne – Germany, Antwerp Province and East Flanders – Belgium and Śląskie – Poland) and in Scandinavia (Etelä-Suomi and Helsinki-Uusimaa – Finland). Finally, among all the selected technologies, concrete curing and horticulture production are the technologies with the higher potential for CO2 utilization in Europe