@article{lan_wang_lee_assis_venditti_zhu_yao_2024, title={A modeling framework to identify environmentally greener and lower-cost pathways of nanomaterials}, volume={2}, ISSN={["1463-9270"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1039/D3GC04036D}, DOI={10.1039/D3GC04036D}, abstractNote={A framework integrating life cycle assessment, Green Chemistry, and techno-economic analysis to identify cost-effective, greener pathways for nanomaterial production, demonstrated with cellulose nanomaterials.}, journal={GREEN CHEMISTRY}, author={Lan, Kai and Wang, Hannah Szu-Han and Lee, Tessa and Assis, Camilla Abbati and Venditti, Richard A. and Zhu, Yong and Yao, Yuan}, year={2024}, month={Feb} }
 @article{yao_2024, title={A woody biomass burial}, url={https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.ads2592}, DOI={10.1126/science.ads2592}, abstractNote={Ancient, buried wood points to a possible low-cost method to store carbon}, journal={Science}, author={Yao, Yuan}, year={2024}, month={Sep} }
 @article{lee_yao_graedel_miatto_2024, title={Critical material requirements and recycling opportunities for US wind and solar power generation}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13479}, DOI={10.1111/jiec.13479}, abstractNote={AbstractThe deployment of renewable energy generation technologies, driven primarily by concerns over catastrophic climate change, is expected to increase rapidly in the United States. Rapid increases in the deployment of wind and solar energy will translate to increases in critical material requirements, causing concern that demand could outstrip supply, leading to mineral price volatility and potentially slowing the energy transition. This study presents a detailed demand‐side model for wind and solar in the United States using dynamic material flow analysis to calculate the requirements for 15 elements: Cr, Zn, Ga, Se, Mo, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Te, Pr, Nd, Tb, Dy, and Pb. Results show that transitioning to a completely decarbonized US energy system by 2050 could require a five‐to‐sevenfold increase in critical material flow‐into‐use compared with business as usual (BAU), with some materials requiring much larger increases. Rare earth elements (REEs) could require 60–300 times greater material flows into the US power sector in 2050 than in 2021, representing 13%–49% of the total global REE supply. Te requirements for reaching net zero by 2050 could exceed current supply, posing challenges for widespread deployment of cadmium‐telluride solar. We also investigate several strategies for reducing material requirements, including closed‐loop recycling, material intensity reduction, and changing market share of subtechnologies (e.g., using crystalline silicon solar panels instead of cadmium telluride). Although these strategies can significantly reduce critical material requirements by up to 40% on average, aggressive decarbonization will still require a substantial amount of critical material.}, journal={Journal of Industrial Ecology}, author={Lee, Tessa and Yao, Yuan and Graedel, Thomas E. and Miatto, Alessio}, year={2024}, month={Jun} }
 @article{piao_boakye_yao_2024, title={Environmental impacts of biodegradable microplastics}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-024-00127-0}, DOI={10.1038/s44286-024-00127-0}, abstractNote={Abstract Biodegradable plastics, perceived as ‘environmentally friendly’ materials, may end up in natural environments. This impact is often overlooked in the literature due to a lack of assessment methods. This study develops an integrated life cycle impact assessment methodology to assess the climate-change and aquatic-ecotoxicity impacts of biodegradable microplastics in freshwater ecosystems. Our results reveal that highly biodegradable microplastics have lower aquatic ecotoxicity but higher greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The extent of burden shifting depends on microplastic size and density. Plastic biodegradation in natural environments can result in higher GHG emissions than biodegradation in engineered end of life (for example, anaerobic digestion), contributing substantially to the life cycle GHG emissions of biodegradable plastics (excluding the use phase). A sensitivity analysis identified critical biodegradation rates for different plastic sizes that result in maximum GHG emissions. This work advances understanding of the environmental impacts of biodegradable plastics, providing an approach for the assessment and design of future plastics.}, journal={Nature Chemical Engineering}, author={Piao, Zhengyin and Boakye, Amma Asantewaa Agyei and Yao, Yuan}, year={2024}, month={Sep} }
 @article{wright_tan_tu_martins_parvatker_yao_sunol_smith_2024, title={Life Cycle Inventory Availability: Status and Prospects for Leveraging New Technologies}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c02519}, DOI={10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c02519}, abstractNote={The demand for life cycle assessments (LCA) is growing rapidly, which leads to an increasing demand of life cycle inventory (LCI) data. While the LCA community has made significant progress in developing LCI databases for diverse applications, challenges still need to be addressed. This perspective summarizes the current data gaps, transparency, and uncertainty aspects of existing LCI databases. Additionally, we survey and discuss novel techniques for LCI data generation, dissemination, and validation. We propose key future directions for LCI development efforts to address these challenges, including leveraging scientific and technical advances such as the Internet of Things (IoT), machine learning, and blockchain/cloud platforms. Adopting these advanced technologies can significantly improve the quality and accessibility of LCI data, thereby facilitating more accurate and reliable LCA studies.}, journal={ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering}, author={Wright, Mark Mba and Tan, Eric C. D. and Tu, Qingshi and Martins, Antonio and Parvatker, Abhijeet G. and Yao, Yuan and Sunol, Aydin and Smith, Raymond L.}, year={2024}, month={Aug} }
 @article{yao_schaubroeck_feng_arodudu_gloria_2024, title={Life cycle sustainability assessment for sustainable development goals}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13490}, DOI={10.1111/jiec.13490}, abstractNote={Journal of Industrial EcologyEarly View EDITORIAL Life cycle sustainability assessment for sustainable development goals Yuan Yao, Corresponding Author Yuan Yao [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-9359-2030 Center for Industrial Ecology, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Correspondence Yuan Yao, Center for Industrial Ecology, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorThomas Schaubroeck, Thomas Schaubroeck RDI Unit on Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity, Environmental Research & Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgSearch for more papers by this authorHaibo Feng, Haibo Feng Department of Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorOludunsin Arodudu, Oludunsin Arodudu orcid.org/0000-0002-9159-1517 Department of Sustainable Resources Management, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USASearch for more papers by this authorThomas P. Gloria, Thomas P. Gloria orcid.org/0000-0002-5181-3736 Industrial Ecology Consultants, Newton, Massachusetts, USASearch for more papers by this author Yuan Yao, Corresponding Author Yuan Yao [email protected] orcid.org/0000-0001-9359-2030 Center for Industrial Ecology, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA Correspondence Yuan Yao, Center for Industrial Ecology, Yale School of the Environment, Yale University, 195 Prospect St, New Haven, CT 06511, USA. Email: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorThomas Schaubroeck, Thomas Schaubroeck RDI Unit on Environmental Sustainability Assessment and Circularity, Environmental Research & Innovation (ERIN) Department, Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Esch-sur-Alzette, LuxembourgSearch for more papers by this authorHaibo Feng, Haibo Feng Department of Wood Science, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaSearch for more papers by this authorOludunsin Arodudu, Oludunsin Arodudu orcid.org/0000-0002-9159-1517 Department of Sustainable Resources Management, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, USASearch for more papers by this authorThomas P. Gloria, Thomas P. Gloria orcid.org/0000-0002-5181-3736 Industrial Ecology Consultants, Newton, Massachusetts, USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 25 March 2024 https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13490Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT The authors declare no conflict of interest. REFERENCES Agusdinata, D. B., Liu, W., Sulistyo, S., LeBillon, P., & Wegner, J. A. (2023). 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Circular utilization of urban tree waste contributes to the mitigation of climate change and eutrophication. One Earth, 5(8), 944–957. 10.1016/j.oneear.2022.07.001 Google Scholar Messmann, L., Wietschel, L., Thorenz, A., & Tuma, A. (2023). Assessing the social dimension in strategic network optimization for a sustainable development: The case of bioethanol production in the EU. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 27(3), 760–776. 10.1111/jiec.13324 Web of Science®Google Scholar Möller, M., & Grießhammer, R. (2024). Streamlined benefit analysis of products based on the Sustainable Development Goals – integrating the voice of society into Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment. Journal of Industrial Ecology, In press. Google Scholar Nature. (2023). Nature Collection: Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals. https://www.nature.com/collections/bhfffjiadc Google Scholar Pereira, P., Zhao, W., Symochko, L., Inacio, M., Bogunovic, I., & Barcelo, D. (2022). The Russian-Ukrainian armed conflict will push back the sustainable development goals. Geography and Sustainability, 3(3), 277–287. Google Scholar Saâdaoui, F., Jabeur, S. B., & Goodell, J. W. (2022). Causality of geopolitical risk on food prices: Considering the Russo–Ukrainian conflict. Finance Research Letters, 49, 103103. 10.1016/j.frl.2022.103103 Web of Science®Google Scholar Sanyé-Mengual, E., & Sala, S. (2022). Life cycle assessment support to environmental ambitions of EU policies and the Sustainable Development Goals. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 18(5), 1221–1232. 10.1002/ieam.4586 PubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar Schaubroeck, T. (2020). Aggregate SDGs to cover trade-offs and prioritization. Nature, 584(7821), 344. 10.1038/d41586-020-02374-6 CASPubMedWeb of Science®Google Scholar Schaubroeck, T., & Rugani, B. (2017). A revision of what life cycle sustainability assessment should entail: Towards modeling the net impact on human well-being. 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S., Berrill, P., Cao, Z., Chertow, M., Chopra, S. S., Fishman, T., Fitzpatrick, C., Heidrich, O., Leipold, S., Ritter, F., Sprecher, B., Yao, Y., & Myers, R. J. (2023). 10 insights from industrial ecology for the circular economy. International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE). Google Scholar Voss, R., Lee, R. P., & Fröhling, M. (2023). A consequential approach to life cycle sustainability assessment with an agent-based model to determine the potential contribution of chemical recycling to UN Sustainable Development Goals. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 27(3), 726–745. 10.1111/jiec.13303 CASWeb of Science®Google Scholar Weidema, B., Goedkoop, M., Meijer, E., & Harmens, R. (2020). LCA-based assessment of the Sustainable Development Goals. https://lca-net.com/files/Report-SDGs-Aug-2020.pdf Google Scholar Wulf, C., Werker, J., Zapp, P., Schreiber, A., Schlör, H., & Kuckshinrichs, W. (2018). Sustainable Development Goals as a guideline for indicator selection in life cycle sustainability assessment. Procedia CIRP, 69, 59–65. 10.1016/j.procir.2017.11.144 Google Scholar Yuan, H., Wang, X., Gao, L., Wang, T., Liu, B., Fang, D., & Gao, Y. (2023). Progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals has been slowed by indirect effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Communications Earth & Environment, 4(1), 184. 10.1038/s43247-023-00846-x Google Scholar Zeug, W., Yupanqui, K. R. G., Bezama, A., & Thrän, D. (2023). Holistic and integrated life cycle sustainability assessment of prospective biomass to liquid production in Germany. Journal of Cleaner Production, 418, 138046. 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.138046 CASWeb of Science®Google Scholar Early ViewOnline Version of Record before inclusion in an issue Translations 《产业生态学报》中文摘要 (JIE Chinese Abstracts) Resúmenes en Español de la Revista de Ecología Industrial (JIE Spanish Abstracts) ReferencesRelatedInformation}, journal={Journal of Industrial Ecology}, author={Yao, Yuan and Schaubroeck, Thomas and Feng, Haibo and Arodudu, Oludunsin and Gloria, Thomas P.}, year={2024}, month={Mar} }
 @article{lan_cruz_li_boakye_park_tiller_mittal_johnson_park_yao_2024, title={Life-Cycle Assessment of Sustainable Aviation Fuel Derived from Paper Sludge}, volume={12}, ISSN={["2168-0485"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c00795}, DOI={10.1021/acssuschemeng.4c00795}, abstractNote={Converting waste paper sludge to sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) offers a circular economy strategy to decarbonize the aviation sector. This study develops a life-cycle assessment (LCA) for converting high-ash paper sludge to SAF in the U.S. using a catalytic sugar upgrading system that consists of ash removal, enzymatic hydrolysis, dehydration, aldol condensation, and hydroprocessing. The LCA is coupled with a process simulation for an industrial-scale biorefinery based on experimental data. We quantified the carbon intensity as 35.7–41.8 gCO2eq MJ–1 SAF (−636 to −584 gCO2eq per dry kg paper sludge) with acetone as a solvent, renewable fuel, and biobased chemicals; this is further reduced to 5.1–11.1 gCO2eq MJ–1 (−925 to −873 gCO2eq per dry kg paper sludge) if ash is recycled and used for substituting cement. Converting 1 dry kg paper sludge to SAF with acetone, renewable fuel, and biobased chemicals (−925 to −584 gCO2eq) is more climate beneficial than landfilling without landfill gas recovery (791 gCO2eq) and with landfill gas recovery (−294 gCO2eq). More than 330 million gallons of SAF can be produced annually (>4 million dry t paper sludge/year in the U.S.), resulting in a reduction of 2–7 million tCO2eq.}, number={22}, journal={ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING}, author={Lan, Kai and Cruz, David and Li, Jinyue and Boakye, Amma Asantewaa Agyei and Park, Hyeonji and Tiller, Phoenix and Mittal, Ashutosh and Johnson, David K. and Park, Sunkyu and Yao, Yuan}, year={2024}, month={Apr}, pages={8379–8390} }
 @article{yao_2024, title={Mitigating uncertainties enables more accurate greenhouse gas accounting for petrochemicals}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-024-00048-y}, DOI={10.1038/s44286-024-00048-y}, journal={Nature Chemical Engineering}, author={Yao, Yuan}, year={2024}, month={Apr} }
 @article{lan_zhang_lee_yao_2024, title={Soil organic carbon change can reduce the climate benefits of biofuel produced from forest residues}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2023.12.018}, DOI={10.1016/j.joule.2023.12.018}, abstractNote={<h2>Summary</h2> Because biomass residues do not cause land-use change, soil carbon changes are commonly not considered in life cycle assessments (LCAs) of biofuel derived from forest residues adopted by regulatory agencies. Here, we investigate the impacts of soil organic carbon (SOC) changes caused by removing forest residues in the Southern US on the carbon intensity of biofuels. We show that the average greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by SOC changes over 100 years are 8.8–14.9 gCO<sub>2</sub>e MJ<sup>−1</sup>, accounting for 20.3%–65.9% of life cycle GHG emissions of biofuel. These SOC-associated GHG emissions vary by time frame, site conditions, and forest management strategies. For land management, converting forest residues to biofuel is more climate beneficial than on-land decay or pile burning, depending on fossil fuel substitution and site conditions. Our results highlight the need to include soil carbon assessment in biofuel LCAs, policymaking, and forest management, even when forest residues are used and no land-use change is involved.}, journal={Joule}, author={Lan, Kai and Zhang, Bingquan and Lee, Tessa and Yao, Yuan}, year={2024}, month={Feb} }
 @article{zhang_lan_harris_ashton_yao_2023, title={Climate-smart forestry through innovative wood products and commercial afforestation and reforestation on marginal land}, url={https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2221840120}, DOI={10.1073/pnas.2221840120}, abstractNote={
            Afforestation and reforestation (AR) on marginal land are nature-based solutions to climate change. There is a gap in understanding the climate mitigation potential of protection and commercial AR with different combinations of forest plantation management and wood utilization pathways. Here, we fill the gap using a dynamic, multiscale life cycle assessment to estimate one-century greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation delivered by (both traditional and innovative) commercial and protection AR with different planting density and thinning regimes on marginal land in the southeastern United States. We found that innovative commercial AR generally mitigates more GHGs across 100 y (3.73 to 4.15 Giga tonnes of CO
            2
            equivalent (Gt CO
            2
            e)) through cross-laminated timber (CLT) and biochar than protection AR (3.35 to 3.69 Gt CO
            2
            e) and commercial AR with traditional lumber production (3.17 to 3.51 Gt CO
            2
            e), especially in moderately cooler and dryer regions in this study with higher forest carbon yield, soil clay content, and CLT substitution. In a shorter timeframe (≤50 y), protection AR is likely to deliver higher GHG mitigation. On average, for the same wood product, low-density plantations without thinning and high-density plantations with thinning mitigate more life cycle GHGs and result in higher carbon stock than that of low-density with thinning plantations. Commercial AR increases the carbon stock of standing plantations, wood products, and biochar, but the increases have uneven spatial distributions. Georgia (0.38 Gt C), Alabama (0.28 Gt C), and North Carolina (0.13 Gt C) have the largest carbon stock increases that can be prioritized for innovative commercial AR projects on marginal land.
          }, journal={Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences}, author={Zhang, Bingquan and Lan, Kai and Harris, Thomas B. and Ashton, Mark S. and Yao, Yuan}, year={2023}, month={Jun} }
 @article{zhang_kroeger_planavsky_yao_2023, title={Correction to “Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment of Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Case Study from the Midwestern United States”}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c09200}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.3c09200}, abstractNote={ADVERTISEMENT RETURN TO ISSUEPREVAddition/CorrectionNEXTORIGINAL ARTICLEThis notice is a correctionCorrection to "Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment of Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Case Study from the Midwestern United States"Bingquan ZhangBingquan ZhangMore by Bingquan Zhang, Jennifer KroegerJennifer KroegerMore by Jennifer Kroeger, Noah PlanavskyNoah PlanavskyMore by Noah Planavsky, and Yuan Yao*Yuan Yao*[email protected]More by Yuan Yaohttps://orcid.org/0000-0001-9359-2030Cite this: Environ. Sci. Technol. 2023, 57, 50, 21483–21484Publication Date (Web):December 4, 2023Publication History Received4 November 2023Published online4 December 2023Published inissue 19 December 2023https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.est.3c09200https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c09200correctionACS PublicationsCopyright © 2023 American Chemical Society. This publication is available under these Terms of Use. Request reuse permissions This publication is free to access through this site. Learn MoreArticle Views454Altmetric-Citations-LEARN ABOUT THESE METRICSArticle Views are the COUNTER-compliant sum of full text article downloads since November 2008 (both PDF and HTML) across all institutions and individuals. These metrics are regularly updated to reflect usage leading up to the last few days.Citations are the number of other articles citing this article, calculated by Crossref and updated daily. Find more information about Crossref citation counts.The Altmetric Attention Score is a quantitative measure of the attention that a research article has received online. Clicking on the donut icon will load a page at altmetric.com with additional details about the score and the social media presence for the given article. Find more information on the Altmetric Attention Score and how the score is calculated. Share Add toView InAdd Full Text with ReferenceAdd Description ExportRISCitationCitation and abstractCitation and referencesMore Options Share onFacebookTwitterWechatLinked InRedditEmail PDF (1 MB) Get e-Alertsclose Get e-Alerts}, journal={Environmental Science & Technology}, author={Zhang, Bingquan and Kroeger, Jennifer and Planavsky, Noah and Yao, Yuan}, year={2023}, month={Dec} }
 @article{zhang_huang_yao_peters_macdonald_rosa_wang_scherer_2023, title={Environmental impacts of cotton and opportunities for improvement}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-023-00476-z}, DOI={10.1038/s43017-023-00476-z}, journal={Nature Reviews Earth & Environment}, author={Zhang, Zhenggui and Huang, Jing and Yao, Yuan and Peters, Gregory and Macdonald, Ben and Rosa, Angela Daniela La and Wang, Zhanbiao and Scherer, Laura}, year={2023}, month={Sep} }
 @article{wang_yao_2023, title={Machine learning for sustainable development and applications of biomass and biomass-derived carbonaceous materials in water and agricultural systems: A review}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106847}, DOI={10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106847}, abstractNote={Biomass-derived materials (BDM) have broad applications in water and agricultural systems. As an emerging tool, Machine learning (ML) has been applied to BDM systems to address material, process, and supply chain design challenges. This paper reviewed 53 papers published since 2008 to understand the capabilities, current limitations, and future potentials of ML in supporting sustainable development and applications of BDM. Previous ML applications were classified into three categories based on their objectives – material and process design, end-use performance prediction, and sustainability assessment. These ML applications focus on identifying critical factors for optimizing BDM systems, predicting material features and performances, reverse engineering, and addressing data challenges for sustainability assessments. BDM datasets show large variations, and ∼75% of them possess < 600 data points. Ensemble models and state-of-the-art neural networks (NNs) perform and generalize well on such datasets. Limitations for scaling up ML for BDM systems lie in the low interpretability of the ensemble and NN models and the lack of studies in sustainability assessment that consider geo-temporal dynamics. A workflow is recommended for future ML studies for BDM systems. More research is needed to explore ML applications for sustainable development, assessment, and optimization of BDM systems.}, journal={Resources, Conservation and Recycling}, author={Wang, Hannah Szu-Han and Yao, Yuan}, year={2023}, month={Mar} }
 @article{zhang_kroeger_planavsky_yao_2023, title={Techno-Economic and Life Cycle Assessment of Enhanced Rock Weathering: A Case Study from the Midwestern United States}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.3c01658}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.3c01658}, abstractNote={Enhanced rock weathering (ERW) is a carbon dioxide removal (CDR) strategy for combating climate change. The CDR potentials of ERW have been assessed at the process and national/global levels, but the environmental and economic implications of ERW have not been fully quantified for U.S. applications with real-world supply chain considerations. This study develops an optimization-based, integrated life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis framework for ERW, which is demonstrated by a case study applying mining waste to croplands in the Midwestern U.S. The case study explores maximum transportation distances for intermodal transportation at varied mineral CDR yields and costs, informing supply chain design for economically viable ERW. ERW costs (US$45 to 472/tonne of net CO2e captured) and cradle-to-farm gate GHG emissions (41 to 359 kg CO2e/tonne of CO2e captured) are estimated based on a range of CDR yields and by transportation distances to and from two Midwest port destinations: Chicago and Duluth. Our sensitivity analysis identifies CDR yields, and transportation modes and distances as driving factors for result variations. Our study reveals the importance of ERW supply chain design and provides an example of U.S. CDR implementation. Our framework and findings can be applied to other regional ERW projects.}, journal={Environmental Science & Technology}, author={Zhang, Bingquan and Kroeger, Jennifer and Planavsky, Noah and Yao, Yuan}, year={2023}, month={Sep} }
 @article{zargar_yao_tu_2022, title={A review of inventory modeling methods for missing data in life cycle assessment}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13305}, DOI={10.1111/jiec.13305}, abstractNote={AbstractMissing data is the key challenge facing life cycle inventory (LCI) modeling. The collection of missing data can be cost‐prohibitive and infeasible in many circumstances. Major strategies to address this issue include proxy selection (i.e., selecting a surrogate dataset to represent the missing data) and data creation (e.g., through empirical equations or mechanistic models). Within these two strategies, we identified three approaches that are widely used for LCI modeling: Data‐driven, mechanistic, and future (e.g., 2050) inventory modeling. We critically reviewed the 12 common methods of these three approaches by focusing on their features, scope of application, underlying assumptions, and limitations. These methods were characterized based on the following criteria: “domain knowledge requirement” (both as a method developer and a user), “post‐treatment requirement,” “challenge in assessing data quality uncertainty,” “challenge in generalizability,” and “challenge in automation.” These criteria can be used by LCA practitioners to select the suitable method(s) to bridge the data gap in LCI modeling, based on the goal and scope of the intended study. We also identified several aspects for future improvement for these reviewed methods.}, journal={Journal of Industrial Ecology}, author={Zargar, Shiva and Yao, Yuan and Tu, Qingshi}, year={2022}, month={Oct} }
 @article{wu_lan_yao_2023, title={An integrated techno-economic and environmental assessment for carbon capture in hydrogen production by biomass gasification}, volume={188}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106693}, DOI={10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106693}, abstractNote={Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is a potential solution addressing climate change andregional wildfires, and supporting circular economy. This study investigates the economic and environmental performance of a BECCS pathway implementing carbon capture (CC) in hydrogen production via gasifying forest residues in the American West, by developing a framework that integrates process simulations, techno-economic analysis (TEA), and life cycle assessment (LCA). The results show that forest residue-derived hydrogen is economically competitive ($1.52– 2.92/kg H2) compared with fossil-based hydrogen. Incorporating CC increases environmental impact due to additional energy and chemical consumption, which can be mitigated by the energy self-sufficiency design that reduces CC cost to $75/tonne of CO₂ for a 2,000 dry short ton/day plant, or by using renewable energy such as solar and wind. Compared to electrolysis and fossil-based routes with CC, only BECCS can provide carbon-negative hydrogen and is more favorable regarding human health impact and near-term economics.}, journal={Resources, Conservation and Recycling}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Wu, Na and Lan, Kai and Yao, Yuan}, year={2023}, month={Jan}, pages={106693} }
 @article{buitrago-tello_venditti_jameel_yao_echeverria_2022, title={Carbon Footprint of Bleached Softwood Fluff Pulp: Detailed Process Simulation and Environmental Life Cycle Assessment to Understand Carbon Emissions}, volume={10}, ISSN={2168-0485 2168-0485}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c00840}, DOI={10.1021/acssuschemeng.2c00840}, abstractNote={Wood-based fluff pulp (FP) is the primary raw material for indispensable commodities, including hygienic products. FP substantially contributes to global warming due to the high manufacturing energy demand. Despite FP's importance, the environmental implications of its manufacture have not been transparently explored. The present study provides the carbon footprint for FP cradle-to-manufacturing gate based on process simulation and environmental life cycle assessment The simulation tracks the anthropogenic and biogenic carbon across the mill's areas. In addition, the implications of switching energy sources and key operational conditions are evaluated. The results show that 1 kg of FP produces 1.102 kg CO2-equiv. Most of the biogenic carbon fed to the mill (52%) is used to produce steam and electricity. The study shows that switching from natural gas to residual biomass wood pellets represents a reduction of 13.4% of the CO2-equiv emissions. This benefit is increased if wood pellets are used to achieve electrical power self-sufficiency, and even more benefit can be realized if the mill produces 20% surplus electricity to the grid. A critical parameter for global warming potential is the incoming biomass lignin content; the pulping of biomass with higher lignin content produces a black liquor with higher heating value and more solids burned in the recovery boiler, reducing the demand for external energy and thus reducing fossil-based greenhouse gas emissions.}, number={28}, journal={ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Buitrago-Tello, Rodrigo and Venditti, Richard A. and Jameel, Hasan and Yao, Yuan and Echeverria, Darlene}, year={2022}, month={Jul}, pages={9029–9040} }
 @article{lan_zhang_yao_2022, title={Circular utilization of urban tree waste contributes to the mitigation of climate change and eutrophication}, volume={5}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2022.07.001}, DOI={10.1016/j.oneear.2022.07.001}, abstractNote={<h2>Summary</h2> Substantial urban tree waste is generated and underutilized in the US. Circular utilization of urban tree wastes has been explored in the literature, but the life-cycle environmental implications of varied utilization pathways have not been fully understood. Here we quantify the life-cycle environmental benefits of utilizing urban tree wastes at process, state, and national levels in the US. Full utilization of urban tree wastes to produce compost, lumber, chips, and biochar substantially reduces nationwide global warming potential (127.4–251.8 Mt CO<sub>2</sub> eq./year) and eutrophication potential (93.9–192.7 kt N eq./year) compared with landfilling. Such benefits vary with state-level locations due to varied urban tree waste availability and types. Process-level comparisons identify the most environmentally beneficial combination as using merchantable logs for lumber and residues for biochar. The results highlight the climate change and eutrophication mitigation potential of different circular utilization pathways, supporting the development of circular bioeconomy in the urban environment.}, number={8}, journal={One Earth}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Lan, Kai and Zhang, Bingquan and Yao, Yuan}, year={2022}, month={Aug}, pages={944–957} }
 @article{ding_pang_lan_yao_panzarasa_xu_ricco_rammer_zhu_hu_et al._2023, title={Emerging Engineered Wood for Building Applications}, volume={123}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00450}, DOI={10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00450}, abstractNote={The building sector, including building operations and materials, was responsible for the emission of ∼11.9 gigatons of global energy-related CO2 in 2020, accounting for 37% of the total CO2 emissions, the largest share among different sectors. Lowering the carbon footprint of buildings requires the development of carbon-storage materials as well as novel designs that could enable multifunctional components to achieve widespread applications. Wood is one of the most abundant biomaterials on Earth and has been used for construction historically. Recent research breakthroughs on advanced engineered wood products epitomize this material's tremendous yet largely untapped potential for addressing global sustainability challenges. In this review, we explore recent developments in chemically modified wood that will produce a new generation of engineered wood products for building applications. Traditionally, engineered wood products have primarily had a structural purpose, but this review broadens the classification to encompass more aspects of building performance. We begin by providing multiscale design principles of wood products from a computational point of view, followed by discussion of the chemical modifications and structural engineering methods used to modify wood in terms of its mechanical, thermal, optical, and energy-related performance. Additionally, we explore life cycle assessment and techno-economic analysis tools for guiding future research toward environmentally friendly and economically feasible directions for engineered wood products. Finally, this review highlights the current challenges and perspectives on future directions in this research field. By leveraging these new wood-based technologies and analysis tools for the fabrication of carbon-storage materials, it is possible to design sustainable and carbon-negative buildings, which could have a significant impact on mitigating climate change.}, number={5}, journal={Chemical Reviews}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Ding, Yu and Pang, Zhenqian and Lan, Kai and Yao, Yuan and Panzarasa, Guido and Xu, Lin and Ricco, Marco Lo and Rammer, Douglas R. and Zhu, J. Y. and Hu, Ming and et al.}, year={2023}, month={Mar}, pages={1843–1888} }
 @article{lan_yao_2022, title={Feasibility of gasifying mixed plastic waste for hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage}, volume={3}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s43247-022-00632-1}, DOI={10.1038/s43247-022-00632-1}, abstractNote={AbstractWaste plastic gasification for hydrogen production combined with carbon capture and storage is one technology option to address the plastic waste challenge. Here, we conducted a techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment to assess this option. The minimum hydrogen selling price of a 2000 oven-dry metric ton/day mixed plastic waste plant with carbon capture and storage is US$2.26–2.94 kg−1 hydrogen, which can compete with fossil fuel hydrogen with carbon capture and storage (US$1.21–2.62 kg−1 hydrogen) and current electrolysis hydrogen (US$3.20–7.70 kg−1 hydrogen). An improvement analysis outlines the roadmap for reducing the average minimum hydrogen selling price from US$2.60 to US$1.46 kg−1 hydrogen, which can be further lowered to US$1.06 kg−1 hydrogen if carbon credits are close to the carbon capture and storage costs along with low feedstock cost. The life cycle assessment results show that hydrogen derived from mixed plastic waste has lower environmental impacts than single-stream plastics.}, number={1}, journal={Communications Earth & Environment}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Lan, Kai and Yao, Yuan}, year={2022}, month={Nov} }
 @article{yao_2022, title={How does COVID-19 affect the life cycle environmental impacts of U.S. household energy and food consumption?}, volume={2}, url={https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac52cb}, DOI={10.1088/1748-9326/ac52cb}, abstractNote={Abstract
               The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced travel but led to an increase in household food and energy consumption. Previous studies have explored the changes in household consumption of food and energy during the pandemic; however, the economy-wide environmental implications of these changes have not been investigated. This study addresses the knowledge gap by estimating the life cycle environmental impacts of U.S. households during the pandemic using a hybrid life cycle assessment. The results revealed that the reduction in travel outweighed the increase in household energy consumption, leading to a nationwide decrease in life cycle greenhouse gas emissions (−255 Mton CO2 eq), energy use (−4.46 EJ), smog formation (−9.17 Mton O3 eq), minerals and metal use (−16.1 Mton), commercial wastes (−8.31 Mton), and acidification (−226 kton SO2 eq). However, U.S. households had more life cycle freshwater withdrawals (+8.6 Gton) and slightly higher eutrophication (+0.2%), ozone depletion (+0.7%), and freshwater ecotoxicity (+2.1%) caused by increased household energy and food consumption. This study also demonstrated the environmental trade-offs between decreased food services and increased food consumption at home, resulting in diverse trends for food-related life cycle environmental impacts.}, journal={Environmental Research Letters}, publisher={IOP Publishing}, author={Yao, Yuan}, year={2022}, month={Mar} }
 @article{echeverria_venditti_jameel_yao_2022, title={Process Simulation-Based Life Cycle Assessment of Dissolving Pulps}, volume={56}, ISSN={0013-936X 1520-5851}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c06523}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.1c06523}, abstractNote={Dissolving pulp (DP) is a specialty pulp product from a variety of lignocellulosic biomass (i.e., hardwoods (HW) and softwoods (SW)) with a broad range of applications. Conducting life cycle assessment (LCA) for DP end applications (e.g., textile products, specialty plastics) is challenging due to the lack of life cycle inventory (LCI) data and environmental information associated with different grades. This research addresses this challenge using process simulations to generate LCI for different DP grades (e.g., acetate and viscose) made from HW and SW, respectively. The LCA results show that biomass feedstock directly affects the environmental impacts of DP. For instance, HW acetate grade has higher global warming potential than SW acetate but lower environmental impacts in other categories related to ecosystems and human health. This HW versus SW comparison has similar results for viscose DP in all impact categories except eutrophication. Additionally, a hotspot analysis identifies that on-site emissions and chemicals are the main contributors to the environmental impacts across all grades in this study. The results and LCI data generated in this work provide critical information to support future LCA and sustainability assessment for end-products derived from DP.}, number={7}, journal={Environmental Science & Technology}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Echeverria, Darlene and Venditti, Richard and Jameel, Hasan and Yao, Yuan}, year={2022}, month={Mar}, pages={4578–4586} }
 @article{echeverria_venditti_jameel_yao_2021, title={A general Life Cycle Assessment framework for sustainable bleaching: A case study of peracetic acid bleaching of wood pulp}, volume={290}, ISSN={0959-6526}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125854}, DOI={10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125854}, abstractNote={Bleaching is an important industrial operation that has significant environmental impacts. Many new bleaching technologies have been developed; nonetheless, it is challenging to quantify their potential environmental impacts due to the lack of quantitative information and robust analysis methods across different bleaching agents. This study addresses this gap by developing a general Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework that integrates LCA with manufacturing process simulations and lab-scale bleaching experiments. The framework was applied to a case study of Peracetic Acid (PAA), a promising bleaching agent, used in the Total Chlorine-Free (TCF) technology for wood pulp production, compared with the traditional Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) using chlorine dioxide. Different PAA synthetic pathways (i.e., using acetic acid or triacetin) and bleaching charges were explored using scenario analysis. Results showed that PAA-based TCF achieves a brightness similar to the conventional ECF technology with lower life-cycle impacts in categories such as global warming and eutrophication. From a process perspective, PAA-based TCF reduces the consumption of energy, water, pulping chemicals, completely avoids the use of chlorinated compounds, and provides enhanced process safety. The source of PAA significantly affects the life-cycle environmental impacts of pulp bleaching. Using PAA synthesized from triacetin rather than acetic acid leads to higher environmental impacts; however, such impacts can be mitigated by reducing excessive use of triacetin (direction for future optimization) or using bio-based glycerin in the production of the triacetin feedstock for PAA production. Although this case study focuses on PAA bleaching for wood pulp, the framework has the potential to be used for other/same bleaching agents in different industrial sectors.}, journal={Journal of Cleaner Production}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Echeverria, Darlene and Venditti, Richard and Jameel, Hasan and Yao, Yuan}, year={2021}, month={Mar}, pages={125854} }
 @article{xia_chen_yao_li_he_zhou_li_pan_yao_hu_2021, title={A strong, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00702-w}, DOI={10.1038/s41893-021-00702-w}, journal={Nature Sustainability}, author={Xia, Qinqin and Chen, Chaoji and Yao, Yonggang and Li, Jianguo and He, Shuaiming and Zhou, Yubing and Li, Teng and Pan, Xuejun and Yao, Yuan and Hu, Liangbing}, year={2021}, month={Mar} }
 @article{van schoubroeck_thomassen_van passel_malina_springael_lizin_venditti_yao_van dael_2021, title={An integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) framework for emerging technologies}, volume={23}, ISSN={1463-9262 1463-9270}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D1GC00036E}, DOI={10.1039/D1GC00036E}, abstractNote={The integrated techno-sustainability assessment (TSA) deals with the dynamic quantification of application-specific environmental, economic, and social indicators, and flexible decision-making for emerging (biobased) technologies.}, number={4}, journal={Green Chemistry}, publisher={Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)}, author={Van Schoubroeck, Sophie and Thomassen, Gwenny and Van Passel, Steven and Malina, Robert and Springael, Johan and Lizin, Sebastien and Venditti, Richard A. and Yao, Yuan and Van Dael, Miet}, year={2021}, pages={1700–1715} }
 @misc{liao_yao_2021, title={Applications of artificial intelligence-based modeling for bioenergy systems: A review}, volume={13}, ISSN={["1757-1707"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12816}, DOI={10.1111/gcbb.12816}, abstractNote={AbstractBioenergy is widely considered a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. However, large‐scale applications of biomass‐based energy products are limited due to challenges related to feedstock variability, conversion economics, and supply chain reliability. Artificial intelligence (AI), an emerging concept, has been applied to bioenergy systems in recent decades to address those challenges. This paper reviewed 164 articles published between 2005 and 2019 that applied different AI techniques to bioenergy systems. This review focuses on identifying the unique capabilities of various AI techniques in addressing bioenergy‐related research challenges and improving the performance of bioenergy systems. Specifically, we characterized AI studies by their input variables, output variables, AI techniques, dataset size, and performance. We examined AI applications throughout the life cycle of bioenergy systems. We identified four areas in which AI has been mostly applied, including (1) the prediction of biomass properties, (2) the prediction of process performance of biomass conversion, including different conversion pathways and technologies, (3) the prediction of biofuel properties and the performance of bioenergy end‐use systems, and (4) supply chain modeling and optimization. Based on the review, AI is particularly useful in generating data that are hard to be measured directly, improving traditional models of biomass conversion and biofuel end‐uses, and overcoming the challenges of traditional computing techniques for bioenergy supply chain design and optimization. For future research, efforts are needed to develop standardized and practical procedures for selecting AI techniques and determining training data samples, to enhance data collection, documentation, and sharing across bioenergy‐related areas, and to explore the potential of AI in supporting the sustainable development of bioenergy systems from holistic perspectives.}, number={5}, journal={GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY}, author={Liao, Mochen and Yao, Yuan}, year={2021}, month={May}, pages={774–802} }
 @article{xia_chen_yao_li_he_zhou_li_pan_yao_hu_2021, title={Author Correction: A strong, biodegradable and recyclable lignocellulosic bioplastic}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00771-x}, DOI={10.1038/s41893-021-00771-x}, journal={Nature Sustainability}, author={Xia, Qinqin and Chen, Chaoji and Yao, Yonggang and Li, Jianguo and He, Shuaiming and Zhou, Yubing and Li, Teng and Pan, Xuejun and Yao, Yuan and Hu, Liangbing}, year={2021}, month={Aug} }
 @article{lan_yao_2022, title={Dynamic Life Cycle Assessment of Energy Technologies under Different Greenhouse Gas Concentration Pathways}, volume={12}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.1c05923}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.1c05923}, abstractNote={Global warming potential (GWP) has been widely used in the life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify the climate impacts of energy technologies. Most LCAs are static analyses without considering the dynamics of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and changes in background GHG concentrations. This study presents a dynamic approach to analyze the life-cycle GWP of energy technologies in different timeframes and representative GHG concentration pathways. Results show that higher atmospheric GHG concentrations lead to higher life-cycle GWP for long-term analysis. The impacts of background GHG concentrations are more significant for technologies with large operational emissions or CH4 emissions than technologies with low operational emissions. The case study for the U.S. electricity sector in 2020-2050 shows the impacts of background GHG concentrations and different LCA methods on estimating national climate impacts of different energy technology scenarios. Based on the results, it is recommended for future LCAs to incorporate temporal effects of GHG emissions when (1) the technology has large operational GHG emissions or CH4 emissions; (2) the analysis time frame is longer than 50 years; (3) when LCA results are used for policymaking or technology comparisons for mitigating climate change.}, journal={Environmental Science & Technology}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Lan, Kai and Yao, Yuan}, year={2022}, month={Jan} }
 @article{lan_ou_park_kelley_nepal_kwon_cai_yao_2021, title={Dynamic life-cycle carbon analysis for fast pyrolysis biofuel produced from pine residues: implications of carbon temporal effects}, volume={14}, ISSN={["1754-6834"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-021-02027-4}, DOI={10.1186/s13068-021-02027-4}, abstractNote={Abstract
                Background
                Woody biomass has been considered as a promising feedstock for biofuel production via thermochemical conversion technologies such as fast pyrolysis. Extensive Life Cycle Assessment studies have been completed to evaluate the carbon intensity of woody biomass-derived biofuels via fast pyrolysis. However, most studies assumed that woody biomass such as forest residues is a carbon–neutral feedstock like annual crops, despite a distinctive timeframe it takes to grow woody biomass. Besides, few studies have investigated the impacts of forest dynamics and the temporal effects of carbon on the overall carbon intensity of woody-derived biofuels. This study addressed such gaps by developing a life-cycle carbon analysis framework integrating dynamic modeling for forest and biorefinery systems with a time-based discounted Global Warming Potential (GWP) method developed in this work. The framework analyzed dynamic carbon and energy flows of a supply chain for biofuel production from pine residues via fast pyrolysis.
              
                Results
                The mean carbon intensity of biofuel given by Monte Carlo simulation across three pine growth cases ranges from 40.8–41.2 g CO2e MJ−1 (static method) to 51.0–65.2 g CO2e MJ−1 (using the time-based discounted GWP method) when combusting biochar for energy recovery. If biochar is utilized as soil amendment, the carbon intensity reduces to 19.0–19.7 g CO2e MJ−1 (static method) and 29.6–43.4 g CO2e MJ−1 in the time-based method. Forest growth and yields (controlled by forest management strategies) show more significant impacts on biofuel carbon intensity when the temporal effect of carbon is taken into consideration. Variation in forest operations and management (e.g., energy consumption of thinning and harvesting), on the other hand, has little impact on the biofuel carbon intensity.
              
                Conclusions
                The carbon temporal effect, particularly the time lag of carbon sequestration during pine growth, has direct impacts on the carbon intensity of biofuels produced from pine residues from a stand-level pine growth and management point of view. The carbon implications are also significantly impacted by the assumptions of biochar end-of-life cases and forest management strategies.
              }, number={1}, journal={BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS}, publisher={Springer Science and Business Media LLC}, author={Lan, Kai and Ou, Longwen and Park, Sunkyu and Kelley, Stephen S. and Nepal, Prakash and Kwon, Hoyoung and Cai, Hao and Yao, Yuan}, year={2021}, month={Sep} }
 @article{zhang_martin_stevenson_yao_2022, title={Equally green? Understanding the distribution of urban green infrastructure across student demographics in four public school districts in North Carolina, USA}, volume={67}, ISSN={["1610-8167"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127434}, DOI={10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127434}, abstractNote={Green infrastructure (GI) provides a suite of ecosystem services that are widely recognized as critical to health, well-being, and sustainability on an urbanizing planet. However, the distribution of GI across urban landscapes is frequently uneven, resulting in unequal delivery of these services to low-income residents or those belonging to underserved racial/ethnic identities. While GI distribution has been identified as unequal across municipalities, we investigated whether this was true in public schoolyards within and among urban school districts. We examined schoolyards in four metropolitan areas of diverse socio-economic and demographic compositions in North Carolina, USA to determine if they provided equal exposure to GI, then compared whether this was true of the broader urban landscape. We first classified the land cover of elementary schoolyards and their neighborhoods, then used bivariate and multivariate approaches to analyze the relationships between GI (i.e. tree canopy cover and total GI) and the socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity of the schools and surrounding neighborhoods, respectively. We found that the extent of tree canopy cover and total GI in schoolyards was unrelated to the socioeconomic status and the race/ethnicity of students across the four school districts. In contrast, neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status and larger populations of underserved race/ethnicity residents had less tree canopy cover and total GI. Although total GI was more evenly distributed in schoolyards, the extent of tree canopy cover and total GI in schoolyards was lower than that in the neighborhoods. This suggests opportunities for school districts to expand GI in schoolyards, leveraging their potential to increase ecosystem services to all children, from increased educational opportunities to improved mental, physical, and environmental well-being.}, journal={URBAN FORESTRY & URBAN GREENING}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Zhang, Zhenzhen and Martin, Katherine L. and Stevenson, Kathryn T. and Yao, Yuan}, year={2022}, month={Jan} }
 @article{xiao_chen_xia_liu_yao_chen_hartsfield_brozena_tu_eichhorn_et al._2021, title={Lightweight, strong, moldable wood via cell wall engineering as a sustainable structural material}, volume={374}, url={https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg9556}, DOI={10.1126/science.abg9556}, abstractNote={Turning wood into honeycombs
          
            Wood is an attractive material for structural applications, but it usually works best as boards or sheets. Xiao
            et al
            . have developed a process for engineering hardwood that allows these sheets to be manipulated into complex structures (see the Perspective by Tajvidi and Gardner). The key is to manipulate the cell wall structure by shrinking and blasting open the fibers and vessels by drying and “water-shocking” them. This process creates a window wherein the wood can be manipulated without ripping or tearing. Honeycomb, corrugated, or other complex structures are locked in once the wood dries. —BG
          }, number={6566}, journal={Science}, publisher={American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)}, author={Xiao, Shaoliang and Chen, Chaoji and Xia, Qinqin and Liu, Yu and Yao, Yuan and Chen, Qiongyu and Hartsfield, Matt and Brozena, Alexandra and Tu, Kunkun and Eichhorn, Stephen J. and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Oct}, pages={465–471} }
 @article{liao_lan_yao_2022, title={Sustainability implications of artificial intelligence in the chemical industry: A conceptual framework}, volume={26}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13214}, DOI={10.1111/jiec.13214}, abstractNote={AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) is an emerging technology that has great potential in reducing energy consumption, environmental burdens, and operational risks of chemical production. However, large‐scale applications of AI are still limited. One barrier is the lack of quantitative understandings of the potential benefits and risks of different AI applications. This study reviewed relevant AI literature and categorized those case studies by application types, impact categories, and application modes. Most studies assessed the energy, economic, and safety implications of AI applications, while few of them have evaluated the environmental impacts of AI, given the large data gaps and difficulties in choosing appropriate assessment methods. Based on the reviewed case studies in the chemical industry, we proposed a conceptual framework that encompasses approaches from industrial ecology, economics, and engineering to guide the selection of performance indicators and evaluation methods for a holistic assessment of AI's impacts. This framework could be a valuable tool to support the decision‐making related to AI in the fundamental research and practical production of chemicals. Although this study focuses on the chemical industry, the insights of the literature review and the proposed framework could be applied to AI applications in other industries and broad industrial ecology fields. In the end, this study highlights future research directions for addressing the data challenges in assessing AI's impacts and developing AI‐enhanced tools to support the sustainable development of the chemical industry.}, number={1}, journal={Journal of Industrial Ecology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Liao, Mochen and Lan, Kai and Yao, Yuan}, year={2022}, month={Feb}, pages={164–182} }
 @article{li_chen_xie_yao_zhang_brozena_li_ding_zhao_hong_et al._2021, title={Sustainable high-strength macrofibres extracted from natural bamboo}, url={https://doi.org/10.1038/s41893-021-00831-2}, DOI={10.1038/s41893-021-00831-2}, journal={Nature Sustainability}, author={Li, Zhihan and Chen, Chaoji and Xie, Hua and Yao, Yuan and Zhang, Xin and Brozena, Alexandra and Li, Jianguo and Ding, Yu and Zhao, Xinpeng and Hong, Min and et al.}, year={2021}, month={Dec} }
 @article{lan_ou_park_kelley_english_yu_larson_yao_2021, title={Techno-Economic Analysis of decentralized preprocessing systems for fast pyrolysis biorefineries with blended feedstocks in the southeastern United States}, volume={143}, ISSN={["1879-0690"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.110881}, DOI={10.1016/j.rser.2021.110881}, abstractNote={This study evaluated the economic feasibility of fast pyrolysis biorefineries fed with blended pine residues and switchgrass in the Southeastern U.S. with different supply chain design. Previous techno-economic analyses (TEA) have focused on either blended biomass or decentralized preprocessing without investigating the impacts of varied process parameters, technology options, and real-world biomass distribution. This study fills the literature gap by modeling scenarios for different biomass blending ratios, biorefinery and preprocessing site (so-called depot) capacities, and alternative preprocessing technologies. High-resolution, real-world geospatial data were analyzed using Geographic Information Systems to facilitate supply chain design and TEA. For a decentralized system, the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of biofuel was $3.92–$4.33 per gallon gasoline equivalent (GGE), while the MFSP for the centralized biorefinery at the same capacities ranged between $3.75–$4.02/GGE. Implementing a high moisture pelleting process depot rather than a conventional pelleting process lowered the MFSP by $0.03–$0.17/GGE. Scenario analysis indicated decreased MFSP with increasing biorefinery capacities but not necessarily with increasing depot size. Medium-size depots (500 OMDT/day) achieved the lowest MFSP. This analysis identified the optimal blending ratios for two preprocessing technologies at varied depot sizes. Counterintuitively, increasing the proportion of higher cost switchgrass reduced the MFSP for large biorefineries (>5000 ODMT/day), but increased the MFSP for small biorefineries (1000–2500 ODMT/day). Although the decentralized systems have a higher MFSP based on current analysis, it has other potential benefits such as mitigated supply chain risks and improved feedstock quality that are difficult to be quantified in this TEA.}, journal={RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Lan, Kai and Ou, Longwen and Park, Sunkyu and Kelley, Stephen S. and English, Burton C. and Yu, T. Edward and Larson, James and Yao, Yuan}, year={2021}, month={Jun} }
 @article{lan_kelley_nepal_yao_2020, title={Dynamic life cycle carbon and energy analysis for cross-laminated timber in the Southeastern United States}, volume={15}, url={https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/abc5e6}, DOI={10.1088/1748-9326/abc5e6}, abstractNote={AbstractLife cycle assessment (LCA) has been used to understand the carbon and energy implications of manufacturing and using cross-laminated timber (CLT), an emerging and sustainable alternative to concrete and steel. However, previous LCAs of CLT are static analyses without considering the complex interactions between the CLT manufacturing and forest systems, which are dynamic and largely affected by the variations in forest management, CLT manufacturing, and end-of-life options. This study fills this gap by developing a dynamic life-cycle modeling framework for a cradle-to-grave CLT manufacturing system across 100 years in the Southeastern United States. The framework integrates process-based simulations of CLT manufacturing and forest growth as well as Monte Carlo simulation to address uncertainty. On a 1-ha forest land basis, the net greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions range from −954 to −1445 metric tonne CO2eq. for a high forest productivity scenario compared to −609 to −919 metric tonne CO2eq. for a low forest productivity scenario. All scenarios showed significant GHG emissions from forest residues decay, demonstrating the strong needs to consider forest management and their dynamic impacts in LCAs of CLT or other durable wood products (DWP). The results show that using mill residues for energy recovery has lower fossil-based GHG (59%–61% reduction) than selling residues for producing DWP, but increases the net GHG emissions due to the instantaneous release of biogenic carbon in residues. In addition, the results were converted to a 1 m3basis with a cradle-to-gate system boundary to be compared with literature. The results, 113–375 kg CO2eq. m−3across all scenarios for fossil-based GHG emissions, were consistent with previous studies. Those findings highlight the needs of system-level management to maximize the potential benefits of CLT. This work is an attributional LCA, but the presented results lay a foundation for future consequential LCAs for specific CLT buildings or commercial forest management systems.}, number={12}, journal={Environmental Research Letters}, publisher={IOP Publishing}, author={Lan, Kai and Kelley, Stephen S and Nepal, Prakash and Yao, Yuan}, year={2020}, month={Dec}, pages={124036} }
 @article{lan_park_kelley_english_yu_larson_yao_2020, title={Impacts of uncertain feedstock quality on the economic feasibility of fast pyrolysis biorefineries with blended feedstocks and decentralized preprocessing sites in the Southeastern United States}, volume={12}, url={https://doi.org/10.1111/gcbb.12752}, DOI={10.1111/gcbb.12752}, abstractNote={AbstractThis study performs techno‐economic analysis and Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) to explore the effects that variations in biomass feedstock quality have on the economic feasibility of fast pyrolysis biorefineries using decentralized preprocessing sites (i.e., depots that produce pellets). Two biomass resources in the Southeastern United States, that is, pine residues and switchgrass, were examined as feedstocks. A scenario analysis was conducted for an array of different combinations, including different pellet ash control levels, feedstock blending ratios, different biorefinery capacities, and different biorefinery on‐stream capacities, followed by a comparison with the traditional centralized system. MCS results show that, with depot preprocessing, variations in the feedstock moisture and feedstock ash content can be significantly reduced compared with a traditional centralized system. For a biorefinery operating at 100% of its designed capacity, the minimum fuel selling price (MFSP) of the decentralized system is $3.97–$4.39 per gallon gasoline equivalent (GGE) based on the mean value across all scenarios, whereas the mean MFSP for the traditional centralized system was $3.79–$4.12/GGE. To understand the potential benefits of highly flowable pellets in decreasing biorefinery downtime due to feedstock handling and plugging problems, this study also compares the MFSP of the decentralized system at 90% of its designed capacity with a traditional system at 80%. The analysis illustrates that using low ash pellets mixed with switchgrass and pine residues generates a more competitive MFSP. Specifically, for a biorefinery designed for 2,000 oven dry metric ton per day, running a blended pellet made from 75% switchgrass and 25% pine residues with 2% ash level, and operating at 90% of designed capacity could make an MFSP between $4.49 and $4.71/GGE. In contrast, a traditional centralized biorefinery operating at 80% of designed capacity marks an MFSP between $4.72 and $5.28.}, number={11}, journal={GCB Bioenergy}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Lan, Kai and Park, Sunkyu and Kelley, Stephen S. and English, Burton C. and Yu, Tun‐Hsiang E. and Larson, James and Yao, Yuan}, year={2020}, month={Nov}, pages={1014–1029} }
 @article{tomberlin_venditti_yao_2020, title={Life Cycle Carbon Footprint Analysis of Pulp and Paper Grades in the United States Using Production-line-based Data and Integration}, volume={15}, ISSN={["1930-2126"]}, DOI={10.15376/biores.15.2.3899-3914}, abstractNote={Greenhouse gas (GHG) emission levels are causing concern as climate change risks are growing, emphasizing the importance of GHG research for better understanding of emission sources. Previous studies on GHG emissions for the pulp and paper industry have ranged in scope from global to regional to site-specific. This study addresses the present knowledge gap of how GHG emissions vary among paper grades in the US. A cradle-to-gate life cycle carbon analysis for 252 mills in the US was performed by integrating large datasets at the production line level. The results indicated that one metric ton of paper product created a production weighted average of 942 kg of carbon dioxide equivalent (kg CO2eq) of GHG emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions varied by pulp and paper grade, from 608 kg CO2eq per metric ton of product to 1978 kg CO2eq per metric ton of product. Overall, fuels were the greatest contributor to the GHG emissions and should be the focus of emission reduction strategies across pulp and paper grades.}, number={2}, journal={BIORESOURCES}, author={Tomberlin, Kristen E. and Venditti, Richard and Yao, Yuan}, year={2020}, month={May}, pages={3899–3914} }
 @article{life cycle carbon footprint analysis of pulp and paper grades in the united states using production-line-based data and integration_2020, url={https://ojs.cnr.ncsu.edu/index.php/BioRes/article/view/BioRes_15_2_3899_Tomberlin_Life_Cycle_Carbon_Footprint}, journal={BioResources}, year={2020}, month={Apr} }
 @article{yao_huang_2019, title={A Parametric Life Cycle Modeling Framework for Identifying Research Development Priorities of Emerging Technologies: A Case Study of Additive Manufacturing}, volume={80}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2019.01.037}, DOI={10.1016/j.procir.2019.01.037}, abstractNote={Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been used to assess the environmental implications of emerging technologies in different manufacturing sectors. However, it is challenging to use the traditional LCA method to model the relationships between Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) data and key technical parameters, preventing further analysis for understanding key driving factors and determining priorities for research and technology development. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis of traditional LCA could be misleading for decision making or strategic planning given that the potential/possibility of improving specific parameters are commonly not taken into consideration. In this work, a novel parametric analysis framework was developed to address the methodological challenge. The modeling framework integrates process-based engineering models with LCA, Life Cycle Cost analysis (LCC), and optimization. The framework is demonstrated through a case study of additive manufacturing (AM).}, journal={Procedia CIRP}, author={Yao, Y. and Huang, R.}, year={2019}, month={May}, pages={370–375} }
 @article{liao_kelley_yao_2019, title={Artificial neural network based modeling for the prediction of yield and surface area of activated carbon from biomass}, volume={13}, url={https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.1991}, DOI={10.1002/bbb.1991}, abstractNote={AbstractActivated carbon (AC) is an adsorbent material with broad industrial applications. Understanding and predicting the yield and quality of AC produced from different feedstock is critical for biomass screening and process design. In this study, multi‐layer feedforward artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed to predict the total yield and surface area of AC produced from various biomass feedstock using pyrolysis and steam activation. In total, 168 data samples identified from experiments in literature were used to train, validate, and test the ANN models. The trained ANN models showed high accuracy (R2 > 0.9) and demonstrated good alignment with the independent experimental data. The impacts of using datasets based on different biomass characterization methods (i.e., ultimate analysis and proximate analysis) were evaluated and compared. Finally, a contribution analysis was conducted to understand the impact of different process factors on AC yield and surface area. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd}, number={4}, journal={Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining}, author={Liao, Mochen and Kelley, Stephen S and Yao, Yuan}, year={2019}, month={Jul}, pages={1015–1027} }
 @article{liao_kelley_yao_2020, title={Generating Energy and Greenhouse Gas Inventory Data of Activated Carbon Production Using Machine Learning and Kinetic Based Process Simulation}, volume={8}, url={https://doi.org/10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b06522}, DOI={10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b06522}, abstractNote={Understanding the environmental implications of activated carbon (AC) produced from diverse biomass feedstocks is critical for biomass screening and process optimization for sustainability. Many st...}, number={2}, journal={ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Liao, Mochen and Kelley, Stephen and Yao, Yuan}, year={2020}, month={Jan}, pages={1252–1261} }
 @article{lan_yao_2019, title={Integrating Life Cycle Assessment and Agent-Based Modeling: A Dynamic Modeling Framework for Sustainable Agricultural Systems}, volume={238}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85073700439&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.117853}, abstractNote={As food demand increases, it is critical to develop effective strategies and evaluate their potential in reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and other environmental footprints of large-scale agricultural systems. This study addresses the challenge by developing a dynamic system modeling framework integrating Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), Agent-Based Modeling (ABM), and Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA). LCA and TEA were coupled with dynamic simulation models of crop yields, costs, and prices, allowing for the estimation of life-cycle environmental impacts and profitability of crop planting activities under changing climate and economic conditions. The framework was demonstrated by a case study for an agricultural system, including 1,000 farms in the United States over a 30-year time frame. The results indicated that information exchange among farmers, farmers' environmental awareness, access to environmental information, and farm size are key factors driving the system's environmental impacts. The results can provide a broad range of stakeholders (e.g., policymakers, nonprofits, agriculture companies) with insightful information to tailor their strategies for effectively managing the environmental footprints of large-scale agricultural systems. The integrated modeling framework has the potential to address sustainability challenges in other systems that are dynamic, involve human behaviors, and have complex interactions among human and nature systems.}, journal={Journal of Cleaner Production}, author={Lan, K. and Yao, Y.}, year={2019} }
 @article{lan_park_yao_2020, title={Key issue, challenges, and status quo of models for biofuel supply chain design}, ISBN={978-0-12-815582-0}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85083223493&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/B978-0-12-815581-3.00010-5}, abstractNote={Biofuel supply chain (BSC) design is crucial for the sustainable production and distribution of biofuel. Many modeling techniques such as optimization and simulation have been employed to BSC at different regional and temporal scales. This chapter reviews the research efforts made in BSC since 2005 to highlight status quo, challenges, and issues related to BSC modeling and design. The basic concept and components of BSC are first introduced and followed by the review of different modeling techniques at various decision levels of BSC design. Challenges and issues identified throughout this review work are highlighted at the end and future research directions are discussed.}, journal={Biofuels for a More Sustainable Future: Life Cycle Sustainability Assessment and Multi-Criteria Decision Making}, author={Lan, Kai and Park, Sunkyu and Yao, Yuan}, year={2020}, pages={273–315} }
 @article{lan_ou_park_kelley_yao_2019, title={Life Cycle Analysis of Decentralized Preprocessing Systems for Fast Pyrolysis Biorefineries with Blended Feedstocks in the Southeastern United States}, volume={9}, ISSN={2194-4288 2194-4296}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ente.201900850}, DOI={10.1002/ente.201900850}, abstractNote={Blending biomass feedstock is a promising approach to mitigate supply chain risks that are common challenges for large‐scale biomass utilization. Understanding the potential environmental benefits of biofuels produced from blended biomass and identifying driving parameters are critical for the supply chain design. Herein, a cradle‐to‐gate life cycle analysis model for fast pyrolysis biorefineries converting blended feedstocks (pine residues and switchgrass) with traditional centralized and alternative decentralized preprocessing sites, so‐called depots, is explained. Different scenarios are developed to investigate the impacts of parameters such as feedstock blending ratios, biorefinery and depot capacities, preprocessing technologies, and allocation methods. The life‐cycle energy consumption and global warming potential (GWP) of biofuel production with depots vary between 0.7–1.1 MJ MJ−1 and 43.2–76.6 g CO2 eq. MJ−1, respectively. The results are driven by biorefinery processes and depot preprocesses. A decentralized design reduces the energy consumption of the biorefinery but increases the overall life‐cycle energy and GWP. Such increases can be significantly mitigated by increasing switchgrass content as the energy consumption at the depot is driven largely by the higher moisture content of pine feedstocks. Allocation methods also have a large impact on the results but do not change the major trends and overall conclusions.}, number={11}, journal={Energy Technology}, publisher={Wiley}, author={Lan, Kai and Ou, Longwen and Park, Sunkyu and Kelley, Stephen S. and Yao, Yuan}, year={2019}, month={Sep}, pages={1900850} }
 @article{nabinger_tomberlin_venditti_yao_2019, title={Using a Data-Driven Approach to Unveil Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensities of Different Pulp and Paper Products}, volume={80}, ISSN={2212-8271}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.procir.2018.12.001}, DOI={10.1016/j.procir.2018.12.001}, abstractNote={Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been used to evaluate the life-cycle Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions of pulp and paper production, and most previous studies rely on process-based models for specific product types (e.g., printing paper), industry-average data, or information from a few mills. In this work, a data-driven approach is used to quantify GHG emissions intensities of different paper products manufactured by the U.S. mills. Facility-level emission data collected from publically available governmental databases and mill-level production data collected from the private sector were integrated to track the GHG emissions for different product lines and paper products in mills (in total, 165 mills were matched and analyzed). The results highlight the ranges of GHG emissions intensities by different product groups and categories, and can be used as a transparent data source for LCA practitioners, policymakers, and the pulp and paper industry to perform further analysis on carbon accounting and strategic planning for GHG mitigation.}, journal={Procedia CIRP}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Nabinger, Alec and Tomberlin, Kristen and Venditti, Richard and Yao, Yuan}, year={2019}, pages={689–692} }
 @article{yao_marano_morrow_masanet_2018, title={Quantifying carbon capture potential and cost of carbon capture technology application in the US refining industry}, volume={74}, ISSN={["1878-0148"]}, url={https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.04.020}, DOI={10.1016/j.ijggc.2018.04.020}, abstractNote={Carbon capture (CC) technology is receiving increasing attention as a critical technology for climate change mitigation. Most previous studies focus on the application of CC technology in the power generation sector, while fewer studies have analyzed applications in the refining industry, which is one of the largest greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions sources in the U.S. industrial sector. Unlike the power generation sector, the refining industry has highly distributed CO2 emission sources. In this paper, bottom-up modeling and techno-economic analysis approaches are integrated to quantify the national CO2 emission reduction potential and costs of three types of CC technologies applied to U.S. refineries: (1) pre-combustion, (2) post-combustion, and (3) oxyfuel-combustion. Two scenarios are developed to compare different design strategies for CC systems; one is a distributed design scenario for post-combustion technology, the other is a centralized design scenario for pre-combustion and oxyfuel-combustion technology. The results of the two scenarios are compared, and the trade-offs between different design strategies are highlighted. The results shown in this study provide an intuitive and quantitative understanding of the potential of CC technology to reduce CO2 emissions from the U.S. refining industry. Such information is helpful to policymakers, oil companies, and energy/environmental analysts for strategic planning and systems design to manage future CO2 emissions of refineries.}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF GREENHOUSE GAS CONTROL}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Yao, Yuan and Marano, John and Morrow, William R., III and Masanet, Eric}, year={2018}, month={Jul}, pages={87–98} }
 @inproceedings{hen-era_kelley_yao_2017, title={A life cycle assessment of torrefaction biomass to displace the coal in the electricity generation}, volume={2017-November}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85051798023&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, booktitle={International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, IBBC 2017}, author={Hen-Era, M.A. and Kelley, S.S. and Yao, Y.}, year={2017}, pages={11–13} }
 @inproceedings{herrera_yao_kelley_2017, title={A life cycle assessment of torrefaction biomass to displace the coal in the electricity generation}, volume={2017-November}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85051765869&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, booktitle={International Bioenergy and Bioproducts Conference, IBBC 2017}, author={Herrera, M.A. and Yao, Y. and Kelley, S.S.}, year={2017}, pages={285} }
 @article{yao_chang_huang_zhang_masanet_2018, title={Environmental implications of the methanol economy in China: well-to-wheel comparison of energy and environmental emissions for different methanol fuel production pathways}, volume={172}, ISSN={["1879-1786"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85038857997&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.232}, abstractNote={The methanol economy concept, which promises to replace fossil fuels as means of energy storage, transportation fuels, and feedstocks of chemical products, has existed for decades, but large-scale applications have been elusive. Currently, China is providing policy support for methanol fuels, thereby taking steps towards the methanol economy concept in the fuels and chemical industries. As China's methanol focus continues, there are two key questions relevant to policymakers, manufacturers and environmental communities: (1) can methanol fuels realize their expected environmental benefits compared to conventional gasoline when adopted at large scales; (2) are there technology and policy options that should be pursued to ensure the potential environmental benefits associated with methanol manufactured from multiple feedstocks in China? In this study, we developed robust estimates of the primary energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, water consumption, and air emissions (SO2 and NOx) associated with methanol fuel life cycle in China. Based on the results, both long-term and short-term implications for promoting methanol fuel in China are discussed. The results and discussions presented in this work provide manufacturers and policymakers with more holistic views of the environmental costs and benefits associated with a potential methanol transition in China, as well as actionable guidance to reduce environmental impacts from a life-cycle perspective.}, journal={JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION}, author={Yao, Yuan and Chang, Yuan and Huang, Runze and Zhang, Lixiao and Masanet, Eric}, year={2018}, month={Jan}, pages={1381–1390} }
 @article{yao_masanet_2018, title={Life-cycle modeling framework for generating energy and greenhouse gas emissions inventory of emerging technologies in the chemical industry}, volume={172}, ISSN={["1879-1786"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-85038871263&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.125}, abstractNote={Assessing the life-cycle energy and environmental impacts of emerging technologies is critical to promote sustainable chemical production because such assessment can provide policy makers with useful insights for future investment and technology deployment; it also provides manufacturers and researchers with quantitative understandings of technology potential, possible bottlenecks, and future Research, Development, and Deployment directions. However, this is a challenging task for emerging technologies due to the lack of inventory data. In this paper, a general and flexible modeling framework was developed to generate the inventory data for new technologies in the chemical industry from a life cycle perspective. The modeling framework is applied to an emerging technology in the U.S. ethylene industry, ethane oxidative dehydrogenation, for demonstration. Broadly, the work described in this paper provides a decision-support method that can be further used by researchers, environment/energy analysts, and policy makers to evaluate the net benefits of innovative technologies, guide early-stage technology development and investment decisions, and conduct strategic planning for meeting energy and emissions reduction goals of the U.S. chemical industry.}, journal={JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION}, author={Yao, Yuan and Masanet, Eric}, year={2018}, month={Jan}, pages={768–777} }
 @article{yao_2017, title={Models for sustainability}, volume={12}, DOI={10.15376/biores.12.1.1-3}, abstractNote={As one of the major methodologies used in the modeling of sustainability, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is widely used to evaluate the environmental impacts of emerging technologies and to enhance decision making towards sustainable development. However, most of the current LCA models are static and deterministic. More insights could be generated when LCA models are coupled with higher-resolution techniques in a prospective fashion. Instead of trying to accurately predict the future, the purpose and value of integrated prospective models are to explore the boundaries of possibility and to shed light on directions that can lead to sustainable pathways. The biggest challenge is to determine the appropriate model resolution so that both big-picture insights and critical details are included. This challenge is hard to address, especially for interdisciplinary models that try to incorporate more than one dimension related to sustainability. However, improvements can be made continually through efforts from a growing population of interdisciplinary researchers.}, number={1}, journal={BioResources}, author={Yao, Yuan}, year={2017}, pages={1–3} }
 @misc{chang_li_yao_zhang_yu_2016, title={Quantifying the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Current Status and Trends}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1996-1073"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84959331125&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.3390/en9020065}, abstractNote={Water, energy, and food are lifelines for modern societies. The continuously rising world population, growing desires for higher living standards, and inextricable links among the three sectors make the water-energy-food (WEF) nexus a vibrant research pursuit. For the integrated delivery of WEF systems, quantifying WEF connections helps understand synergies and trade-offs across the water, energy, and food sectors, and thus is a critical initial step toward integrated WEF nexus modeling and management. However, current WEF interconnection quantifications encounter methodological hurdles. Also, existing calculation results are scattered across a wide collection of studies in multiple disciplines, which increases data collection and interpretation difficulties. To advance robust WEF nexus quantifications and further contribute to integrated WEF systems modeling and management, this study: (i) summarizes the estimate results to date on WEF interconnections; (ii) analyzes methodological and practical challenges associated with WEF interconnection calculations; and (iii) points out opportunities for enabling robust WEF nexus quantifications in the future.}, number={2}, journal={ENERGIES}, publisher={MDPI AG}, author={Chang, Yuan and Li, Guijun and Yao, Yuan and Zhang, Lixiao and Yu, Chang}, year={2016}, month={Feb} }
 @inproceedings{yao_2015, title={Accelerating the development of green technologies for chemical production through multiscale life-cycle technology assessment}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84968732939&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, booktitle={Education Division 2015 - Core Programming Area at the 2015 AIChE Annual Meeting}, author={Yao, Y.}, year={2015}, pages={205} }
 @article{yao_graziano_riddle_cresko_masanet_2016, title={Prospective Energy Analysis of Emerging Technology Options for the United States Ethylene Industry}, volume={55}, ISSN={["0888-5885"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84963569407&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1021/acs.iecr.5b03413}, abstractNote={In this study, a bottom-up technology assessment model is constructed and applied to evaluate potential changes in the cradle-to-gate primary energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of U.S. ethylene production in the future. Three chemical pathways are modeled: conventional natural gas to ethylene, shale gas to ethylene, and crude-oil-based naphtha to ethylene. State-of-the-art technology and five emerging technologies for the production of ethylene from natural gas are evaluated at the process and national levels. The results quantify the primary energy and GHG emissions reductions achievable with state-of-the-art and emerging technologies, highlight the key parameters influencing their reduction potentials, and shed light on the implications of possible feedstock and technology shifts for U.S. ethylene production over the next several decades. The generalized and flexible modeling framework presented can be further used by energy, policy, and environmental analysts for assessing the saving...}, number={12}, journal={INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Yao, Yuan and Graziano, Diane J. and Riddle, Matthew and Cresko, Joe and Masanet, Eric}, year={2016}, month={Mar}, pages={3493–3505} }
 @article{yao_graziano_riddle_cresko_masanet_2015, title={Understanding Variability To Reduce the Energy and GHG Footprints of US Ethylene Production}, volume={49}, ISSN={["1520-5851"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84950162365&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1021/acs.est.5b03851}, abstractNote={Recent growth in U.S. ethylene production due to the shale gas boom is affecting the U.S. chemical industry's energy and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions footprints. To evaluate these effects, a systematic, first-principles model of the cradle-to-gate ethylene production system was developed and applied. The variances associated with estimating the energy consumption and GHG emission intensities of U.S. ethylene production, both from conventional natural gas and from shale gas, are explicitly analyzed. A sensitivity analysis illustrates that the large variances in energy intensity are due to process parameters (e.g., compressor efficiency), and that large variances in GHG emissions intensity are due to fugitive emissions from upstream natural gas production. On the basis of these results, the opportunities with the greatest leverage for reducing the energy and GHG footprints are presented. The model and analysis provide energy analysts and policy makers with a better understanding of the drivers of energy use and GHG emissions associated with U.S. ethylene production. They also constitute a rich data resource that can be used to evaluate options for managing the industry's footprints moving forward.}, number={24}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY}, publisher={American Chemical Society (ACS)}, author={Yao, Yuan and Graziano, Diane J. and Riddle, Matthew and Cresko, Joe and Masanet, Eric}, year={2015}, month={Dec}, pages={14704–14716} }
 @article{yao_chang_masanet_2014, title={A hybrid life-cycle inventory for multi-crystalline silicon PV module manufacturing in China}, volume={9}, ISSN={["1748-9326"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84908582421&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1088/1748-9326/9/11/114001}, abstractNote={China is the world’s largest manufacturer of multi-crystalline silicon photovoltaic (mc-Si PV) modules, which is a key enabling technology in the global transition to renewable electric power systems. This study presents a hybrid life-cycle inventory (LCI) of Chinese mc-Si PV modules, which fills a critical knowledge gap on the environmental implications of mc-Si PV module manufacturing in China. The hybrid LCI approach combines process-based LCI data for module and poly-silicon manufacturing plants with a 2007 China IO-LCI model for production of raw material and fuel inputs to estimate ‘cradle to gate’ primary energy use, water consumption, and major air pollutant emissions (carbon dioxide, methane, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, and nitrogen oxides). Results suggest that mc-Si PV modules from China may come with higher environmental burdens that one might estimate if one were using LCI results for mc-Si PV modules manufactured elsewhere. These higher burdens can be reasonably explained by the efficiency differences in China’s poly-silicon manufacturing processes, the country’s dependence on highly polluting coal-fired electricity, and the expanded system boundaries associated with the hybrid LCI modeling framework. The results should be useful for establishing more conservative ranges on the potential ‘cradle to gate’ impacts of mc-Si PV module manufacturing for more robust LCAs of PV deployment scenarios.}, number={11}, journal={ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS}, publisher={IOP Publishing}, author={Yao, Yuan and Chang, Yuan and Masanet, Eric}, year={2014}, month={Nov} }
 @article{yao_graziano_riddle_cresko_masanet_2014, title={Greener pathways for energy-intensive commodity chemicals: opportunities and challenges}, volume={6}, ISSN={["2211-3398"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84912077543&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/j.coche.2014.10.005}, abstractNote={The chemical industry is poised for significant growth and investment, which presents an opportunity for adoption of greener chemical technologies. This article reviews available and emerging technologies for reducing the fossil fuel demand associated with the ammonia, ethylene, methanol, propylene, and benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) industries. These few energy-intensive commodity chemicals (EICCs) account for around half of the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of the global chemical industry. Available data are harmonized to characterize potential energy use and GHG emissions savings, while technical and economic barriers to adoption are discussed. This information sheds light on the status of future technological options for reducing the impacts of the chemicals industry, and provides quantitative data to industry analysts and policy makers seeking a greater understanding of such options for EICCs.}, journal={CURRENT OPINION IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Yao, Yuan and Graziano, Diane and Riddle, Matthew and Cresko, Joe and Masanet, Eric}, year={2014}, month={Nov}, pages={90–98} }
 @article{masanet_chang_yao_briam_huang_2014, title={Reflections on a massive open online life cycle assessment course}, volume={19}, ISSN={["1614-7502"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84922002821&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1007/s11367-014-0800-8}, abstractNote={This article summarizes student performance and survey data from a recent massive open online course (MOOC) on life cycle assessment (LCA). Its purpose is to shed light on student learning outcomes, challenges, and success factors, as well as on improvement opportunities for the MOOC and the role of online courses in LCA education in general. Student survey data and course performance data were compiled, analyzed, and interpreted for 1257 students who completed a pre-course survey and 262 students who completed a post-course survey. Both surveys were designed to assess student learning outcomes, topical areas of difficulty, changing perceptions on the nature of LCA, and future plans after completing the MOOC. Results suggest that online courses can attract and motivate a large number of students and equip them with basic analytical skills to move on to more advanced LCA studies. However, results also highlight how MOOCs are not without structural limitations, especially related to mostly "locked in" content and the impracticality of directly supporting individual students, which can create challenges for teaching difficult topics and conveying important limitations of LCA in practice. Online courses, and MOOCs in particular, may present an opportunity for the LCA community to efficiently recruit and train its next generations of LCA analysts and, in particular, those students who might not otherwise have an opportunity to take an LCA course. More surveys should be conducted by LCA instructors and researchers moving forward to enable scientific development and sharing of best practice teaching methods and materials.}, number={12}, journal={INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT}, publisher={Springer Science \mathplus Business Media}, author={Masanet, Eric and Chang, Yuan and Yao, Yuan and Briam, Remy and Huang, Runze}, year={2014}, month={Dec}, pages={1901–1907} }
 @inproceedings{yao_chang_masanet_2013, title={Hybrid life cycle assessment model of silicon photovoltaics}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84911914052&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, booktitle={Sustainable Engineering Forum 2013 - Core Programming Area at the 2013 AIChE Annual Meeting: Global Challenges for Engineering a Sustainable Future}, author={Yao, Y. and Chang, Y. and Masanet, E.}, year={2013}, pages={268–269} }
 @inproceedings{yao_chang_thwaites_masanet_2013, title={Hybrid techno-economic modeling tool for greener chemicals supply chains}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84911912530&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, booktitle={Sustainable Engineering Forum 2013 - Core Programming Area at the 2013 AIChE Annual Meeting: Global Challenges for Engineering a Sustainable Future}, author={Yao, Y. and Chang, Y. and Thwaites, F. and Masanet, E.}, year={2013}, pages={424} }
 @article{yao_you_2013, title={Life Cycle Energy, Environmental and Economic Comparative Analysis of CdTe Thin-film Photovoltaics Domestic and Overseas Manufacturing Scenarios}, volume={32}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84879015307&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1016/b978-0-444-63234-0.50123-8}, abstractNote={Solar energy is one of the most promising renewable energy alternatives for the replacement of traditional fossil fuels. CdTe photovoltaics (PVs) are thin-film solar cells that have the highest market share among all thin-film technologies. Previous LCA studies of CdTe PVs were based on the data from countries that have similar level of industrialization and strict environmental policies. Thus, to date, no LCA results have explored impacts of dramatic geographic diversity on environmental performance of CdTe PVs. Furthermore, few LCAs for CdTe PVs have taken uncertainty, which is an often overlooked but important aspect, into consideration. In this paper, we apply a "Cradle to Gate" LCA to two scenarios in China and the U.S. respectively and calculate the corresponding energy payback time and life cycle environmental impacts. Then, an uncertainty analysis is undertaken through Monte Carlo simulation. Both deterministic and uncertainty-based results indicate that geographic diversity can drastically change performance of CdTe PVs on environmental sustainability. However, this diversity of production locations has no correlation with other uncertain parameters. Results of uncertainty analysis indicate the influence of each parameter and provide guidance for future optimization of CdTe technology. Finally, comparison between CdTe and other PV technologies is displayed and discussed.}, journal={23rd European Symposium on Computer Aided Process Engineering}, publisher={Elsevier BV}, author={Yao, Yuan and You, Fengqi}, year={2013}, pages={733–738} }
 @article{gebreslassie_yao_you_2012, title={Design under uncertainty of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chains: Multiobjective stochastic programming models, decomposition algorithm, and a Comparison between CVaR and downside risk}, volume={58}, ISSN={["1547-5905"]}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84862014777&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1002/aic.13844}, abstractNote={AbstractA bicriterion, multiperiod, stochastic mixed‐integer linear programming model to address the optimal design of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chains under supply and demand uncertainties is presented. The model accounts for multiple conversion technologies, feedstock seasonality and fluctuation, geographical diversity, biomass degradation, demand variation, government incentives, and risk management. The objective is simultaneous minimization of the expected annualized cost and the financial risk. The latter criterion is measured by conditional value‐at‐risk and downside risk. The model simultaneously determines the optimal network design, technology selection, capital investment, production planning, and logistics management decisions. Multicut L‐shaped method is implemented to circumvent the computational burden of solving large scale problems. The proposed modeling framework and algorithm are illustrated through four case studies of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chain for the State of Illinois. Comparisons between the deterministic and stochastic solutions, the different risk metrics, and two decomposition methods are discussed. The computational results show the effectiveness of the proposed strategy for optimal design of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chain under the presence of uncertainties. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2012}, number={7}, journal={AICHE JOURNAL}, publisher={Wiley-Blackwell}, author={Gebreslassie, Berhane H. and Yao, Yuan and You, Fengqi}, year={2012}, month={Jul}, pages={2155–2179} }
 @inproceedings{gebreslassie_yao_you_2012, title={Multiobjective optimization of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chain designs under uncertainty}, url={http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84874265880&partnerID=MN8TOARS}, DOI={10.1109/cdc.2012.6426661}, abstractNote={In this work we propose a bi-criterion, multi-period, stochastic mixed-integer linear programming model that address the optimal design and planning of hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chains under supply and demand uncertainties. The model accounts for diverse conversion technologies, feedstock seasonality and fluctuation, geographical diversity, biomass degradation, demand variation, government incentives and risk management. The objective is simultaneous minimization of the expected annualized cost and the financial risk. The financial risk is measured by conditional value-at-risk. The model simultaneously determines the optimal network design, technology selection, capital investment, production planning, and logistics management decisions. Multi-cut L-shaped decomposition approach is implemented to circumvent the computational burden of solving large scale problems. The capabilities of the proposed modeling framework and solution algorithm are illustrated through the optimal design of the hydrocarbon biorefinery supply chain in the State of Illinois.}, booktitle={2012 IEEE 51st IEEE Conference on Decision and Control (CDC)}, publisher={Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers (IEEE)}, author={Gebreslassie, Berhane H. and Yao, Yuan and You, Fengqi}, year={2012}, pages={5560–5565} }