Methanol to Polypropylene: Life Cycle Assessment and a Preliminary Social Impact Analysis.

IF 8.4 4区 环境科学与生态学 Q2 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Alice Vardaro, Francesco Arfelli, Fabrizio Passarini, Daniele Cespi
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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Social Life Cycle Assessment (S-LCA) are currently essential tools for evaluating the sustainability of products and industrial systems. While LCA is systematically applied today and is considered a stable methodology, supported by material-specific guidelines and rich databases, S-LCA remains immature in certain aspects. In the presented case study, LCA was applied to compare 11 methanol synthesis processes, all based on reverse Water-Gas Shift, but characterised by different sources of CO2 and H2 supply, to identify the most promising. Accordingly, the model was then integrated with that of propylene production (methanol to propylene-MtP), identified as a molecule of interest for the current and future market. Then, the authors propose an innovative approach to enhance the application of S-LCA in the industrial chemistry sector. The climate change impact of the different methanol production scenarios varies significantly: the most impactful is the methanol synthesis via coal gasification (2.76 kg CO2 eq), while the most promising are via CO2 generated by wood chips waste or dedicated biomass by employing hydrogen produce with wind electrolysis which show the negative impacts of -0.40 kg CO2 eq thanks to cogeneration and the use of hydrogen from renewable sources. On the social level, the database shows a preference for productions occurring in Europe, across all the categories analyzed. The proposal of a sector-specific guideline represents a step forward that could facilitate the future application of the methodology. Moreover, the integration of LCA and S-LCA proves effective in delivering a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the issues addressed, offering valuable insights for stakeholders. The LCA should be applied to assess the environmental sustainability of alternative production routes in chemical processes, while the complexity of Social-LCA can be mitigated by initiating preliminary assessments.

甲醇制聚丙烯:生命周期评估及初步社会影响分析。
生命周期评价(LCA)和社会生命周期评价(S-LCA)是目前评价产品和工业系统可持续性的重要工具。虽然LCA今天被系统地应用,并且被认为是一种稳定的方法,有特定材料的指导方针和丰富的数据库支持,但S-LCA在某些方面仍然不成熟。在本案例研究中,LCA应用于比较11种甲醇合成工艺,这些工艺均基于逆向水气转换,但具有不同的CO2和H2供应来源,以确定最有前途的工艺。因此,该模型随后与丙烯生产(甲醇制丙烯- mtp)的模型相结合,被确定为当前和未来市场感兴趣的分子。在此基础上,提出了加强S-LCA在工业化学领域应用的创新途径。不同的甲醇生产方案对气候变化的影响差异很大:最具影响力的是通过煤气化合成甲醇(2.76千克二氧化碳当量),而最有希望的是通过木屑废物或专用生物质通过使用风力电解产生的氢气产生的二氧化碳,由于热电联产和使用可再生能源的氢气,这显示了-0.40千克二氧化碳当量的负面影响。在社会层面上,数据库显示,在所有被分析的类别中,人们都更喜欢欧洲的作品。具体部门准则的建议是向前迈出的一步,可以促进该方法的未来应用。此外,LCA和S-LCA的集成被证明是有效的,可以提供对所处理问题更丰富、更全面的理解,为利益相关者提供有价值的见解。生命周期评价应用于评价化学过程中替代生产路线的环境可持续性,而社会-生命周期评价的复杂性可以通过开展初步评价来减轻。
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来源期刊
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management
Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCESTOXICOLOGY&nbs-TOXICOLOGY
CiteScore
5.90
自引率
6.50%
发文量
156
期刊介绍: Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management (IEAM) publishes the science underpinning environmental decision making and problem solving. Papers submitted to IEAM must link science and technical innovations to vexing regional or global environmental issues in one or more of the following core areas: Science-informed regulation, policy, and decision making Health and ecological risk and impact assessment Restoration and management of damaged ecosystems Sustaining ecosystems Managing large-scale environmental change Papers published in these broad fields of study are connected by an array of interdisciplinary engineering, management, and scientific themes, which collectively reflect the interconnectedness of the scientific, social, and environmental challenges facing our modern global society: Methods for environmental quality assessment; forecasting across a number of ecosystem uses and challenges (systems-based, cost-benefit, ecosystem services, etc.); measuring or predicting ecosystem change and adaptation Approaches that connect policy and management tools; harmonize national and international environmental regulation; merge human well-being with ecological management; develop and sustain the function of ecosystems; conceptualize, model and apply concepts of spatial and regional sustainability Assessment and management frameworks that incorporate conservation, life cycle, restoration, and sustainability; considerations for climate-induced adaptation, change and consequences, and vulnerability Environmental management applications using risk-based approaches; considerations for protecting and fostering biodiversity, as well as enhancement or protection of ecosystem services and resiliency.
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