Life Cycle Assessment Analysis Research Articles

Environmental impact of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production from cellulosic sugars using biochar-based acid catalyst

In this study, HMF was successfully synthesized from a range of cellulosic sugars, utilizing sustainable acidic biochar derived from cassava rhizome (CR). Various acid precursors such as sulfuric acid (H2SO4),p-toluenesulfonic acid (TsOH), and ferric chloride (FeCl3) were chosen. Acids grafted biochar were carried out through a facile hydrothermal method. HMF production was performed at 175 °C for 0.5 h using 10 % of the acidic biochar catalyst in water to isopropanol (i-PrOH) mixture ratio of 1:4. The maximum HMF yields of fructose (53.29 wt%), glucose (2.94 wt%), and cellulose (0.38 wt%) could be achieved over 600-H2SO4, 700-FeCl3, and 400-H2SO4catalysts, respectively. Moreover, the recyclability of the acidic biochar catalysts could distinguish more than five times without significant loss of activity. Remarkably, the life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis of the HMF production process indicated that the future sustainable industrial production of HMF could be realizedinvolving the 600-TsOH catalyst.

Analyzing the Approaches, Applications and Future Prospects of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Energy Analysis (LCEA) in Sustainable Development within the Building Construction

Analyzing the Approaches, Applications and Future Prospects of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Energy Analysis (LCEA) in Sustainable Development within the Building Construction

Normalization factor database for life cycle impact assessment in China

Normalization is applied to calculate the magnitude of an impact relative to the total impact of a given reference in Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Normalized profiles of environmental impacts depend on geographical areas due to differences in the industrial and economic activities. So far, Normalization factors for China are not developed to conduct life cycle assessment analysis. The purpose of this research is to propose a database of normalization factors (NFs) covering 18 environmental impact categories in a Chinese context to fill the research gap. To establish the local database, we collected the domestic inventory of emission and resources extraction in China with necessary data extrapolation and then calculated the normalization factors based on the international model ReCiPe2016. Furthermore, normalization factors for each impact category are differentiated into individual and national levels, and the substance contribution proportion of the 18 environmental impact categories is quantified. In addition, we used the Data Quality Indicator (DQI) model to evaluate the data source of impact categories, while analyzing the uncertainty of normalization factors quantitatively based on the evaluation result. The results of the quantitative analyses showed uncertainty intervals for the normalization factors. It was found that ionizing radiation and toxicity got the largest uncertainty intervals among the normalization factors for all impact categories, owing to the low completeness of the inventory of substances in those two impact categories. According to the data quality indicators of impact categories, we located the data gap in domestic inventory and proposed measures to promote comprehensiveness of inventory. This China Normalization Factors Database provides the LCA researchers with a starting point for a subsequent weighing step and improves the accuracy of LCA study at the Chinese territory.

Integrated Life Cycle Assessment and Techno-economic Analysis for Ionic Liquids-based Biomass Delignification Process

Ionic liquids (ILs) are a sort of green solvent that possess considerable promise for many industrial applications, such as the delignification of biomass. This study conducted an integrated life cycle assessment (LCA) and techno-economic analysis (TEA) of the utilization of 1 g of ILs for the ionosolv delignification process. [bmim][Cl] was selected as a case study. By using the CML 2001 environmental impact analysis method, 1 g of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride [bmim][Cl] utilization for the ionosolv delignification process emitted 3.67 g CO2 eq of GWP100, 0.013 g SO2 eq of acidification potential, 0.015 g PO43- eq of eutrophication potential, and 32.417 g 1,4-DCB eq of HTP 20a.

Recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries for a sustainable future: recent advancements.

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) are widely used as power storage systems in electronic devices and electric vehicles (EVs). Recycling of spent LIBs is of utmost importance from various perspectives including recovery of valuable metals (mostly Co and Li) and mitigation of environmental pollution. Recycling methods such as direct recycling, pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, bio-hydrometallurgy (bioleaching) and electrometallurgy are generally used to resynthesise LIBs. These methods have their own benefits and drawbacks. This manuscript provides a critical review of recent advances in the recycling of spent LIBs, including the development of recycling processes, identification of the products obtained from recycling, and the effects of recycling methods on environmental burdens. Insights into chemical reactions, thermodynamics, kinetics, and the influence of operating parameters of each recycling technology are provided. The sustainability of recycling technologies (e.g., life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis) is critically evaluated. Finally, the existing challenges and future prospects are presented for further development of sustainable, highly efficient, and environmentally benign recycling of spent LIBs to contribute to the circular economy.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis on the dyeing process to increase sustainable production in batik SMEs

Satrio Utomo SME is a batik small and medium enterprise located in Kedunggudel, Sukoharjo, which was established in 2010. This business specializes in producing two types of batik, written batik and stamped batik. Both production processes utilize Remazol as the raw material for synthetic dyes. Notably, while written batik exclusively employs 100% Remazol dye, stamped batik incorporates recycled Remazol dye. This study aims to calculate, analyze, and offer recommendations for enhancing eco-efficiency in the utilization of Remazole dye by employing the Life Cycle Assessment method with SimaPro 9.3 software to evaluate the environmental impact of both batik production methods. The results indicate that the eco- efficiency index for written batik stands at 1.03, whereas stamped batik boasts an index of 1.07, signifying superior eco-efficiency. This underscores the greater environmental impact of written batik, while stamped batik demonstrates a more favorable balance between economic and ecological considerations. The study proposes an enhancement strategy: increasing the production of stamped batik employing recycled Remazol dye due to its higher net value. For written batik, the recommendation involves transitioning from synthetic dyes to natural dyes, known for their environmental friendliness and ability to yield classic batik results.

Ultrahigh-throughput cross-flow filtration of solution-processed 2D materials enabled by porous ceramic membranes.

Printed electronics is a disruptive technology in multiple applications including environmental and biological sensors, flexible displays, and wearable diagnostic devices. With superlative electronic, optical, mechanical, and chemical properties, two-dimensional (2D) materials are promising candidates for printable electronic inks. While liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) methods can produce electronic-grade 2D materials, conventional batch separation processes typically rely on centrifugation, which requires significant time and effort to remove incompletely exfoliated bulk powders, hindering the scale-up of 2D ink manufacturing. While cross-flow filtration (CFF) has emerged as a promising continuous flow separation method for solution-processed 2D nanosheets, previously demonstrated polymer CFF membranes necessitate low 2D nanosheet concentrations to avoid fouling, which ultimately limits mass throughput. Here, we demonstrate a fully flow-based, exfoliation-to-ink system for electronic-grade 2D materials using an integrated cross-flow separation and concentration system. To overcome the relatively low-throughput processing concentrations of incumbent polymer CFF membranes, we employ porous ceramic CFF membranes that are tolerant to 10-fold higher nanosheet concentrations and flow rates without compromising separation efficiency. Furthermore, we demonstrate a concentration method via cross-flow ultrafiltration, where the retentate can be directly formulated into printable inks with electronic-grade performance that meets or exceeds centrifugally produced inks. Life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis quantitatively confirm the advantages of ceramic versus polymer CFF membranes including reductions of 97%, 96%, 94%, and 93% for greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption, fossil fuel consumption, and specific production costs, respectively. Overall, this work presents an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective solution for the fabrication, separation, and printing of electronic-grade 2D materials.

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Multi Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) of eco-friendly packaging for dairy products and fourth range.

In the current European regulatory environment, there is a growing emphasis on the need to develop fourth range and dairy packaging materials. which are more environmentally sustainable. In response to this need, a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) was conducted to assess the suitability of replacing traditional polystyrene foam boxes and polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) trays with packaging made of corrugated cardboard and coated with bioplastic. Life cycle analysis shows that bioplastic coated cardboard packaging has a lower environmental impact, despite the impact of corn and sugar cane bioplastic production. In the case of dairy packaging, an improved disposal scenario or scenario has been considered, in particular in terms of recycling. In the second case, raw materials that are totally or partially recyclable were considered. For the cardboard tray, recyclability is 100%, while for PET and PP respectively 50% and 4%, due to insufficient recycling and decontamination processes. In this scenario, the impact of fossil plastics decreases substantially, although corrugated and bioplastic packaging is again the best choice. To confirm these results, a multi-criteria decision analysis (multi-criteria Decision Analysis) was conducted, which corroborated the conclusions obtained through life cycle analysis.

Evaluation of Carbon Footprint of Automotive Instrument Panel Skin Based on LCA

This study primarily conducted a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis on six types of automotive interior instrument panel skins: Slush-molded PVC skin, PU-coated skin, Genuine leather-coated skin, Injection-molded TPV skin, Injection-molded TPEE skin, and Injection-molded TPES skin. The findings revealed that the leather coated skin had the highest carbon footprint. In contrast, the carbon footprints of the Injection-molded TPV skin, PU-coated skin, and Injection-molded TPES skin were relatively low. Among the six types of automotive instrument panel skins, the carbon emissions from the raw material acquisition stage constituted a significant portion of the total life cycle emissions, marking it as a critical phase in the product’s carbon footprint. Additionally, the study examined the impact of the electric factor on the carbon footprint, finding that the electric factor had the greatest effect on the carbon footprint of the Injection-molded TPEE skin.

Hydrothermal liquefaction integrated with wastewater treatment plants – Life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis of process system options

The purpose of this study is the formulation of various scenarios based on two different conceptual design configurations for a sewage sludge-to-fuel pathway via HTL, co-located with a wastewater treatment...

Carotenoids from wastewater-grown microalgae biomass: Life cycle assessment and techno-economical analysis

Microalgae stand out as a valuable source of carotenoids, with potential applications in various industrial sectors. Cultivating microalgae in wastewater emerges as an alternative to mitigate the high costs associated with the synthetic production of these compounds while contributing to sanitation resource recovery. Previous studies demonstrated the potential for obtaining lutein and betacarotene from biomass cultivated in domestic sewage and agro-industrial effluent. This study conducted comprehensive economic and life cycle analyses to evaluate cultivation reactors (high-rate pond and hybrid system) and extraction methods (ethyl acetate solvent and supercritical fluid) to acquire 1 kg of carotenoids efficiently. For all evaluated scenarios, higher environmental impacts were observed in the Human carcinogenic toxicity category and human health environmental damage associated with ethyl acetate and electricity consumption. Ethyl acetate also stood out with higher costs. The high-rate pond and hybrid system showed similar environmental impacts in scenarios with ethyl acetate extraction; however, when supercritical fluid was used, cultivation in the first reactor resulted in 2.2–6.2 times lower environmental impacts in Midpoint categories. Regarding the extraction method, the use of supercritical fluid demonstrated superior economic and environmental performance despite registering a 53% higher energy consumption than solvent extraction. Thus, for the viability of obtaining carotenoids from microalgae biomass, we recommend that two-stage cultivation approaches, incorporating solvent recovery steps and biomass valorization in a cascade manner within a biorefinery context, be considered in future studies.

Functional Unit definition in a circular economy perspective: implication for LCA normalisation for a footwear outsole

It is a significant challenge to address the complex issue of comparing multiple products with the same function but distinct characteristics in the circular economy framework and its implications for Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in the footwear sector. Our strategy involved developing a specific methodology for determining the durability characteristic of physical products, which was accomplished by combining the results of various physical tests. In particular, a set of urban soles was examined for the case study. The environmental footprints of the footwear were then normalised using this durability metric, aligning them with the number of units required to reach practical quality levels. Using this method, we achieved substantial changes in the results of the LCA analysis, particularly in the context of products whose design prioritised particular qualities like durability. As a result, this research emphasises the necessity of redefining the functional unit, particularly from the circular economy perspective, and illustrates how it may positively impact company eco-design policies.

The influence of Ti/Ni metallic phase content on the microstructure and environmental interactions of gradient Al2O3-based composites

Al2O3/Ti/Ni composites, enhanced with the inclusion of NiAl2O4 and TiAl2O5 phases, represent a novel class of advanced materials with multifaceted properties suitable for diverse engineering applications. Centrifugal slip casting method was used for preparation of two series of gradient Al2O3/Ti/Ni composite samples with different content of the metallic Ti and Ni phases. Series I containing 0.5 vol.% of Ni and 0.5 vol.% of Ti and Series II containing 2.5 vol.% of Ni and 2.5 vol.% of Ti. Each series contained 55 vol.% of a solid phase. Rheological properties of the suspensions as well as microstructure of the obtained composites were studied, with special attention paid to the analysis of the formed spinel phases. Both series in the green form were characterized by 3-zone structure with different metallic phase content. The widths of individual zones for the Series I and Series II, after sintering at 1450?C, were 0.53mm (zone I), 3.26mm (zone II), 0.8mm (zone III) and 1.27mm (zone I), 1.47mm (zone II), 1.87mm (zone III), respectively. The results showed that after sintering two spinel phases were formed. The NiAl2O4 spinel phase consists only of small grains with a size of approximately 1.3- 1.8 ?m, which form larger clusters with or without a void inside. The TiAl2O5 phase consists of grains with an average size of 4.3 to 4.5 ?m. The Life Cycle Assessment analysis revealed that the values of the global warming potential indicator in phase A1 are 0.16 kg and 0.20 kg equivalent of CO2 per sintered sample for the Series I and Series II, respectively.

Analysis on Environmental and Economic Benefit of Activities in Coal Mined Area: A Case Study of Tanjung Enim Mining Site, South Sumatera

Tanjung Enim Mining Site, the third oldest coal mining site in Indonesia, has conducted several reclamation activities. However, the leading way to manage the barren areas for both the environmental and economic perspectives is undefined. This research aims to determine the best reclamation activity in the mined-area by having environment and economic comparison through Life Cycle Assessment and cost-benefit analysis. The data is collected through company and government documents, also mining employee’s interviews. The assessed scenarios include revegetation; agriculture (oil-palm plantation), and solar panel field. Based on this study, it results in agriculture (oil-palm plantation) as the most feasible and suitable option to be performed in the coal-mined area for both environment and economic aspects though the revegetation gives the modest environment.

Sustainability evaluation of a PEMFC system for coalbed methane recovery based on life cycle assessment and emergy analysis

To promote the sustainable development of clean energy, a novel integrated system coupled coalbed methane recovery and proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) is developed. Life cycle assessment (LCA) and emergy analysis model are established to analyze sustainability of the proposed system. The parametric analysis is performed to assess the effects of the reforming temperature, steam carbon ratio and current density on the emergy performance. The LCA results indicate that the construction phase has the most significant impact on system sustainability, accounting for 51.65%. Reducing the use of stainless steel and copper in the construction phase and improving the recycling process in the recovery phase can help improve the sustainability performance. The emergy analysis results show that the total emergy consumption of the system is 8.53E+16, the use phase accounted for 55.8%, the construction phase accounted for 43.8%, and the recovery phase only accounted for 0.4%. Parametric analysis shows that the emergy savings ratio increases by 7.11% as the reforming temperature is 800 °C. The emergy sustainability index ranges from 3.04 to 4.45 with great sustainability performance, as the increase of steam carbon ratio. The system has low environmental load and high sustainability when the current density is close to 1. This research will help improve the sustainability evaluation system of the energy system and promote the sustainable development of clean energy.

Incorporating Environmental Impact Analysis into Louisiana’s Balanced Asphalt Mixture Design

To meet the asphalt pavement industry’s net zero carbon emission goals, increasing reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) levels to greater than 25% is considered a critical tactic. However, many state departments of transportation are cautious in adopting high RAP content into their designs because of durability issues resulting from aged RAP binders. This paper assesses the effectiveness of using the Lewis acid catalyst, FeCl3, in improving the cracking resistance of high-RAP asphalt mixtures to meet Louisiana’s balanced mixture design (BMD) criteria, and lower embodied carbon of asphalt mixtures. Four asphalt mixtures were designed and tested against permanent deformation, intermediate- and low-temperature cracking, and durability. Mixture 1 is conventional, which contains performance grade (PG) 76-22 polymer-modified asphalt binder with no RAP. Mixture 2 is unmodified PG 67-22 and 30% RAP without catalyst. Mixtures 3 and 4 incorporated an unmodified asphalt binder PG 67-22, a catalyst, and 30% and 50% RAP, respectively. A life cycle assessment (LCA) analysis was conducted on asphalt mixtures that complied with Louisiana’s BMD specifications to quantify global warming potential improvements. Because the performance of both mixtures is expected to be similar, the scope of the LCA analysis was limited to only those life cycle stages that are expected to be different, modules A1–A3 (i.e., cradle-to-gate stages). Results showed that the use of FeCl3 can improve asphalt mixtures’ cracking resistance containing high RAP contents, whilst it did not have a negative impact on permanent deformation resistance. Further, the addition of FeCl3 to asphalt mixtures with 30% and 50% RAP levels showed a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 28% and 43.4%, respectively.

Mechanical Properties of Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) and Ultra-High Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) with Recycled Sand

Use of high-cost raw materials such as quartz sand can limit wider application of ultra-high performance concrete in concrete construction. In this experimental study, recycled sand was used to fabricate ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) and ultra-high performance fiber-reinforced concrete (UHPFRC). Green UHPC with ordinary Portland cement and industrial by-products such as silica fume, fly ash, as well as recycled sand was first developed through two-step packing density tests to optimize the mix design. UHPFRC was then developed based on the UHPC mix designs and by using 1%, 2%, or 3% 13-mm straight steel fibers (SSF). The compressive strength, elastic modulus, and flexural tensile strength was 128 MPa, 46.9 GPa, and 11.9 MPa, respectively, after 28 days at water-to-binder ratio of 0.17 and with 2% SSFs. All high-performance concretes in this work utilized 100% commercially available recycled sand that was produced by wet processing method. Mechanical characteristics such as strength, elastic modulus, and density, absorption, and voids of the UHPC/UHPFRC were investigated. Development of autogenous shrinkage of UHPC/UHPFRC with recycled sand was monitored for 12 weeks, while mercury intrusion porosimetry test and scanning electron microscopy were performed for microstructural investigation. Finally, the environmental impacts and economical aspects of the green UHPC were evaluated by life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis.

Life cycle assessment and life cycle cost analysis of different walling materials with an environmental approach (comparison between earth-based vs. conventional construction techniques in Iran)

PurposeClimate change, environmental concerns, and economic problems pose challenges to the construction sector in Iran, which must provide affordable solutions while addressing environmental issues. Hence, natural earthen building materials are critically needed to reduce energy-intensive and costly construction practices dramatically. The purpose of this paper is to provide a framework for comparing life cycle assessments (LCA) and life cycle costs (LCC), for load-bearing walls of an single-family affordable housing unit in a desert part of Iran, Ardakan City.MethodsTo do so, both LCA and LCC for the unit were performed, considering a cradle-to-site perspective. For this purpose, 22 load bearing wall systems are assessed, including 18 stabilized and unstabilized earthen construction techniques, such as adobe, rammed earth (RE), and compressed earth block (CEB), in addition to four conventional wall assemblies of fired brick (FB), autoclaved aerated concrete block (AAC), ceramic block (CB), and concrete masonry unit (CMU). As well as assessing the environmental impact and life cycle costs associated with the life cycle of each wall, the optimal assembly of the wall is also examined.ResultsResults show that unstabilized earthen walling alternatives have significantly lower environmental impacts than conventional materials.ConclusionsSensitivity analysis indicates that by utilizing local materials to the maximum extent possible, impacts can be further minimized. Considering the results, transportation may even account for a greater proportion of EI than wall components.

Life cycle assessment and economic analysis of Reusable formwork materials considering the circular economy

Economic development and population growth have impacted on fossil-based energy consumption, contributing to environmental pollution. Adopting circular economy research is more pressing than ever to ease pressure on the environment and the economy. Evaluating the best construction materials is not new. To date, many researchers have assessed materials using various criteria. Formwork differs from other construction materials in terms of serviceability and reusability. These materials may be reused multiple times (from 7 to around 50 times). This raises the question of which material is the best from a sustainability perspective. In this paper we have evaluated four of the most widely-used formwork materials used in the construction of buildings in Malaysia. These include plastic, steel, plywood and timber. Evaluations of life cycle assessment (LCA), embodied energy, and life cycle cost (LCC) were conducted from cradle to cradle. For a single use of formwork, timber is best in all categories except human non-carcinogenic toxicity. However, when 50 reuses are considered for the same wall a completely different result arises. In the environmental category, steel formwork produces the lowest emissions and impact in all categories except global warming potential (GWP). Plastic formwork has the lowest carbon emissions. In terms of embodied energy and cost, plastic formwork presents the best option being approximately 20% lower than steel formwork. Because of the inconsistency in the results for LCA, embodied energy, and LCC for 50-cycles of usage, a multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) tool was used to normalize the results. The MCDM shows that plastic formwork is an ideal choice for sustainability among the alternatives considered.

Operational Efficiency and Environmental Impacts of Food Service Establishments in Phuket, Thailand

The expansion of global tourism development has led to an increase in environmental burdens. This study aimed to assess the operational performance and the environmental impacts associated with food service establishments in Phuket, an international tourist island in Thailand. A joint application of life cycle assessment and data envelopment analysis was employed to evaluate environmental burdens and calculate the efficiency scores encompassing several inputs and outputs of each food service establishment. There are several characteristics of food service establishments that affect their operational and environmental performance. The results showed that location, opening hours, and surrounding conditions are key factors driving the performance of air-conditioned food service establishments, while the performance of non-air-conditioned ones is mainly decided by opening hours. However, these factors are not significant for the performance of street food service establishments. It is advised to carefully consider the characteristics of the included food service establishments based on their products and services to enhance their performance. As an effort to achieve a balanced connection between environmental quality and economic growth, it is essential to evaluate both operational and environmental performance. Attaining maximum operational efficiency does not necessarily ensure the same for eco-efficiency.