Analysis of the recycling potential of used automotive oil filters using the Life Cycle Assessment approach

The aim of this study is to evaluate whether a specific recycling system for used oil filters (UOFs) is environmentally viable by considering all steps of the product's life cycle. In that aspect an analysis of the environmental impacts regarding different waste management scenarios of UOFs in Greece is presented using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Waste scenarios varied from maximum feasible recycling and recovery of metals and used lubricant oil, to disposal of UOFs to landfills without any prior treatment. In order to perform this analysis, the principles of ISO 14040 were followed and a relevant LCA software was used (SimaPro 7.2). Additionally, the results of a previous work conducted by the authors were deployed, including some experimental measurements undertaken so as to evaluate and quantify the factors affecting the recovery of the lubricant oil contained in used automotive filters. Indicatively, it was estimated that a maximum of 1340 tons of used oil and 1810 tons of steel are disposed every year in Greece, as a result of the non-effective management of used automotive filters.     

Environmental impact of meat meal fertilizer vs. chemical fertilizer

Animal by-products (ABP) are rich in nutrients and energy. This LCA study assessed and compared the environmental impact of using meat meal as fertilizer with that of using chemical fertilizer. In one system the nutrient content of ABP Category 2 was recovered and used as a meat meal fertilizer on arable land, replacing chemical fertilizers. In the other system a chemical fertilizer was used and the energy content of the ABP material recovered. The functional unit consisted of one kg of harvested spring wheat and treatment of 0.59 kg of ABP Category 2. The system for nutrient recovery and chemical fertilizer replacement had lower emissions of greenhouse gases and acidification than the energy recovery system, but had higher total use of energy and eutrophying emissions. Overall, the results of the study greatly depended on the fuels replaced.     

Environmental,economic and social costs and benefits of a packaging waste management system: A Portuguese case study

The impact of the management of packaging waste on the environment, economic growth and job creation is analyzed in this paper. This integrated assessment intends to cover a gap in the literature for this type of studies, using the specific case study of the Portuguese packaging waste management system (SIGRE).The net environmental benefits associated with the management of packaging waste, are calculated using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. The results show that, for the categories studied, the impacts associated to SIGRE's various activities are surpassed by the benefits associated to material and energy recovery, with special focus on recycling. For example, in 2011 SIGRE avoided the emission of 116 kt CO₂ equiv. – the equivalent carbon emission of the electricity consumption of 124.000 households in Portugal.The economic impact of SIGRE is evaluated through Input–Output Analysis. It was found that SIGRE's activities also have a significant economic impact. For example, their added value are ranked amongst the upper third of the economic activities with highest multiplier effect at national level: this means that for each Euro of value added generated within SIGRE, 1.25 additional € are added to the rest of the economy (multiplier effect of 2.25).Regarding the social impacts of SIGRE, the number of direct jobs associated with the system is estimated to be more than two thousand and three hundred workers. Out of these, 83% are connected to the management of municipal waste packaging (selective collection and sorting), 15% are connected to the management of non-municipal packaging waste and only 2% are connected to the Sociedade Ponto Verde (SPV, green dot society in English) – the management entity responsible for SIGRE.In general terms, the results obtained provide quantitative support to the EEA (2011) suggestion that moving up the waste hierarchy – from landfilling to recycling – creates jobs and boosts the economy.     

北京市衍生燃料法处置低品质塑料包装的环境影响

采用生命周期评价法对北京市2种衍生燃料(RDF)法处置低品质塑料包装废物的环境影响进行评价,并与填埋和焚烧处置进行比较. 通过现场及资料调研获得所有生命周期阶段的能量物质输入、输出和环境外排数据. 发电量计算是通过实地调查生活垃圾中低品质塑料包装废物组成特性,用氧弹式量热计测定各组分热值后折算成单位热值,再与北京市生活垃圾焚烧厂G单位热值生活垃圾发电量的调研结果类比,得出其对应的发电量. 结果表明:低品质塑料包装废物的4种处置方式环境影响潜值为直接作为RDF焚烧发电<干燥热压RDF焚烧发电<焚烧<填埋,这4种处置方式的环境影响潜值分别为－0.064 9,0.009 0,0.024 1和0.152 8 Pt. 直接作为RDF处置方式的环境影响主要集中在无机物对健康损害方面;干燥热压RDF处置的环境影响主要集中在无机物对健康损害和化石燃料方面;焚烧和填埋的环境影响主要集中在气候变化和致癌方面.      

太阳能级多晶硅生命周期环境影响评价

采用生命周期评价法对太阳能级多晶硅生产过程的环境影响进行评价. 基于Eco-Indicator99,建立了适用于我国的终点破坏类影响评价模型(Chinese endpoint damage model,CEDM). 对影响评价模型的资源属性参数进行了本地化研究,核算出以2010年为基准年、以我国为基准区域的资源属性本地化人均年度基准值(4.33×105 MJ). 采用现场和问卷调研的方式获得太阳能级多晶硅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,调研样本总产量达到2012年全国产量的80%. 结果表明:从环境影响的最终破坏受体来看,太阳能级多晶硅生命周期环境影响主要集中在对人体健康损害方面,占其整个环境影响的72.31%;其次是对资源衰竭方面的影响,占24.23%;对生态系统的损害最小,仅占3.46%. 在所有环境要素中,电的环境影响最高,占79.48%;其次是蒸汽消耗、工业硅原料,二者分别占13.18%、5.97%. 我国太阳能级多晶硅生命周期环境影响是欧洲平均水平的2倍多,主要是受电力结构所致,但在技术先进性和污染防治水平方面要优于欧洲平均水平.      

层次分析法在生命周期评价中的改进应用研究

层次分析法是一种实用的、多目标决策方法,生命周期评价被看作是21世纪最有潜力的环境管理工具。将层次分析法应用于生命周期评价能够实现生命周期过程多指标的综合评价,但在传统的层次分析法中,仅仅是对一级指标进行简单的叠加,但在实际的应用过程中,不同的指标对综合效益的贡献是不一样的,因此,论文对传统的层次分析法进行了改进,并对某矸石电厂进行评价,充分考虑指标对综合效益的影响,对各指标作赋值处理,使得评价结果更准确。     

典型化工产品生命周期环境影响评价研究——以水性涂料产品为例

水性涂料代表了低污染涂料未来发展的主要方向.生命周期评价已经成为企业进行清洁生产以及设计环境友好型产品的重要工具.文章选取水性涂料作为研究对象,利用LCA方法对其进行在原材料生产、产品加工制造和运输过程引起的环境影响进行定量评价,为进一步改进水性涂料产品的环境行为提供依据.结果表明,生命周期评价作为一种定量分析工具对产...     

An occupational chemical priority list for future life cycle assessments

A chemical priority list is presented to screen and identify relevant chemicals, for which more detailed and industrial-sector specific quantitative exposure, risk and life-cycle assessments should be completed. A list of 38 solvents were ranked according to the framework of the LCA toxicity model, USEtox, and according to the framework proposed by the UNEP/SETAC working group on Indoor Exposure Assessment in LCA. An additional method, based on a risk assessment (RA) framework, was used to examine the robustness of the priority rank. Under both schemes dichloromethane, ethanol, formaldehyde, hexane and toluene all rank in the top ten positions. These chemicals are currently relevant with regard to health effects on a population level. Some of these chemicals are known as hazardous, while others, such as ethanol, have a low toxicity but were prioritized because of their extensive use and high exposure levels. This study attempts to combine the knowledge and methods of the LCA and occupational hygiene communities in assessing health impacts. It provides a consistent and transparent method for rapid comparative assessments of different chemicals and identifies the chemicals and workplaces that will require more thorough investigations.     

An environmental evaluation of geopolymer based concrete production: reviewing current research trends

In this study we carry out a detailed environmental evaluation of geopolymer concrete production using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. The literature shows that the production of most standard types of geopolymer concrete has a slightly lower impact on global warming than standard Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC) concrete. Whilst our results confirm this they also show that the production of geopolymer concrete has a higher environmental impact regarding other impact categories than global warming. This is due to the heavy effects of the production of the sodium silicate solution. Geopolymer concrete made from fly ashes or granulated blast furnace slags based require less of the sodium silicate solution in order to be activated. They therefore have a lower environmental impact than geopolymer concrete made from pure metakaolin. However, when the production of fly ashes and granulated blast furnace slags is taken into account during the life cycle assessment (using either an economic or a mass allocation procedure), it appears that geopolymer concrete has a similar impact on global warming than standard concrete. This study highlights that future research and development in the field of geopolymer concrete technology should focus on two potential solutions. First of all the use of industrial waste that is not recyclable within other industries and secondly on the production of geopolymer concrete using a mix of blast furnace slag and activated clays. Furthermore geopolymer concrete production would gain from using waste material with a suitable Si/Al molar ratio in order to minimise the amount of sodium silicate solution used. Finally, by taking into account mix-design technology, which has already been developed for OPC concrete, the amount of binder required to produce a geopolymer concrete could be reduced.     

Life cycle assessment of mobile phone housing

The life cycle assessment of the mobile phone housing in Motorola(China) Electronics Ltd. was carried out, in which materials flows and environmental emissions based on a basic production scheme were analyzed and assessed. In the manufacturing stage, such primary processes as polycarbonate molding and surface painting are included, whereas different surface finishing technologies like normal painting, electroplate, IMD and VDM etc. were assessed. The results showed that housing decoration plays a significant role within the housing life cycle. The most significant environmental impact from housing production is the photochemical ozone formation potential.Environmental impacts of different decoration techniques varied widely, for example, the electroplating technique is more environmentally frieodly than VDM. VDM consumes much more energy and raw material. In addition, the results of two alternative scenarios of dematerialization showed that material flow analysis and assessment is very important and valuable in selecting an environmentally friendly process.