Improving eco-efficiency in the steel industry: The ArcelorMittal Gent case

In addition to CO₂ released by the combustion of fossil fuel and leading to climate change, large steelworks emit pollutants that have other environmental impacts. ArcelorMittal Gent, an integrated steelwork producing ca. 5 × 10⁶ tons of steel per year, not only decreased its specific energy consumption and CO₂-emissions, but also reduced the environmental impact of its other emissions. This is illustrated by means of the evolution of 6 partial eco-efficiency indicators for the impact categories acidification, photo-oxidant formation, human toxicity, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity, eutrophication and water use. The partial eco-efficiency indicators are eco-intensities, defined as the environmental impact in the respective impact category, divided by the amount of liquid steel produced. In the period 1995 – 2005 these indicators decreased by 45, 4, 52, 9, 11 and 33% respectively, whereas the steel production increased by 17%. The net impact of discharges of wastewater is negligible for human toxicity and is negative (concentrations lower than in the canal water used) for freshwater aquatic toxicity and eutrophication. For acidification, human toxicity (only emissions to air) and water use, the decoupling between environmental impact and production was absolute; for photo-oxidant formation, freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity (only emissions to air) and eutrophication, it was relative.     

不同施肥模式下甘薯乙醇生命周期能效与环境影响分析

采用生命周期分析方法,以1 000 L甘薯乙醇为单位功能单元,将甘薯乙醇生产体系分成作物种植、原料运输和乙醇转换等3个单元,对其生命周期能耗与环境排放进行清单分析和影响评价,比较习惯施肥与测土配方施肥下甘薯乙醇生命周期9类环境影响潜力的差异。结果表明：两种施肥模式下甘薯乙醇生产体系的生命周期能源效率分别为1.41和1.43。习惯施肥模式下甘薯乙醇生命周期主要环境影响类型包括人体毒性、富营养化、酸化、淡水生态毒性、能耗和全球变暖,其环境影响潜力分别相当于2000年世界人均影响潜力的40%、40%、31%、29%、25%和20%。测土配方施肥降低了化学氮肥和磷肥使用量,提高了肥料利用效率和甘薯单产,使富营养化、淡水生态毒性、酸化和全球变暖潜力分别降低了31%、15%、9%和7%。可见,测土配方施肥模式可改善甘薯乙醇生命周期的能源效率并显著缓解其负面环境影响。     

Options to reduce the environmental impact by eucalyptus-based Kraft pulp industry in Thailand: model description

Kraft pulp industry contributes to several environmental problems, including global warming, acidification, eutrophication, smog, toxicity and the production of solid waste. The objective of this study is to identify options to reduce the environmental pressure caused by Kraft pulp industry in Thailand, and to describe a model that quantifies the environmental impact. The model can be used to evaluate the effects of the options on the environmental impact, and the associated costs. The model includes 14 groups of options to reduce emissions and the production of waste.     

Assessment of the environmental impact of carnivorous finfish production systems using life cycle assessment

When evaluating the environmental impacts of finfish production systems, both regional impacts (e.g., eutrophication) and global impacts (e.g., climate change) should be taken into account. The life cycle assessment (LCA) method is well suited for this purpose. Three fish farms that represent contrasting intensive production systems were investigated using LCA: rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in freshwater raceways in France, sea-bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) in sea cages in Greece, and turbot (Scophtalmus maximus) in an inland re-circulating system close to the seashore in France. Two main characteristics differentiated the three farm systems: feed use and energy use. Emission of nitrogen and phosphorus accounted for more than 90% of each farm's potential eutrophication impact. In the trout and sea-bass systems, feed production was the major contributor to potential climate change and acidification impacts and net primary production use (NPPU). In these systems, the main source of variation for environmental impacts was the feed conversion ratio. Results from this study indicate that the sea-bass cage system was less efficient than the trout raceway system, with a higher level of potential eutrophication (65% greater) and NPPU (15% greater). The turbot re-circulating system was a high energy-consumer compared to the trout raceway system (four times higher) and the sea-bass cage system (five times higher). Potential climate change and acidification impacts were largely influenced by energy consumption in the turbot re-circulating system. In the turbot re-circulating system 86% of energy use was due to on-site consumption, while in the sea-bass cage farming system 72% of energy use was due to feed production. These results are discussed in relation to regional contexts of production and focus attention on the sensitivity of each aquatic environment and the use of energy carriers.     

Eco-efficiency evaluation of iron rod industry in Nepal

This paper presents the eco-efficiency of energy intensity, material consumption, water use, waste generation, and CO₂ emission in terms of production value in net sales (US$) per environmental influence using empirical evaluation. Evaluation has been considered only within production process boundary of iron rod industry. Evaluation of eco-efficiency tried to couple the economic and environmental influences of industry to know economic and environmental excellence. Eco-efficiency of iron rod industry was quantitatively analyzed and determined that energy, material consumption, water use, waste generation, and CO₂ emission eco-efficiency have been increased gradually along with increased production during analysis period of five years (2001–2005). It was possible due to installing heat recovery unit along with innovative processes modification. While comparing each year's eco-efficiency of all above-mentioned parameters, eco-efficiencies were increased that indicates less resource use and less waste released. As a general statement of overall comparison and characterization of eco-efficiencies of five years duration, iron rod industry was eco-efficient in all aspects. Eco-efficiency being an emerging trend has not yet been implemented in Nepal. It is further recommended to adopt the eco-efficiency evaluation in other industries. In addition, it is high time to augment the provision of eco-efficiency concepts in industrial policy and legislation concerned.     

基于生命周期的循环农业系统评价

针对"循环经济系统是低碳经济的实现途径之一"的观点,在国内外研究的基础上,改进LCA模型,以湖南某典型的循环鸭业产业进行实证研究.整个鸭产业生命周期中耗用的不可再生资源、土地、水资源分别为48.629MJ、2.36m2和1321.41kg,潜在的温室气体、环境酸化、富营养化、人体毒性、水体毒性、土壤毒性分别为11543.26g(CO2eq)、52.36g(SO2eq)、25.83g(PO4eq)、1.26、60.74、24.65g(1,4-DCBeq),加权评估后,富营养化、水体毒性、土壤毒性潜在威胁均高于温室气体.结果表明,建立在传统生产模式上的循环农业适宜"适度循环";循环农业不能盲目追求低碳发展,在降低碳排放的同时还须考虑土壤和生物固碳,才能全面评价碳排放问题;循环经济和循环农业在评估碳排放的同时,还需对环境酸化、富营养化、生态毒性等其他生态指标进行评估,建立系统评价体系;LCA能够较好地对循环农业进行整体评价,值得进一步研究.     

设施番茄生产系统的环境影响生命周期评价

应用生命周期评价方法,以陕西省西安市郊区为例,对设施番茄生产系统进行了环境影响评价.结果表明,日光温室和塑料大棚生产1000kg番茄消耗的能源和水资源分别是1740.58 MJ、50.767 m3和1502.346 MJ、53.734 m3;全球变暖潜值(以CO2当量计)、环境酸化潜值(以SO2当量计)、富营养化潜值(以PO3-4当量计)、光化学烟雾潜值(以C2H2当量计)、土壤毒性(以1,4-DCB当量计)、水体毒性(以1,4-DCB当量计)和人类毒性潜值(以1,4-DCB计)分别为271.943 kg、2.151 kg、0.247 kg、0.157 kg、24.217 kg、19.545 kg、0.124 kg和239.163 kg、1.88 kg、0.305 kg、0.109 kg、31.686 kg、19.7 kg、0.304 kg.设施构筑物自身建设和维护带来的主要潜在环境影响是能源耗竭、全球变暖和环境酸化;番茄种植环节引起的主要潜在环境影响是水资源耗竭、富营养化、全球变暖、土壤毒性和水体毒性;农资生产环节的主要潜在环境影响是能源耗竭.设施番茄生产系统中对环境影响大的建材和农资是钢材、聚乙烯材料、氮肥、农药和含过量重金属的有机肥.设施番茄生产系统对环境的影响不容忽视,应展开以降低其环境影响为目标的设施结构与建材、温室内气候条件调控、合理施肥和施药的研究,并对采取的技术方法进行生命周期评价,以确保设施蔬菜的可持续发展.研究结果可为促进设施蔬菜生产系统的可持续发展提供科学依据.     

纸塑铝复合包装处置方式的生命周期评价

采用生命周期评价(LCA)法研究了纸塑铝复合包装的全生命周期环境影响,并在处置阶段对不同处置方式的环境影响进行评价. 通过现场和资料调研的方式,获得所有生命周期阶段能量物质的输入/输出和环境外排数据. 结果表明:纸塑铝复合包装生命周期阶段中环境影响比重最大的是原料获取阶段,占75%以上. 纸塑铝复合包装的全生命周期环境影响主要集中在化石燃料、土地占用和无机物对人体损害3个方面,在矿产资源、气候变化、酸化富营养化和生态毒性方面影响稍小. 3种处置方式对环境影响由大到小依次为填埋＞焚烧＞再生,其中填埋和焚烧处置分别比纸塑铝复合包装处置阶段前的环境影响增加11%和7%,再生可降低23%,而进一步降低环境影响的方式为发展铝塑分离技术.      

水泥窑共处置低品质包装废物的生命周期评价

以低品质包装废物为典型固体废物开展水泥窑共处置试烧试验. 以生命周期评价(LCA)方法为研究手段,对水泥窑共处置技术的环境影响进行评价,并且与常规水泥熟料生产过程进行比较. 通过试验和资料调研,获得所有生命周期阶段的能量和物质输入、输出以及环境外排数据,利用SimaPro7.1软件进行处理,得出相应的环境影响潜值. 结果表明:①在水泥熟料生产的全生命周期过程中,对环境影响所占比重最大的是生产阶段,共处置低品质包装废物可以使环境影响潜值降低10.65%（从263 Pt降至235 Pt）,主要表现在无机物对人体的损害和酸化/富营养化方面. ②从全生命周期来看,共处置低品质包装废物使环境影响潜值降低了8.68%（从334 Pt降至305 Pt）,主要表现在无机物对人体的损害和酸化/富营养化方面的降低,二者的环境影响潜值分别降低了11.00%和15.70%.      

Life cycle assessment of MSW-to-energy schemes in Thailand

Life cycle assessment was performed to evaluate environmental impacts of two municipal solid waste (MSW) to energy schemes currently practiced in Thailand: incineration and anaerobic digestion. Potential impacts such as global warming, acidification, stratospheric ozone depletion, and photo-oxidant formation were avoided due to net electricity production and also fertilizer production as by-products from the anaerobic digestion scheme. In addition, the anaerobic digestion resulted in the higher net energy output compared to the incineration scheme. However, the incineration had less potential impact for nutrient enrichment. The LCA results were also useful in determining where the improvements could be made for both the schemes. In order to adopt a sustainable waste management system elsewhere in the country, decision makers may need to consider a combination of techniques, or an integrated method of management. LCA could serve as an invaluable tool for such an analysis.     

食用油聚酯包装的生命周期评价

采用生命周期评价法研究了食用油聚酯(PET)包装的生命周期环境影响,并对不同处置方式的环境影响进行比较评价. 通过现场和资料调研的方式获得所有生命周期阶段的能量物质的输入、输出和环境外排数据. 结果表明:PET包装原料获取阶段的环境影响潜值在全生命周期环境影响潜值中所占比例极高,占处置前环境影响潜值的81.8%. PET包装的全生命周期环境影响类别主要集中在化石燃料、无机物对人体损害和气候变化3个方面;在致癌、生态毒性和酸化/富营养化等方面的影响较小. 3种主要处置方式的环境影响潜值为焚烧＞填埋＞再生,其中焚烧和填埋分别增加PET包装处置阶段前环境影响潜值的5.1%和3.6%,而再生可降低63.9%.      

聚氯乙烯生产过程生命周期评价

文章运用生命周期评价方法,对我国东南某大型石化集团聚氯乙烯生产过程的资源消耗及环境影响进行量化与估算。结果表明:生产1t聚氯乙烯的总能量消耗为6102.24MJ,环境影响负荷为0.49标准人当量。聚氯乙烯生产的主要环境影响为大气颗粒物污染、光化学臭氧合成、酸化和全球变暖。     

中国工业行业的生态效率

中国工业是资源消费和污染物排放的主要源头,解析工业各行业的生态效率可为中国产业结构调整和整体环境质量改善提供必要信息.在分析工业构成并构建工业系统与外部环境之间关系的基础上,选择能源消费和废水、固体废物、SO2、工业烟尘、粉尘等污染物的排放量作为研究的环境影响类别,界定了与这些环境影响相关的生态效率,估算了中国2007年的工业生态效率现状,结果为:能源效率615.5万元·ktce-1;废水和固废方面的生态效率分别为54.3万元·kt-1和1.9万元·t-1;工业SO2、烟尘和粉尘方面的生态效率分别为59.6、169.2和184.6万元·t-1.深入分析了39个工业部门的生态效率,结果表明,以上几种生态效率具有明显的行业不均衡性,表现为不同行业在不同类型生态效率中的工业排序明显不同;与此同时,对于同一种生态效率,不同工业行业的数值可相差几百倍到几万倍,表明通过优化工业结构将具有较大的提高工业生态效率的可能性.     

煤与秸秆成型燃料的复合生命周期对比评价

利用复合生命周期对比评价方法,引入能量返还率、资源耗竭系数、环境影响负荷和生命周期成本4个参数,对煤和秸秆成型燃料在整个生命周期内的能源消耗、环境影响和经济性做了对比分析.同时,为了平衡能源、环境与经济三者之间的关系,建立EEE (Energy, Environment, Economic)综合指标进行整体评价.结果表明,在整个生命周期内,与煤相比,秸秆成型燃料的能量返还率低、资源耗竭系数小.秸秆成型燃料的全球变暖潜值、酸化潜值、富营养化潜值、工业烟尘、粉尘潜值及固体废弃物潜值均比煤小,因此,秸秆成型燃料的环境影响负荷比煤小.秸秆成型燃料的EEE指标值比煤小79.8%,所以,从平衡生命周期能源消耗、环境排放和经济性角度出发,秸秆成型燃料具有替代煤的潜力.但是,秸秆成型燃料的生命周期成本比煤高,其大力推广需要政府的财政补贴.     

The recycling of plastic wastes from discarded TV sets: comparing energy recovery with mechanical recycling in the context of life cycle assessment

Two treatment options, i.e. energy recovery and mechanical recycling of plastic wastes from discarded TV sets, were compared in the context of life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology. An estimate for the environmental burden of each option was calculated as the sum of the depletion of abiotic resources (ADP), the global warming potential (GWP), the acidification potential (AP), the photo-oxidant formation potential (POCP), the eutrophication potential (EP), and the human toxicity potential (HTP). After calculating the environmental burden of each treatment option, a sensitivity analysis was conducted. The ultimate aim was to indicate which parameters of the system have the strongest influence on the results of the LCA in order to find ways for lowering the environmental burden, and ultimately suggest a “design strategy” for TV sets.The main finding of this study was that mechanical recycling of plastics is more attractive treatment option in environmental terms than incineration for energy recovery, which generates a larger environmental burden. Finally, based on the results of sensitivity analysis, a “design strategy” was suggested, i.e. reducing the number of plastic types being used in the manufacturing process of TVs – preferably excluding the PVC.     

生命周期评价在我国乙烯行业环境评估中的应用

采用IMPACT 2002+方法对我国的乙烯行业进行了生命周期评价(LCA)研究,分析了包括原油生产、原煤生产、原料生产、乙烯生产和电力生产5个环节在内的13种污染物排放对乙烯行业的环境影响.结果表明,乙烯工业对不可再生能源原油的消耗,对温室效应、呼吸效应和水体酸化等的环境影响潜值最为严重.减少乙烯生产环节和原料生产环节(炼油过程)的SO2、NOx、CO2等气体的排放,以及原油开采过程的CH4逸放,是改善环境影响的关键因素.同时,以石脑油为原料裂解乙烯工艺比以轻烃为原料制乙烯工艺对环境的影响要小.而煤制烯烃工艺对环境影响较大,仍具有一定改进空间.总体来看,经过近十年发展,我国乙烯行业对资源利用效率和缓解尾气排放两方面都有显著的提升.     

废铅酸电池回收制取再生铅合金技术的生命周期评价

废铅酸电池的回收利用已成为铅酸电池行业实现健康持续发展的关键一环.本文采用生命周期评价方法,分析了废铅酸电池回收制取铅合金技术及末端污染控制全过程的环境影响,并与废铅酸电池回收制铅锭再制电池材料和利用原生材料生产电池材料的过程进行了对比研究.结论表明废铅酸电池回收直接制取铅合金过程中铅膏熔炼和合金配制环节在各环境影响指标中的贡献较大(其中全球变暖潜值中占60%和33%,酸化潜值中占33%和54%,人体毒性潜值中占28%和57%),主要为辅助材料及能源动力带来的间接影响;利用原生材料生产电池材料过程的环境影响相对另两个过程更大,归一化的环境影响指标结果中人体毒性潜值、富营养化潜值及酸化潜值最大(分别为2.42×10~(-11)、1.26×10~(-11)和1.08×10~(-11)),其中铅原料生产的贡献比例占绝大部分.废电池回收直接制取再生铅合金与废电池回收制铅锭再制电池材料相比,环境影响表现更优,有利于形成电池生产企业的闭环循环过程,值得应用推广.未来应鼓励以废铅酸电池回收代替相应原生材料生产新电池,同时进一步减少回收过程中使用的资源能源环境影响,以带来更大的环境效益.     

基于LCA方法的水泥企业清洁生产审核

水泥行业是典型的高能耗、高污染的工业,其快速发展带来了严重的资源、能源、环境等问题.因此,本文选择生命周期评价方法(LCA)作为清洁生产审核工具,对大连某水泥企业进行了清洁生产审核.本文在调研水泥工艺及现状的基础上,运用生命周期评价方法对水泥生产过程中原料开采、运输、生料制备、煤粉制备、熟料煅烧及水泥粉磨阶段进行清单分析与建模.采用了生命周期评价软件Gabi4进行清单计算与分析,评价模型为CML2001Dec07特征化模型.在整个水泥生产过程中考虑了全球变暖,人体毒性,环境酸化等环境影响类型,得出整个生命周期中石灰石和煤炭的资源能源耗竭潜值和资源消耗量最大,而环境排放影响中熟料煅烧阶段对各个类型的环境影响远远高于其他几个阶段,同时熟料煅烧过程中排放的二氧化碳等温室气体的影响最严重.最终根据评价分析结果确定清洁生产审核重点并提出了清洁生产方案,并且在清洁生产方案中选择其中最重要的余热发电方案,进行余热发电清洁生产方案前后环境影响比较和清洁生产方案量化分析.     

生活垃圾分类处理方式的生态效率评价

中国生活垃圾产量大、增速快，若处理方式不当会给环境和社会带来巨大危害，近年来提倡的垃圾分类处理方式是垃圾减量化的关键一环.综合考虑垃圾处理对环境、能源、经济和社会四方面影响，构建适用于垃圾处理的3E+S生态效率评价模型.将垃圾源头分类、末端分类处理方式纳入垃圾处理生命周期中构建4种生活垃圾处理情景.结果表明，混合收运+末端分类的处理情景具有潜在最优生态效率，分类收运+焚烧的处理情景由于源头分类、收运环节更为复杂导致其总环境影响潜值最大，且生命周期成本最高.对比考虑或不考虑社会成本计算得到的生态效率表明，社会成本的加入显著影响生态效率.源头分类是影响生活垃圾分类处理生态效率的敏感性因素，通过降低垃圾源头分类单元过程多余的环境排放和成本或推广使用以末端机械化分类（PGAS）技术为代表的低污染低成本的垃圾分类新技术，都能够提高垃圾处理的生态效率.     

LCA of spent fluorescent lamps in Thailand at various rates of recycling

This paper presents environmental impact of a fluorescent lamp (a long straight tube 36 watts, 200 g and 13,600 h for mean time before failure) when considering different disposal methods (recycle and non-recycle) of its spent fluorescent lamp (SFL). The study was applied for the case in Thailand using life cycle assessment (LCA) as a tool. All materials, energy use, and pollutant emissions to the environment from each related process were identified and analyzed. Impact assessment was conducted for 10 environmental impact potentials: carcinogens, respiratory organics, respiratory inorganics, climate change, radiation, ozone layer, ecotoxicity, acidification/eutrophication, land use and minerals. The analysis followed Eco-Indicator 99 method, individualist version 2.1. The main focus of the study was to compare the impact of SFL recycling with non-recycling before landfilling. The impact intermittent activities, production of raw material and energy used in all the concerned processes were taken into account. However, transportation activities were excluded. The results showed that for all recycling rates, cement production is the main contributor to the environmental impacts, while sodium sulfide production is second and electrical production, the third. Mercury vapor emission showed a small contribution in carcinogens and ecotoxicity. The impacts are reduced when recycling rate is increased. The reduction of cement consumption in disposal processes or the process improvement of cement production may also help to reduce environmental impacts.