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The LCA of a crystal production: methodological aspects

Understand the life cycle assessment methodology of crystal production, including system boundaries, functional units, data collection, inventory analysis, and impact assessment.

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The LCA of a crystal production: methodological aspects

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  1. The LCA of a crystal production:methodological aspects R. Ridolfi, B. Rugani, S. Bastianoni Department of Chemical and Biosystems Sciences, University of Siena.

  2. PROJECT: CIVIC (italian acronymus) FUNDERS & PARTNERS The life cycleassessment of crystal production • Consorzio del Cristallo di Colle Valle d’Elsa • Province of Siena • Monte dei Paschi Foundation • University of Siena

  3. METHODOLOGY ISO 14040: 1997 ISO 14041: 1999 ISO 14042: 2000 ISO 14043: 2000 CIVIC project

  4. ISO 14040: 1997Life cycle assessment: principles and framework In this rule the main aspects of ISO 14040 series and the phases of an LCA are reported. CIVIC project

  5. Goal of the study From ISO 14040: “The goal of an LCA study shall unambiguously state the intended application, the reasons for carrying out the study and the intended audience, i.e. to whom the results of the study are intended to be communicated” The goal of our project is: to quantify the energetic and environmental impact of the crystal production and to develop the LCA application in our research group. CIVIC project

  6. Function and functional unit From ISO 14040: “The functional unit is a measure of the performance of the functional outputs of the product system” The functional unit is: The kg of crystal object produced CIVIC project

  7. System boundaries From ISO 14040: “The system boundaries determine which unit processes shall be included within LCA” System boundaries: The crystal production has been studied from the “cradle to the grave”. The LCA includes the end-life of the crystal object. CIVIC project

  8. Data In this analysis we used three types of data: Direct measurements from companies Data from a database Data from literature The data (1) are mainly material and resource consumptions for the crystal manufacture. Data (2) and (3) are relative to the process of preparation of raw materials or resources and in general to each process that can not be analyzed directly. CIVIC project

  9. Inventory analysis involves data collection and calculation procedures to quantify relevant inputs and outputs of a product system The impact assessment phase of LCA is aimed at evaluating the significance of potential environmental impacts using the results of the life cycle inventory analysis Interpretation is the phase of LCA in which the findings from the inventory analysis and the impact assessment are combined together. Phases of LCA Goal and scope definition • Direct applications: • Product development • And Improvement • Strategic plannig • Public policy making • Marketing • Other Inventory analysis Interpretation Impact assessment CIVIC project

  10. The model of the LCA • The crystal production process has been divided in four main phases according to what is suggested by LCA rules: • Acquisition of materials • Production phase • Use phase • End life phase CIVIC project

  11. The model of the LCA Manufacturing process mixing moulding melting Materials acquisitions cutting Tempering polishing packaging USE phase END phase CIVIC project

  12. Analyses of the unit processes of manufacturing (1) INPUT OUTPUT Lead oxide Direct emissions (dust) Carbonates Indirect emissions (e.g. from electricity) MIXING Sand Waste (packaging materials) Other chemicals electricity Mixed materials FUSION CIVIC project

  13. Analyses of the unit processes of manufacturing (2) INPUT OUTPUT Mixed materials Direct emissions (e.g. nitrous oxide, dust) Methane Indirect emissions (e.g. methane extraction) MELTING Refractory materials Waste (refractory materials) electricity Melted material MOULDING CIVIC project

  14. The LCA inventory (1): In order to account for direct and indirect emissions (to the emissions due to the production process of raw materials) we have to use a Database and a software. The former permits to close the LCA, the latter permits to combine the various flows entering in the single unit process. In this analysis we have used the database EDIP and the software GABI4. However for processes not present in the database we had to calculate it from literature CIVIC project

  15. The LCA inventory (2):

  16. The LCA inventory (3):

  17. The GABI4: CIVIC project

  18. Sand H2SO4 process GaBi4 software …general plan Manifacturing Plan Nesting MIXING Lead polishing (sub-plan) Flows CIVIC PROJECT

  19. The GABI4: CIVIC project

  20. Each time that neither EDIP nor Company is written, the process of production has been estimated according to literature (e.g. HF). European Commission, Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC), Directorate-General JRG Joint Research Centre, Institute for Prospective Technological Studies. Reference Document on Best Available Techniques for the Manufacture of Large Volume Inorganic Chemicals - Solids and Others Industry. Dated October 2006.

  21. Estimation of HF production process: 2)Inclusion of the process in the GABI4

  22. The impact assessment: • Global warming • Acidification potential • Stratospheric ozone depletion • Heavy metals CIVIC project

  23. First resultsThe impact assessment (acidification potential, Kg SO2 eq.): CIVIC project

  24. First resultsThe impact assessment (greenhouse gas emissions, kg CO2 eq.): CIVIC project

  25. First resultsThe impact assessment (stratospheric ozone depletion potential, kg R11 eq.): CIVIC project

  26. First resultsThe impact assessment (heavy metals, kg-Pb eq): CIVIC project

  27. Final remarks: • LCA can be a valid method to identify the critical aspects from an energetic and environmental point of view. • Moreover LCA is able to correlate a critical aspect to a unit process. • LCA is a complex assessment tool and then requires much time for data searching and processing. • Results from an LCA should validate in order to see if some assumptions or estimation could bring error or bias in the final results. CIVIC project

  28. Final remarks (work in progress): • We have to estimate the type of Data used (% from literature, % as direct measurements, % from database). • We have to apply a sensitivity analysis (identification of critical parameters). • We have to refine data (optimization of processes that are much more affected by bias). • We have to evaluate possible improvements or development of the production. • We have to evaluate the opportunity of beginning an environmental certification (like EPD). CIVIC project

  29. Future references: • Prof. Simone Bastianoni – University of Siena, e-mail: bastianoni@unisi.it. • Phd student, Benedetto Rugani – University of Siena e-mail: benedettorugani@yahoo.it, +390577234356. CIVIC project

  30. Thanks for the attention CIVIC project

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