Current research identifies, analyzes, and suggests improvements for minimizing environmental impacts in the manufacture of cheese using the life cycle assessment. Data collection and development of the inventory were performed in a small-sized dairy industry in Brazil. A cradle-to-gate approach was conducted based on the primary data from cheese production and secondary data from databases. The ReCiPe method was used for the impact assessment, considering the categories climate change, ozone depletion, terrestrial acidification, freshwater eutrophication, photochemical oxidant formation, particulate matter formation, water depletion, and fossil depletion. A sensitivity analysis was performed including evaluations of different fuels for generating thermal energy, strategies for cleaning of dairy plant and utensils, variations in the way of cheese production based on the fat content, and production percentage changes. The results showed that the skimmed milk and thermal energy productions, electricity usage, and water consumptions were the main elementary flows. The pallet residues showed the best to be used as fuel for thermal energy. Detergent combinations did not influence the impact categories. There was a direct relationship between fat content range (20 to 30%) and the contribution in six impact categories. Changes from 20% in cheese allocation factor influenced the impact assessment results. LCA allowed identifying the main elementary flow of cheese production, providing valuable information with the potential to verify opportunities for on-site improvements.

Recebido em 18/5/12; aceito em 17/9/12; publicado na web em 6/2/13 BIODIESEL FROM MICROALGAE: PROGRESS AND CHALLENGES. Microalgae biomass has been described by several authors as the raw material with the greatest potential to meet the goals of replacing petroleum diesel by biodiesel while not competing with arable land suitable for food production. Research groups in different countries are seeking the most appropriate production model for productivity, economic viability and environmental sustainability. This review focused on recent advances and challenges of technology for the production of biodiesel from microalgae, including the procedures used to obtain biomass.Keywords: bioenergy; biomass; microalgae. INTRODUÇÃOAs projeções do U. S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), publicadas no relatório International Energy Outlook 2010, mostram que o consumo mundial total de energia comercializada aumentará em 49% entre 2007 e 2035.1 O estudo mostra que, dentre as fontes de energia, as renováveis terão o mais acelerado crescimento do consumo no período, atingindo 2,6% ao ano. Tendência de alta nos preços do petróleo, preocupação com os impactos ambientais oriundos da utilização de combustíveis fósseis, bem como fortes incentivos governamentais para o aumento da utilização de energias renováveis em muitos países justificam as perspectivas para a expansão das fontes renováveis em todo o mundo. 1Eventos recentes têm intensificado o debate acerca da matriz energética mundial. Desde o final de 2010, é crescente a instabilidade política em países da região conhecida como mundo árabe, importante fornecedora de petróleo do mundo. Tensões decorrentes dos movimentos contra governos autoritários naquela região têm conduzido à instabilidade no fornecimento de petróleo por esses países. 2Os riscos associados a um acidente nuclear de grandes proporções, decorrente das catástrofes naturais ocorridas no Japão em março de 2011, reduziram as expectativas quanto à possibilidade de intensificação do uso da energia nuclear como uma estratégia na mitigação das emissões de gases intensificadores do efeito estufa antrópico da matriz energética mundial.Os combustíveis derivados da biomassa assumem papel importante neste cenário. Dentre os combustíveis renováveis mais promissores destaca-se o biodiesel, uma mistura de ésteres metílicos ou etílicos de ácidos graxos, produzido pela reação de um óleo ou gordura com um álcool, na presença de um catalisador. O biodiesel pode ser usado puro ou em misturas com o diesel em motores ciclo diesel, sendo, em alguns aspectos, comparativamente menos poluente que o diesel.3

Abstract:In a life cycle assessment (LCA), the impacts on resources are evaluated at the area of protection (AoP) with the same name, through life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods. There are different LCIA methods available in literature that assesses abiotic resources, and the goal of this study was to propose recommendations for that impact category. We evaluated 19 different LCIA methods, through two criteria (scientific robustness and scope), divided into three assessment levels, i.e., resource accounting methods (RAM), midpoint, and endpoint. In order to support the assessment, we applied some LCIA methods to a case study of ethylene production. For RAM, the most suitable LCIA method was CEENE (Cumulative Exergy Extraction from the Natural Environment) (but SED (Solar Energy Demand) and ICEC (Industrial Cumulative Exergy Consumption)/ECEC (Ecological Cumulative Exergy Consumption) may also be recommended), while the midpoint level was ADP (Abiotic Depletion Potential), and the endpoint level was both the Recipe Endpoint and EPS2000 (Environmental Priority Strategies). We could notice that the assessment for the AoP Resources is not yet well established in the LCA community, since new LCIA methods (with different approaches) and assessment frameworks are showing up, and this trend may continue in the future.

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Palavras-chave: Gestão ambiental; Produção Mais Limpa; Sustentabilidade ambiental.Abstract: Dairy products are of great importance to the South of Bahia, as they contribute to its development and economic diversification. However, it is necessary to pay attention to the possible environmental impacts caused by the corresponding activities. Thus, the adoption of Cleaner Production (CP) techniques can contribute to improving production processes, as well as providing economic benefits, environmental protection and better working environment. This study aims to identify the techniques adopted and opportunities for CP in a dairy industry in southern Bahia. For this, we carried out a literature review, technical visits and a questionnaire in order to obtain characterization information of the company, CP and environmental management, environmental aspects and impacts related to the production processes. The study revealed that dairy industries are potential polluters, mainly due to their lack of structured environmental programs. Nevertheless, the dairy industry in question was already adopting certain environmental practices and showed interest in learning about others that could contribute to minimizing their impacts and propitiate economic gains. Thus, we successfully identified and presented opportunities for CP.