Abstract
The construction sector is known as an important consumer of natural resources. The use of by-products from different production chains in the sector is encouraged, promoting a reduction in the extraction of natural resources, reducing the need for residues disposal and enhancing circularity. Silica fume is a by-product from the smelting process in the silicon and ferrosilicon industry, commonly used as concrete supplementary cementitious material, which provides chemical and physical effects on concrete microstructure. When LCA evaluation is conducted, different impact distribution models may be applied to assess the potential impact of the by-productss. Although their benefits are recognized, some studies still report them as burden free, having no allocated impacts . Thereby, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the differences in silica fume life cycle impacts by analyzing three scenarios from cradle to gate, considering the modeling procedures described by ISO 14040, the Cut-off model from Ecoinvent version 3.3 and the impact assessment method CML v.4.4, according to the CEN EN 15804 recommended categories. Results enhance the understanding regarding model selection and demonstrate that the selection of the proper distribution model is key, considering that this may lead to important differences in the results.
Highlights
Thereby, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the differences in silica fume life cycle impacts by analyzing three scenarios from cradle to gate, considering the modeling procedures described by ISO 14040, the Cut-off model from Ecoinvent version 3.3 and the impact assessment method CML v.4.4, according to the CEN EN 15804 recommended categories
The construction sector is recognized by producing numerous environmental impacts due to the high consumption of natural resources, high energy consumption for extraction of the raw material and for the large production of waste
Choices related to the Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) modeling process, such as the different sets of rules that can be applied in the studies, may lead to different results [8]
Summary
The construction sector is recognized by producing numerous environmental impacts due to the high consumption of natural resources, high energy consumption for extraction of the raw material and for the large production of waste. Thereby, the aim of this paper is to evaluate the differences in silica fume life cycle impacts by analyzing three scenarios from cradle to gate, considering the modeling procedures described by ISO 14040, the Cut-off model from Ecoinvent version 3.3 and the impact assessment method CML v.4.4, according to the CEN EN 15804 recommended categories.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.