Recovery Plant Research Articles

Experience in Monitoring Brazed Aluminium Heat Exchanger, after Major Repairs

Brazed Aluminium Heat Exchangers are fundamental for a natural gas liquid recovery plant. Refrigeration at cryogenic temperatures and the liquefaction process take advantages from their thermal hydraulic efficiency and compactness characteristics, making such units economically feasible. These exchangers are proprietary design, with only a few manufacturers around the world and limited knowledge about their maintenance. After two failures in the same equipment with possible thermal fatigue contributions, occurring only nine months apart, two complex repair procedures had to be carried out. To ensure operational safety, online monitoring through Acoustic Emission Technique has been performed. This monitoring led to discoveries of systems and routine maneuverer that triggered damage mechanisms. This allowed for the implementation of adjustments to mitigate the propagation of damage, thereby increasing the equipment's lifespan. The procedure applied in this type of equipment constitutes an innovative approach using the Acoustic Emission technique, which has resulted in a successful strategy of condition monitoring.

Monetizing and selection of sustainable tannery sludge-to-energy technology using a simulation-based novel integrated MCDM model along with life cycle Techno-Economic-ESG analysis

Tannery sludge (TS) is a harmful, hazardous byproduct of the leather processing industry. This industrial solid waste generally undergoes uncontrolled landfilling and pollutes the surrounding environment, including water, air, and soil. Thus, to protect the environment and promote sustainable development goals (SDGs), an innovative TS valorization process design is urgently necessary. Nonetheless, the previous literature mainly focused on the physicochemical characteristics of TS and entirely ignored developing innovative processes for energy recovery. Further, there is a lack of study on developing life cycle techno-economic, environmental, social, and governance (T-E-ESG) frameworks for the TS-to-energy recovery scheme selection in an uncertain environment. To address these gaps, this study, for the first time, develops a simulation-based data-driven life cycle T-E-ESG framework for assessing TS-to-energy recovery schemes. A comprehensive fuzzy Delphi and hybrid weighting method (fuzzy-based best-worst method and level-based weight assessment) integrated with the fuzzy Bonferroni combined compromise solution (CoCoSo) model are proposed for evaluating TS-to-energy recovery schemes based on the T-E-ESG framework. The extended literature review identified thirty T-E-ESG factors, further verified using the fuzzy Delphi technique. The findings of the hybrid weighting method confirmed that the two most important factors are ‘Revenue per day with subsidy’ and ‘Energy efficiency’. The fuzzy Bonferroni CoCoSo analysis indicated ‘TS to power generation with carbon capture’ as the optimal solution for TS valorization as it received the highest relative significance score value of 2.2655, which ensured its’ suitability for real-time implication. The study findings may be used as a benchmark for the policymakers to establish optimal TS-to-energy recovery plant in developing countries.

Part-load analysis and preliminary annual simulation of a constant inventory supercritical CO2 power plant for waste heat recovery in cement industry

The present work investigates the part-load performance of a MW-scale sCO2 power plant designed as waste heat recovery unit for an existing cement plant located in Czech Republic, in the framework of the H2020 funded project CO2OLHEAT. The study first presents the selected power plant configuration and then focuses on the evaluation of its part-load operation due to variation of flue gas mass flow rate and temperature. The range of flue gas conditions at the outlet of the upstream process is retrieved from a preliminary statistical analysis of historical trends obtained through the cement plant monitoring. The numerical model developed for this study aims at providing realistic results thanks to the adoption of turbomachinery performance maps provided by the turbomachinery manufacturer of the project. Moreover, heat exchangers have been modelled through a discretized approach which has been validated against manufacturer data, while piping inventory and pressure losses have been assessed through a preliminary sizing that considers the actual distances to be covered in the cement plant. Performance decay is estimated for the whole range of flue gas conditions, reporting the most significant power cycle parameters, and identifying the main causes of efficiency loss. The part-load analysis is carried out considering a constant CO2 inventory, in order to reduce the system complexity and capital cost and simplify plant operation. Results show that the operation entails minor variation of the compressors operative points in the whole range of operating conditions of the cement plant, avoiding the risk of anti-surge bypass activation. Moreover, the plant is able to work close to the nominal thermodynamic cycle efficiency (20.5 %–23.0 %) for most of the year and benefits from part-load operation in terms of overall performance. In the last part of the work, a preliminary techno-economic analysis of the plant is also presented to highlight the potential advantages of sCO2 technology for waste heat recovery applications. The results of the part-load performance of the plant are combined with the flue gases data obtained from the preliminary statistical analysis and the cement plant historical monitoring. An annual electricity production equal to 13′909.7 MWh is obtained, corresponding to 6560 equivalent hours and a system capacity factor of 74.9 %. The investment cost of each CO2OLHEAT plant component is estimated by means of cost correlations obtained from literature and the non-discounted payback time is computed as a function of the electricity selling price. The results show that, even considering electricity prices before 2022, the payback time of the CO2OLHEAT plant is estimated to be lower than 8 years, justifying the industrial interest in the proposed technology.

Techno-economic analysis and optimization of a binary geothermal combined district heat and power plant for Puga Valley, India

This article investigates the energy, exergy, and economic performance of a Puga Valley-specific binary geothermal combined district heat and power plant, taking into account geotechnical data and related cost functions. The power plant uses an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) with R123 as the working fluid, utilizing waste heat for district heating to enhance efficiency. Variations in operating and design parameters such as geothermal fluid flow rate, temperature, and ORC temperature of the evaporator and condenser are found to have significant effects on the overall performance of the system and cost rate. A multi-objective grey wolf optimization technique based on artificial neural networks has been used to determine the ideal values of the above-mentioned parameters. The optimization study revealed a Pareto optimal curve with overall exergy efficiency and total cost rate as objective functions from which the optimal point was identified using the technique for order preference by similarity to the ideal solution (TOPSIS) method. While operating the proposed CHP plant at TOPSIS optimal point, the plant delivers a net electrical output of 1.08 MW alongside 4.19 MW of thermal energy, resulting in a total cost rate of 33.84 USD/h, with energy and exergy efficiencies peaking at 32.26 % and 36.8 %, respectively. The exergy analysis at the optimal point also revealed a notable reduction of 550 kW in the total exergy destruction rate compared with the base-case scenario. Furthermore, the design requirements of a 5 MW net power output CHP plant for effective recovery of the Puga Valley geothermal resource are discussed.

Effects of different soda loss measurement techniques on brownstock quality

The efficiency of the kraft recovery plant, bleaching process, and paper machine are affected when black liquor carryover from the brownstock washers is not controlled well. Measuring soda loss within a mill can vary from using conductivity, either in-situ or with a lab sample of black liquor filtrate squeezed from the last stage washer, to measuring absolute sodium content with a lab sodium specific ion probe or spectrophotometer. While measuring conductivity has value in tracking trends in black liquor losses, it is not an acceptable method in reporting losses in absolute units, typically in lb/ton of pulp. This is further complicated when trying to benchmark soda loss performance across a fleet of mills with multiple washer lines. Not only do the testing methods vary, but the amount of bound soda on high kappa pulps can be significant. This variability creates inconsistent results, and studies are needed to understand the effect of different testing methods on the pulp quality. In this study, soda loss is expressed as sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). Four different methods to measure soda content in pulp off commercial brownstock washers were studied: full digestion (FD), washing soaking overnight and washing (WSW), soaking in boiling water and stirring 10-min (SW-10), and squeeze-no wash (Sq). Total, washable, and bound sodium sulfate calculations were determined for each soda content measuring technique using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results showed bound and washable sodium sulfate amounts significantly depend on which soda measurement technique was used. In addition, the soda results were correlated with the pulp kappa numbers. As the kappa number increases, bound soda increases, regardless of the soda measurement method used. Impacts of high sodium sulfate in brownstock are also discussed.

Temporal change and impact on air quality of an energy recovery plant using the M-BACI design in Gipuzkoa

A significant concern in our society is the potential impact on both health and the environment of air pollutants released during the incineration of waste. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct thorough control and monitoring measures. In this context, the objective of this research was to study the evolution of particulate matter (PM2.5) and associated trace elements during the period before and after the installation of an Energy Recovery Plant (ERP). For that, a descriptive and temporal analysis of PM2.5 concentration and composition were performed on two similar areas (impact/control) using the Before-After/Control-Impact (BACI) design and two periods (before from January 01, 2018 to February 06, 2020 and after from December 10, 2020 to September 30, 2022). Results showed a decrease in the levels of PM2.5 and associated trace elements is observed in the impact zone (IZ) and in the control zone (CZ) throughout the study period. In the case of PM2.5, the most notable decrease occurred in the period of the start-up of the ERP, a period that coincides with the confinement and restrictions of COVID, with a subsequent increase in both zones, without reaching the levels observed in the period prior to the start-up of the ERP. Selenium is the only trace element that increases significantly in the IZ. In conclusion, a decrease is observed for all pollutants except selenium in both zones, although less pronounced in the IZ. Since selenium already showed an upward trend in the phase prior to the start of the ERP, it is necessary to investigate its evolution and find out the possible cause.

Techno-economic analysis of green hydrogen production, storage, and waste heat recovery plant in the context of Nepal

Alkaline water electrolysis (AWE) operated by surplus electricity is suitable for producing green hydrogen in Nepal. Simulation models are built using DWSIM software for AWE, multistage compression, and the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). The AWE system's Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) is determined to be $47 million and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) of $7.65 million/year. The storage system, including the multistage compression system and Type IV cylinders, has a CAPEX of $52 million and an OPEX of $17 million/year. The ORC has a CAPEX of $500,000 and an OPEX of $200,000/year. The thermal power generated from AWE and multistage compression can be converted to electricity by the ORC and supplied to the AWE system. This process decreases the Levelized Cost of Hydrogen (LCOH) from $3.5141/kg over 5 years to $3.4725/kg over 25 years. The techno-economic analysis performed confirms the feasibility of implementing these plants in Nepal.

Waste Material Recovery Process in Indore – A Field Study

Waste generation in today’s life is increasing day by day in various forms, may it be biodegradable or non-biodegradable. Biodegradable waste like paper, wood, cardboard, and others like metals is not creating trouble as they can easily be recycled or decomposed without harming the environment. On the other hand, plastic and other non-biodegradable waste is becoming a matter of concern for so many reasons to be listed. To overcome such issues, many initiatives have been taken by various groups along with many government programs. This field study deals with one of the material recovery facilities at Indore. This facility was visited and checked for its working procedure. The facility was working on dry plastic waste of different forms, which was being collected from residential, public, and commercial areas in this location. With the help of collecting vehicles and manpower, the waste was collected and segregated in different forms to be sent for further processing to form Gatta pipes, and for other purposes like recycling, waste to recovery plants, and the landfills.

Controlling In Planta Gold Nanoparticle Synthesis and Size for Catalysis.

Gold nanoparticles (Au-NPs) are used as catalysts for a diverse range of industrial applications. Currently, Au-NPs are synthesized chemically, but studies have shown that plants fed Au deposit, this element naturally as NPs within their tissues. The resulting plant material can be used to make biomass-derived catalysts. In vitro studies have shown that the addition of specific, short (∼10 amino acid) peptide/s to solutions can be used to control the NP size and shape, factors that can be used to optimize catalysts for different processes. Introducing these peptides into the model plant species, Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis), allows us to regulate the diameter of nanoparticles within the plant itself, consequently influencing the catalytic performance in the resulting pyrolyzed biomass. Furthermore, we show that overexpressing the copper and gold COPPER TRANSPORTER 2 (COPT2) in Arabidopsis increases the uptake of these metals. Adding value to the Au-rich biomass offers the potential to make plant-based remediation and stabilization of mine wastes financially feasible. Thus, this study represents a significant step toward engineering plants for the sustainable recovery of finite and valuable elements from our environment.

TEST RESULTS OF DOMESTIC RECUPERATIVE COALS

Adsorption steam recovery plants (VRS) of oil and petroleum products are among the most common in the world. This is facilitated by their relatively high throughput, low energy consumption, and a sufficiently high achievable degree of purification of the gas-air mixture (GAM) from hydrocarbons. The main consumable material in this case is an adsorbent – a substance capable of first selectively attaching hydrocarbon gases contained in hot water to its surface, and when thermodynamic conditions change, it detaches them. Most often, recuperative (activated) coal is used as an adsorbent. During operation, the adsorption capacity of recuperative coal gradually decreases. This is facilitated by the mechanical destruction heavy hydrocarbons contained in the hot water, which cannot be fully isolated during the desorption operation. Therefore, periodically recuperative coal requires replacement.Until recently, it was purchased abroad. Usually, recuperative coal was supplied complete with the recuperation units themselves, supplied from abroad. However, to date, adsorption VRS have begun to be produced in Russia. In addition, the endless sanctions of the West are forcing us to look for sources of supply of this adsorbent inside the country.The article presents the results of comparative laboratory tests of a number of recuperative coals for use in the adsorption of hydrocarbons from hot water. According to the of coal granules, as well as water vapor and value of the integral efficiency indicator, the best of them was the Sorber-30 brand coal. In addition, the enterprise at which it is produced has the necessary production facilities, human resources, capabilities for conducting input quality control of raw materials and the quality of finished products, and also supplies recuperative coal to consumers in sufficiently large volumes, i.e. is a reliable supplier.The article also describes the results of comparative industrial tests of the recovery coal «Sorber-30» and imported coal of the brand «CGF4 plus», operated in the adsorption VRSin LLC «Transneft – Port Kozmino» since 2014.

A comparative multidimensional evaluation of parameters and alternatives for transformation of sustainable cement production in Pakistan

The United Nations has declared its latest climate report a ‘code red,’ sounding the alarm and prompting a global call for scientists and policymakers to adopt comprehensive, systems-wide integrated strategies for promoting sustainable life on Earth. The need for collaborative and holistic approaches for the transformation of cement production into a socio-ecologically sustainable industrial segment had never been more imperative. This paper rigorously evaluates the parameters and alternatives for the sustainable transformation of Pakistan's cement industry. Economic, environmental, and social parameters are explored and screened using multiple methodologies. Real-world data collected from the operating cement plants in Pakistan are analyzed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Grey Relational Analysis (GRA). The consolidated list of sustainability criteria and alternatives is evaluated using the Multi Actor Multi Criteria Analysis (MAMCA) framework, which incorporates the involvement of both local and international stakeholders for prioritization of the transformation goals. Data analytic results reveal that carbon emissions have a strong degree of statistical association with production ingredients such as SiO2, Insoluble Residue (IR), Al2O3, and Fe2O3. Although there are a few interesting variations in the priorities computed from the recorded perspectives of different stakeholders, the consensus on giving top priority to environmental parameters and the alternatives like ‘Waste-heat Recovery Plants’ and ‘Vertical Rolling Mills’ is novel and promising. By taking all the main sustainability domains into account, employing multidimensional techniques, and involving multiple stakeholder perspectives under the context of a developing country, the research outcomes of this study become highly attractive for researchers, investors, and policymakers all over the world.

Optimized flare gas recovery technology with consideration of life cycle assessment, reliability analyses, and uncertainity of parameters

One of the most important sources of carbon dioxide emissions is gas flaring from oil wells. In addition to having an adverse effect on the environment, burning gases with a high energy value causes significant economic losses. The present work evaluated the best allocation for flare gas recovery technologies between eleven technologies considering life cycle assessment, reliability, and uncertainty analysis of some economic parameters in Iran's oil field. By choosing three objective functions, i.e., the carbon dioxide emission reduction, return payback period, and global warming by life cycle assessment analysis, the best combination of system was selected from eleven technologies using the genetic (NSGAII) algorithm and decision-making technique (TOPSIS) simultaneously. It was shown that the technology's reliability affects the best solution. Correspondingly, the integration of an enhanced oil recovery plant and a natural gas liquid at the capital investment of 120 M$ and a benefit of 263 M$ annually, with a repayment period of nine months, CO2 reduction of 1314,579 tons per year, and global warming effect of 699,820 tone CO2 equivalent was introduced as the best technology.

The water-soluble fraction of extracellular polymeric substances from a resource recovery demonstration plant: characterization and potential application as an adhesive.

Currently, there is a growing interest in transforming wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) into resource recovery plants. Microorganisms in aerobic granular sludge produce extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), which are considered sustainable resources to be extracted and can be used in diverse applications. Exploring applications in other high-value materials, such as adhesives, will not only enhance the valorization potential of the EPS but also promote resource recovery. This study aimed to characterize a water-soluble fraction extracted from the EPS collected at the demonstration plant in the Netherlands based on its chemical composition (amino acids, sugar, and fatty acids) and propose a proof-of-concept for its use as an adhesive. This fraction comprises a mixture of biomolecules, such as proteins (26.6 ± 0.3%), sugars (21.8 ± 0.2%), and fatty acids (0.9%). The water-soluble fraction exhibited shear strength reaching 36-51 kPa across a pH range of 2-10 without additional chemical treatment, suggesting a potential application as an adhesive. The findings from this study provide insights into the concept of resource recovery and the valorization of excess sludge at WWTPs.

MiRNAs are involved in regulating the formation of recovery tissues in virus infected Nicotiana tabacum.

MiRNAs play an important role in regulating plant growth and immune response. Mosaic diseases are recognized as the most important plant diseases in the world, and mosaic symptoms are recovery tissues formed by plants against virus infection. However, the mechanism of the formation of mosaic symptoms remains elusive. In this study, two typical mosaic systems consisting of Nicotiana tabacum-cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and N. tabacum-tobacco mosaic virus (TMV) were used to investigate the relevance of miRNAs to the appearance of mosaic symptoms. The results of miRNA-seq showed that there were significant differences in miRNA abundance between dark green tissues and chlorotic tissues in mosaic leaves caused by the infection of CMV or TMV. Compared with healthy tissues, miRNA expression was significantly increased in chlorotic tissues, but slightly increased in dark green tissues. Three miRNAs, namely miR1919, miR390a, and miR6157, were identified to be strongly up-regulated in chlorotic tissues of both mosaic systems. Results of overexpressing or silencing of the three miRNAs proved that they were related to chlorophyll synthesis, auxin response, and small GTPase-mediated immunity pathway, which were corresponding to the phenotype, physiological parameters and susceptibility of the chlorotic tissues in mosaic leaves. Besides, the newly identified novel-miRNA48, novel-miRNA96 and novel-miRNA103 may also be involved in this formation of mosaic symptoms. Taken together, our results demonstrated that miR1919, miR390a and miR6157 are involved in the formation of mosaic symptoms and plant antiviral responses, providing new insight into the role of miRNAs in the formation of recovery tissue and plant immunity.

Development of an eco-friendly mobile plant for car wash wastewater recovery

The global increase in the number of vehicles has a negative impact on the sustainable development due to the increased energy consumption, noise, and air pollution, as well as the increased water consumption used for car wash. The car wash is one of the main after-sale services in the automobile sector. If car wash wastewater (CWW) could be reused, fresh water customarily used in car washing could be preserved. To achieve this goal, it is necessary to implement ?on-site? wastewater treatment systems (i.e. at car wash stations). In this research, a novel pilot plant is developed for ?on site? treatment of CWW. This pilot plant presents combined methods. It consists of three innovative modules: a multipurpose reactor (for coagulation/flotation, aeration/oxidation), deep bed filter (for filtration), and a two-stage bed coalescer (for coalescence filtration). In all these units packing materials are very light (expanded polystyrene (EPS) and polyurethane (PU)) and therefore energy consumption is significantly low. The pilot plant has a simple and light construction, so that it can be easily moved. It has shown very high COD reduction efficiency as well as removal efficiencies of suspended solids, and oil/grease, thus exhibiting high potentials for water recovery at car wash stations.

Supercritical carbon dioxide recovery system applied to cement industries

The paper addresses the potential heat-to-power application of supercritical CO2 (sCO2) plants to the cement industry, thereby reducing their electricity demand and improving energy efficiency. The research was conducted as part of the European project CO2OLHEAT (G.A. 101022831), which involves the installation of a 2 MW Waste-Heat-to-Power (WH2P) skid based on a sCO2 cycle in a cement plant, the first of its kind with a MW-scale power output. The paper summarizes technologies and processes employed in the Italian cement production sector, detecting where the waste heat can be successfully extracted to feed the recovery plant without compromising the industrial process. Moreover, the paper discusses the national cement market and explores the potential advantages and limitations of integrating sCO2 recovery plants within the national cement context, considering production and energy-related data. The final finding reveals the percentage of recoverable electricity per technological class for the cement production sector in Italy with a potential application of the sCO2 recovery plant, aiming at identifying the potential market penetration of the CO2OLHEAT installation.

Techno-economic review of pyrolysis and gasification plants for thermochemical recovery of plastic waste and economic viability assessment of small-scale implementation

Techno-economic review of pyrolysis and gasification plants for thermochemical recovery of plastic waste and economic viability assessment of small-scale implementation

Performance Optimization and Exergy Analysis of Thermoelectric Heat Recovery System for Gas Turbine Power Plants.

Thermoelectric (TE) waste heat recovery has attracted significant attention over the past decades, owing to its direct heat-to-electricity conversion capability and reliable operation. However, methods for application-specific, system-level TE design have not been thoroughly investigated. This work provides detailed design optimization strategies and exergy analysis for TE waste heat recovery systems. To this end, we propose the use of TE system equipped on the exhaust of a gas turbine power plant for exhaust waste heat recovery and use it as a case study. A numerical tool has been developed to solve the coupled charge and heat current equations with temperature-dependent material properties and convective heat transfer at the interfaces with the exhaust gases at the hot side and with the ambient air at the heat sink side. Our calculations show that at the optimum design with 50% fill factor and 6 mm leg thickness made of state-of-the-art Bi2Te3 alloys, the proposed system can reach power output of 10.5 kW for the TE system attached on a 2 m-long, 0.5 × 0.5 m2-area exhaust duct with system efficiency of 5% and material cost per power of 0.23 $/W. Our extensive exergy analysis reveals that only 1% of the exergy content of the exhaust gas is exploited in this heat recovery process and the exergy efficiency of the TE system can reach 8% with improvement potential of 85%.

Proposal, process development, and multi-aspect investigation of a novel environmentally friendly multigeneration process in arrangement with a sea water desalination unit

The present study focuses on the energy, exergy, economic, and environmental evaluations of a new multigeneration process integrated with a gas turbine power plant for an eco-friendly cascade heat recovery. This system includes an organic Rankine cycle, a sea water desalination unit, a combined cooling and power unit, and a dual organic Rankine cycle. The process is simulated by employing the Aspen HYSYS software. A parameter evaluation is performed to investigate the effect of operational conditions on the output of the new structure and its energy and exergy efficiencies. It is determined that the system is capable of producing cooling, heating, power, and fresh water products with capacities of 1096 kW, 51,040 kW, 148,500 kW, and 131.2 kg/s, respectively, in the baseline state. Additionally, it is found that the primary energy saving, thermal efficiency, electricity efficiency, energy utilization factor, energy efficiency, and exergy efficiency for the new structure are 31.9%, 13.4%, 39.0%, 52.4%, 52.7%, and 63.6%, respectively. The investigations demonstrate that the total exergy destruction is 146,675 kW, and the highest amount occurs in the desalination subsystem (46.4%). The evaluations describe that the new structure can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 39.8% compared to conventional power and heat generation. The economic estimation indicates the proposed process has positive economic growth with a net present value of 502.99 M$. The values of the total unit cost of products, the cost of energy, and the internal rate of return equal 10.9 $/GJ, 0.057 $/kWh, and 5.08 year, respectively.

Regional management options for floating marine litter in coastal waters from a life cycle assessment perspective

PurposeDespite the increasing number of publications focusing on the management of marine plastic debris, most research is carried out using an upstream perspective, focused on sources and pathways of marine litter accumulation, as well as actions to prevent plastics from entering the environment. The aim of this paper is therefore to investigate a combination of waste management technologies for marine litter in order to inform decision-making on environmental impact hotspots at regional level.MethodA study of the North Sea German Bight identified existing technologies suitable for the collection and treatment of floating marine debris including, recycling of plastics, mechanical biological treatment (MBT), and landfilling. Processing data for reported marine litter compositions in the region are used to inform the modelling of a waste management strategic plan (WMSP) aimed at valorising various fractions. Hence, collected floating marine litter is separated into derelict fishing gear (DFG) and mixed marine litter (MML) which are sent respectively to a recycling plant for plastic granulates production and to an MBT plant for recovery of metals and electricity generation. Environmental impacts of the WMSP are evaluated using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology and compared with incineration considered as the prevalent waste scenario.Results and discussionAs partly expected, the LCA results reveal higher environmental performance in all impact categories for the incineration scenario. In particular, the WMSP contributes to Global Warming Potential (GWP) more than 10 orders of magnitude less than the incineration scenario. However, the breakdown of results related to the WMSP indicates the highest contribution to environmental impacts attributed to electricity and heat generation from refused-derived fuel and emissions at the combined heat and power plant, as well as electricity and diesel consumption. Lowest contributions are attributed to the recycling plant. The sensitivity analysis revealed low contributions to GWP if plastic debris such as DFG is diverted to recycling while toxicity-related categories are improved by efficient metal and energy recovery at the MBT plant.ConclusionFindings of this study show that no single treatment method is enough rather a combination of different treatment pathways should be designed considering the composition and properties of accumulated marine litter in a specific area. However, recovering plastic litter and diverting useful materials from waste-to-energy to recycling improve the environmental performance. Reviews suggest inclusion of valorisation treatment options in future WMSPs of marine litter such as plastic-to-fuel technologies.