Abstract
BackgroundChina has the largest lead–acid battery (LAB) industry and market around the world, and this situation causes unavoidable emissions of Pb and other pollutants.MethodsOn the basis of a field survey on a starting–lighting–ignition (SLI) LAB plant in Zhejiang Province, this study applies life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methods to assess the environmental impacts and environment-related costs derived from the LAB industry during the life phases, including material preparation, battery assembly, transportation, and regeneration of the plant.ResultsMaterial preparation and regeneration phases contribute 3.4 and 42.2 g to Pb emission, respectively, and result in 3.29 × 108 CHY of environmental cost for each function unit (1 KVA h LAB capacity). The material preparation phase is the largest mass contributor to global warming potential (GWP, 97%), photo-chemical oxidation potential (POCP, 88.9%), and eutrophication potential (EP, 82.5%) and produces 2.68 × 108 CHY of environmental cost.DiscussionDecision makers in the Chinese LAB industry should replace the pyrogenic process in smelting with the use of clean energy, increase the lead recovery rate while producing the same capacity of LABs, and develop new technologies to reduce heavy metal emission, especially in the regeneration phase.
Highlights
The lead–acid battery (LAB) is a broadly used power source around the world due to its apparent advantages, including low price, high unit voltage, stable performance, and capability to operate at extreme temperatures (Chang et al, 2009)
The aim of this study is to assess the environmental impacts of SLI LABs in China by using the life cycle assessment (LCA) method coupled with life cycle costing (LCC) analysis and present a clear view of the potential aspects that LAB manufacturers should focus on to reduce negative environmental impacts
The material preparation phase has the highest level of global warming potential (GWP) due to the use of fossil fuel, and the regeneration phase has the highest heavy metal emission (HME) impact because of the improper management of lead smelting
Summary
The lead–acid battery (LAB) is a broadly used power source around the world due to its apparent advantages, including low price, high unit voltage, stable performance, and capability to operate at extreme temperatures (Chang et al, 2009). On the basis of a field survey on a starting–lighting–ignition (SLI) LAB plant in Zhejiang Province, this study applies life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle costing (LCC) methods to assess the environmental impacts and environment-related costs derived from the LAB industry during the life phases, including material preparation, battery assembly, transportation, and regeneration of the plant. Material preparation and regeneration phases contribute 3.4 and 42.2 g to Pb emission, respectively, and result in 3.29 × 108 CHY of environmental cost for each function unit (1 KVA h LAB capacity). Decision makers in the Chinese LAB industry should replace the pyrogenic process in smelting with the use of clean energy, increase the lead recovery rate while producing the same capacity of LABs, and develop new technologies to reduce heavy metal emission, especially in the regeneration phase
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