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This article highlights the relevance of indoor radon monitoring for occupational health protection, disease prevention, and compliance with safety regulations. Radon, a colorless, odorless, and tasteless radioactive gas, is a leading cause of lung cancer after tobacco smoking, and therefore in situ monitoring is fundamental to identify areas with high radon levels so that remediation measures must be implemented to reduce indoor exposure. The article gives an overview of the regulations in force in Portugal for indoor radon monitoring and identifies the responsibilities of different authorities and organizations in ensuring compliance with radiological protection requirements. It also outlines the legal framework for radon protection in Portugal, including the identification of reference levels for radon concentration in workplaces and dwellings, and the need to implement measures concerning indoor radon exposure reduction. Additionally, it is detailed the process of monitoring radon in indoor environments, including the selection of an appropriate measurement device and the necessary measurement time, and the need to inform and train workers about the risks associated with radon exposure. In short, this review provides information on the importance of radon monitoring and the measures required to ensure public safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the vertical distributions of organic carbon (OC) is crucial for predicting and simulating the influences of soil units on the terrestrial carbon cycle. The OC in the fine earth fraction was calculated for the soil units Anthrosols, Cambisols, Fluvisols, Leptosols, and Regosols in the municipality of Ponte de Lima, Portugal, at depths of 0–30 cm, 0–100 cm, 0–200 cm, and 0–2590 cm. In the study area, over 40% of the OC is concentrated in the Regosol unit, followed by the Anthrosols with over 23% OC at all depths, and the Leptosols with over 22% OC at all depths. The soil units Cambisols and Fluvisols have a lower representation in the territory, with values below 1.5% and 6.5% respectively at all depths. The obtained results contribute to assessing the potential of the soil units present in the municipality to sequester CO2, promoting the development of carbon inventories and analyzing the distribution of OC through accurate and reliable estimates of current C reserves as an essential tool for analyzing and modeling the effects of different factors involved in the potential of soil OC sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural fires are currently one of the main global disasters, and Portugal is among the countries that have suffered from them for decades. These fires pose economic, environmental, and social threats to the country. A primary cause of rural fires is the burning of biomass to clear agroforestry residues. Thus, combating rural fires requires more effective forest management, particularly the removal of forest residues that serve as fuel. These residues, also known as biomass, have significant potential for energy production and biofuel use. This paper proposes a model that integrates the PROMETHEE decision-making method with the roadmapping. This proposed model includes 7 steps, including the planning of the roadmap, the definition of the decision problem, gathering information and building the roadmap. The proposed model was applied to develop a roadmap proposal for the recovery of surplus agroforestry biomass in Portugal, identifying the most emerging conversion technologies in the national context. With the roadmap developed, it was possible to understand that the recovery of surplus agroforestry biomass in Portugal involves several sectors. The energy sector is one of those that can benefit from the recovery of leftover agroforestry biomass, both from the point of view of carbon neutrality and energy independence. Forestry management is another of the great advantages of recovering leftover forestry biomass and, consequently, reducing the number of fires. In the context of recovery, combustion is the most widely used technology for producing energy or heat. The technology identified as most emerging in the upcoming years is gasification. Investment in scientific research is essential for the success of this sector, as is the development of public incentive policies and more engagement from all stakeholders. This paper conclude that valorizing agroforestry residues can reduce rural fire risks while promoting energy independence, sustainable regional development, and innovation in Portugal. • The paper proposes an integrated PROMETHEE II-Roadmap model. • The proposed model is applied to the valorization of residual agroforestry biomass in Portugal (RAFB). • Benefits of RAFB valorization include reduction of rural fires, increased renewable energy alternatives, and sustainable regional development. • An evaluation of biomass conversion technologies is performed, and gasification is identified as the most emerging. • The paper emphasizes the need in the sector for research investment, stakeholder engagement and development of supply chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to evaluate the implications of the use of maritime pine non-debarked wood chips as an alternative solid fuel in industrial boilers in Portugal, highlighting the energy properties and chemical composition of the produced ash. Several samples are collected from different sources, on which a proximate analysis is carried out in order to determine the volatile matter content, fixed carbon content, ash content and higher heating value (HHV). The chemical composition of the ash samples is determined by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) method. Then, empirical indices were used to assess the utilization of the ash and its tendency to create slagging and fouling deposits in industrial boilers during the combustion process. It was concluded from the obtained results that the use of maritime pine non-debarked wood chips can significantly contribute to the formation of slagging and fouling phenomena in industrial boilers. These phenomena will be responsible for a higher number of technical stoppages of the equipment and for an increase in maintenance costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing demand for alternative forms of energy that could firstly replace fossil fuels, with the environmental advantages resulting therefrom, but that could be as well economically more beneficial by allowing companies to obtain competitive advantages from the aforementioned alternative forms of energy. In this sense, the use of waste to produce thermal energy is presented as an alternative worthy of study. In this paper, an analysis is made of the use of waste from the textile industry, more precisely cotton waste, which is used as a renewable resource for the production of thermal energy. After the characterization of the waste, the energetic potential is determined comparatively to other fuels such as woodchips and wood pellets. A comparative economic assessment with other fuels is carried out. The obtained results show that the cotton briquettes have a heating value of 16.80 MJ/kg and a cost of 0.006 €/kWh when used as fuel. This predicts an annual reduction in fuel cost of 80, 75 and 70% when compared with fuel-oil, wood pellets and wood chips, respectively. Thus, the use of cotton waste could be a viable alternative, economically and environmentally, to produce thermal energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, there is an increasing pressure to decarbonize and meet energy demands. In this regard, the usage of renewable energy sources is becoming more prominent. Biomass energy can significantly contribute to this effort. However, due to logistical costs, its exploitation is often considered less 'desirable.' Sometimes, particularly in the context of residual biomass, open burning on site is desirable. This study aims to optimize the residual biomass supply chain by leveraging digitalization's advantages, thereby creating a new model for this purpose. Methodologically, this research initially adopted an empirical approach, analyzing documents from a project that recreated the current scenario. In its second phase, the study involved a literature review to gather insights needed for developing the final model. Consequently, this study offers three major contributions: a detailed mapping of the current scenario, a comprehensive synthesis of the potentials of emerging technologies in the supply chain, and a model illustrating the integration of these technologies in the context of residual biomass. Thus, this research presents an opportunity to transform a common 'leftover' into a value-added material. To better assess the model's value, two analyses, PEST and SWOT, were conducted to align the conceptual proposal with real-world contexts. • Residual biomass is rarely used due to its logistical costs. • Digitalization could potentiate the of supply chains optimization. • Technologies 4.0 can boost renewable energy use and reducing the risk of fire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The search for new sources of energy is one of the demands of current times. Traditional lignocellulosic biomass sources, used by Man since immemorial times, begin to suffer the effects of overuse, which is why to find new sources is so urgent, especially if those are associated with industrial or agroforestry waste sources. In this context, several options arise, some of which are object of concern, given the large volumes produced, and the environmental impacts associated with them. Olive pomace is one of these cases. Portugal assumes a prominent role in the production of olive oil and is, therefore, also a major producer of waste related with olive oil industry. Energy recovery of olive pomace is something that has been referenced in the bibliography since long ago. However, traditional forms of recovery, such as direct combustion, did not shown to be the best option, given the high content of volatiles of the product, and the problems associated with its storage and transportation. Thermochemical conversion technologies, such as torrefaction or pyrolysis, can play a decisive role here, since in addition to the increment in energy density, allow a very significative volume reduction, facilitating storage and transportation. In the present study, torrefaction and pyrolysis tests were carried out on olive pomace samples at different temperatures, respectively, 300, 400 and 500 °C, followed by the characterization of the obtained materials. There was a significative improvement in the energy content of the materials. The characterization of the Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI) was also carried out, allowing comparison with coal grindability, and leaving an open door for the possibility of these residues being used as coal substitutes in coal-fueled power plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biomass industry is growing due to the current search for greener and more sustainable alternatives to fossil energy sources. However, this industry, due to its singularity, presents several challenges and disadvantages related to the transportation of raw materials, with the large volumes that are usually involved. This project aimed to address this internal logistics situation in torrefied biomass pellets production with two different biomass storage parks, located in Portugal. The main park receives raw material coming directly from the source and stores it in large amounts as a backup and strategic storage park. The second park, with smaller dimensions, precedes the production unit and must be stocked daily. Therefore, a fleet of transport units with self-unloading cranes is required to help to unload the biomass at the main park and transport the raw material from this park to the one preceding the production unit. Thus, the main goal was to determine the dimensions of the fleet used in internal transportation operations to minimize the idle time of the transport units using a methodology already in use in the mining and quarrying industry. This methodology was analyzed and adapted to the situation presented here. The implementation of this study allows the elimination of unnecessary costs in an industry where the profit margins are low. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]