Spatial analysis to quantify and localise the residual cardoon stem fibres as potential bio-reinforcements for building materials

ABSTRACT

Today in Europe building-sector is responsible for the 50% of air pollution and for 70% of waste production. For this reason, researchers’ interest is focused on new eco-building materials that are sustainable, with low impact, renewable and recyclable. In this context, in the last few years, the use of cellulose-based fibres as potential reinforcements for bio-composite materials, instead of synthetic one, received worldwide growing attention. Among natural fibres, both cellulose and protein-based ones, in literature it was found that, due to its mechanical properties, artichoke fibre is suitable for this use. In this study, a Geographical Information System (GIS) – based model to locate and quantify the yearly amount of agricultural waste coming from Cynara cardunculus L. (CW) cultivation was put forward and was applied in a study area located in Southern Italy. As an additional protein-based fibre, sheep wool fibre was also taken into account due to the high presence of sheep. The estimated available amount of both considered fibres was reported in a GIS map in order to show their distribution at territorial level. The achieved results could represent basic information for both sustainable locating collection centre and analysing the environmental impact related to the logistics and supply phase.

KEYWORDS:

• Natural fibres
• Cynara cardunculus L.
• GIS-based model
• circular economy
• sustainability

Acknowledgments

This research was carried out by both Francesca Valenti within her project entitled “Sostenibilità dell’agricoltura e dell’industria agro-alimentare Mediterranea”—Programma Operativo Nazionale (PON) FSE–FESR “Research and Innovation 2014–2020, D.D. 407/2018” Attraction and Mobility (AIM)–Proposal: AIM1848200, Line 1, CUP: E64I19002440007 supported by Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR), and by Monica C.M. Parlato PhD student in the “International Doctorate in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science – Di3A – University of Catania (Italy)” and was supported by Simona M.C. Porto advisor and vice-coordinator of the above mentioned doctorate. Furthermore, it is in line with the research project funded by the University of Catania: (PIAno di inCEntivi per la RIcerca di Ateneo 2020/2022 (D.R. N. 1208 dell’11 Maggio 2020) -“Engineering solutions for sustainable development of agricultural buildings and land” (ID: 5A722192152) -WP3: Ottimizzazione e valorizzazione dell’uso delle risorse naturali, sottoprodotti e scarti.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contributions

Parlato Monica C.M.: Conceptualisation, Methodology, Writing – Original draft preparation, Writing – Reviewing and Editing. Valenti Francesca: Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation, Software, Writing – Reviewing and Editing, Supervision. Lanza Elisa: Writing – Original draft preparation. Porto Simona M.C.: Visualization

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Monica C.M. Parlato

Monica C.M. Parlato is Architectural and Building Engineer, PhD student in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania (Italy). Her research activity mainly focuses on sustainable bio-based building materials and technologies, agricultural waste valorization, GIS-based analyses. During her research activity she was experienced on mechanical analyses, physical analyses, GIS models, production process of reinforced bio composites, laboratory activities. She has a teaching experience of 7 years as math teacher at high school.

Francesca Valenti

Francesca Valenti is Architectural and Building Engineer, PhD in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science, Assistant Professor at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A) of the University of Catania (Italy), and she has got the Italian scientific qualification for the role of full professor. Her research activity mainly focuses on GIS-based analyses; modelling and planning; food security in agro-industrial buildings; building systems and infrastructures for animal breeding; evaluation of the environmental sustainability of innovative production processes through LCA. During her research activity she was experienced on GIS models, CFD models, LCA tools, laboratory activities, chemical analyses, BMP tests and simulation of the continuous anaerobic digestion process. She is a member of the editorial board of the journal Applied System Innovation and Guest Editor for Special Issue “Reuse, Recycle and Reduce: Smart Innovative Treatments of Agricultural Waste and By-Products” on Applied System Innovation and the Special Issue ”Water–Food–Energy Nexus for a Sustainable Use and Management of Natural Resources, Byproducts and Wastes in Agri-Food Systems” on Energies.

Elisa Lanza

Elisa Lanza is an Architect, PhD student in Agricultural, Food and Environmental Science at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment (Di3A), University of Catania (Italy). Her research interests mailnly focus on green materials, technical solutions for nZEB (nearly Zero Energy Building) construction, environmental sustainability, landscape safeguard, and LCA Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyses.

Simona M.C Porto

Simona M.C. Porto is associate professor at the University of Catania (Italy) in the scientific sector “Rural Buildings and Agro-Forest Land Planning.” In the same institution, she is president of the master degree course “Safeguarding the territory, the environment and landscape,” vice coordinator of the PhD course in “agricultural, food and environmental science,” and a member of the related academic board. She is a member of the Italian Association of Agricultural Engineering (AIIA), technical section “agricultural constructions, installation techniques and related technologies.” She is also a member of the International Commission of Agricultural Engineering (CIGR), technical section “farm buildings, equipment, structures and environment.” She is the principal investigator in important national and international research projects. She is a member of the editorial board of the journal Sustainability. The studies that she has carried out have been published in over 100 full papers, more than half of them being indexed in the Scopus database and Web of Science.