Life cycle assessment of distillation columns manufacturing

Abstract

In the last decades, the environmental impacts are considered in the decision making of processes and equipment. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a widely used environmental methodology for environmental impacts assessment of projects and products. This study used the LCA for environmental evaluation of two types of distillation column manufacturing: a conventional tray column and a hybrid—packed and tray—column. Eco-Indicator 99 and CML 2 methods were used for inputs conversion in environmental impacts and to compare the distillation columns. Eco-Indicator 99 results showed that the use of electricity and the stainless steel are the inputs with greater environmental impact potential in both columns. Use of stainless steel presented an environmental impact percentage of 38.87% in tray column and 35.91% in hybrid column. Use of electricity apport an environmental impact percentage of 35.68% and 34.25% in tray and hybrid column, respectively. Results obtained by Eco-Indicator 99 and CML 2 methods showed that the hybrid column manufacturing presented a mean environmental impact reduction of 8.7% and 8.92%, respectively, in relation to tray column. CML 2 results showed that hybrid column manufacturing decreases the total CO2 emissions in 180.70 kg CO2 eq, resulting in a reduction of 15% when compared with the tray column manufacturing. Construction of the hybrid column is an alternative for environmental impact mitigation.