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Showing 7 results for Life Cycle Assessment
Comparison of the Environmental Impacts of Different Municipal Solid Waste Treatments using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) (Case Study: Tehran)
S Nasrollahi-Sarvaghaji, R Alimardani, M Sharifi, Mr Taghizadeh Yazdi,
Volume 9, Issue 2 (9-2016)
Abstract

Background and Objectives: The continuous increase in solid waste generation worldwide due to population growth and industrialization, calls for management strategies that integrate concerns for environmental sustainability. By quantifying environmental impacts of systems, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is a tool which can contribute to answering that call. The aim of this study was to evaluate environmental pollutants resulting from various treatment options including anaerobic digestion, incineration, and landfill of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) generated daily in Tehran.

Materials and Methods: First, the physical properties of the waste and consumption of inputs in the study area were determined from September to October, 2014- 2015. Then the different steps of LCA in relation to each of the subsystems were followed (with SimaPro software). Finally, the results based on the CML Baseline 2000 were presented and analyzed.

Results: It was found that when the higher rate of separation and processing in any subsystems increases, the emission of environmental pollutants decreases, so that the global warming potential, acidification, eutrophication, and abiotic depletion as the most important impact categories in the subsystems of anaerobic digestion were obtained as -125935 kg CO2/day, -449 kg SO2/day, -1690 kg PO43-/day and -0.43 kg Sb/day, respectively and in incineration were obtained as -264872 kg CO2/day, -974 kg SO2/day, -3471 kg PO43-/day and -0.76 kg Sb/day, respectively, while in the landfill subsystem, they were estimated to be 74478 kg CO2/day, 362 kg SO2/day, 118 kg PO43-/day, and 0.13 kg Sb/day, respectively.

Conclusion: According to the constituent processes of each of the subsystems and the results of the evaluation of exhaust emissions subsystems, it can be concluded that in an integrated system of waste management, the energy-generating systems such as anaerobic digestion and incineration should be as the first priority and the traditional subsystems such as landfill should be as the last priority.


Environmental assessment of vehicle lubricants by life cycle assessment approach
N Dorostkar Ahmadi, M Shafie-Nikabadi, S Babaie Kafaki,
Volume 11, Issue 4 (3-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Today pollutants related to refineries and base oil products have caused many concerns about environment. Among these, the share of lubricants as one of the oil products is undeniable for causing environmental problems, harmful pollutants for men and global warming. Recently LCA as a beneficial tool is provided for finding solution to the environmental problems. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare environmental impacts of lubricants and its ingredients (oil based and additives). Additionally, it was attempted to identify the pollutants caused by the lubricants in order to replace them by environmentally friendly components.
Materials and Methods: In this study, the system boundary was first identified and then the life cycle assessment steps were carried out for vehicle lubricants. Finally, the results were analyzed using SimaPro software based on the Eco Indicator 95.
Results: Results showed that although additives made up about 20 percent of the lubricants, more than 80 percent of the environmental pollutants were related to them. These materials have a significant impact on greenhouse gas emission and global warming as 91% of CO2 emission (7.81kg) of lubricants is related to the additives. Also, these materials emit 0.00913 kg C2H4 and 0.0368 kg SPM, which can make summer and winter smog. The car lubricants cause heavy metals (3.95×10-5 kg Pb) to be released into water and release of carcinogenic substances (4.2×10-6 kg B(a)P), which  a very low percentage of it is allocated to base oil.
Conclusion: The most important environmental pollution of vehicle lubricants was caused by the additives. Since the percentage of each additive to lubricants includes antioxidant (40%), antiwear (23%), detergents (20%) and viscosity modifier (17%), thus, the company must seek to change these types of additives and replace them with the components with lower environmental impact in their production cycles.
 

Life cycle assessment of steel production from iron scrap: a case study at a steel plant
S Khoshyomn, A Heidari, A R Heidari,
Volume 12, Issue 1 (5-2019)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The steel industry is the world's largest consumer of energy. A large amount of iron waste is produced annually, which its use in the steel industry can be economic. The purpose of this study was to investigate the environmental impacts of the steelmaking from iron scrap as a raw material using a life cycle assessment (LCA) method.
Materials and Methods: Simapro software and the ecoinvent database were used to conduct LCA. Data on the steel production process (raw materials, waste, and products) were collected by a questionnaire from a steel plant. Environmental burdens were quantified using ReCiPe, Cumulative Energy Demand (CED), IPCC) Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) and water footprints methods.
Results: The results of the ReCiPe method showed that the terrestrial ecotoxicity with a value of 14392 kg 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB) eq/ton of steel and global warming with 5289 kg CO2 eq/ton of steel, had the greatest environmental impact, respectively. The lowest environmental impact of this process was obtained for freshwater ecotoxicity and human carcinogenic toxicity. The carbon footprint resulting from steelmaking is 5.24 ton CO2 eq/ton of steel. The most important sector of the greenhouse gas producer is the consumption of electricity with a rate of 2900 of kg CO2 eq/ton of steel. The cumulative energy demand of one ton of steel ingot was 73393 MJ, which is three times the global equivalent. The total water footprint for one t of steel was 19.5 m3 of water, which is almost near to the equivalent in Europe.
Conclusion: the use of iron scrap as raw material in the process of steelmaking instead of iron ore has reduced the amount of human toxicity potential and mineral resource consumption.
 

Selecting the best options of management of municipal solid waste using life cycle assessment methodology (Case study: Noor city)
Ma Zazouli, Z Karimi, R Rafiee,
Volume 12, Issue 4 (2-2020)
Abstract
Background and Objective:  one of the major challenges in urban management in human societies is related to the collection, recycling and disposal of solid waste and sewage. Poor waste management causes pollution of water, soil and air. It will have a major impact on public health. The aim of present study was to investigate the current status and select the best options of management of municipal solid waste in Noor city (Mazandaran, Iran) using life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology.
Materials and Methods: This research considered with five scenarios: 1) Recycling, composting and unsanitary landfilling; 2) Recycling, composting and sanitary landfilling; 3) Recycling, incineration and sanitary landfilling; 4) Recycling, composting and anaerobic digestion, incineration, sanitary landfilling; 5) Recycling and unsanitary landfilling. The required data for life cycle assessment inventory were collected through reviewing resources, preparing of questionnaires, completing the questionnaire by staff, and field inspections.The life cycle inventory was approved by the IWM model.
Results: The scenario 5, which is the current situation in the region, had the highest environmental impact in terms of toxic emissions and ecological indicators among all the scenarios. Energy consumption in the scenarios 1 and 5 was higher than the unsanitary landfilling in comparison to the other scenarios. Accordingly, the scenarios 5 and 4 had the most and the least impact on methane gas production.
Conclusion: According to the ecological index, the fourth scenario including recycling, composting and anaerobic digestion, and sanitary landfilling was the best scenario.  Fifth scenario with the highest pollution load was the worst scenario evaluated.

Environmental assessment of alternative strategies for municipal solid waste management by means of life cycle assessment modelling (a case study: Chalus, Iran)
Ali Daryabeigi Zand, Maryam Rabiee Abyaneh,
Volume 14, Issue 1 (5-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Due to the increasing trend of municipal solid waste (MSW) production, if a suitable management system is not applied, it will lead to environmental pollution and endanger human health. The aim of this study was to compare different scenarios of waste management in Chalous city with life cycle assessment (LCA) approach and to select the most efficient method in terms of environmental adaptation.
Materials and Methods: After investigation of the quantitative and qualitative characterization of the produced wastes and the current waste disposal method in Chalous city, the obtained results were used to evaluate the life cycle of six different waste management scenarios; including the combination of four methods of composting, recycling, incineration along with energy extraction and sanitary landfilling. Emissions from various scenarios were assessed using IWM-2 model.
Results: The current system of municipal waste management in Chalus (scenario 1) with ecological index of 1.73+06 poses the highest pollution load into the environment. The inclusion of compost disposal methods in the organic waste sector and recycling of biodegradable materials significantly reduces the emissions of environmental pollutants by increasing the amount of materials for recycling and reuse, as well as preventing emissions from raw material production. The fifth scenario (60% compost, 30% recycling and 10% sanitary landfill) with ecological index of -2.00+05 was known as the lowest contamination scenario.
Conclusion: Considering that a high percentage of Chalous municipal solid waste composition is perishable materials (organic waste), simultaneous application of composting and recycling methods can be a suitable option for optimal management of wastes in Chalous city and play an important role in reducing the environmental pollution load.

Development of decision support tool for municipal solid waste management system in Iran based on life cycle assessment approach
Zeinab Mousania, Seyed Hassan Mousavi, Farzane Mirza Bayati, Reza Rafiee,
Volume 14, Issue 3 (12-2021)
Abstract
Background and Objective: Various aspects including the environmental burdens, social and economic consequences of the waste management(WM) scenarios must be considered to come up with a comprehensive WM plan. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach is a systematic method to quantify the environmental burdens of each WM scenario.
Materials and Methods: This study used an LCA approach to develop a decision support system to analyze different scenarios of WM. Local and global databases were used to develop a comprehensive life cycle inventory database. The model comes with a graphical user interface in Persian to make it easier to use by a wide range of customers. Finally, to evaluate the model, three scenarios were assessed in Karaj city, Iran.
Results: To the best of our knowledge, this model is the first attempt to automate the process of waste management scenarios evaluation in Iran. The model enables users to easily and quickly simulate a wide range of scenarios. All calculations will be carried out by the software in the background and the user only needs to determine his/her scenario of concern which is very easy owing to the user-friend GUI of the software. The model was evaluated by analyzing the current WM in Karaj. The results showed that the waste collection system is the main source of environmental pollution of the WM in Karaj city due to the inefficient system of the waste collection and poor fleet fuel efficiency.
Conclusion: This tool allows users to gather detailed information about the waste management systems. In this way, the user can make informed decisions about the most suitable waste management scenario in a city.

Environmental assessment of iron ore extraction stage of Sirjan Goharzamin using the life cycle approach
Faezeh Sadeghi, Sakine Shekoohiyan, Mohsen Heidari,
Volume 17, Issue 2 (9-2024)
Abstract
Background and Objective: The Goharzamin iron mine in Sirjan has the largest iron ore reserves in the Gol Gohar area. This study aimed to assess the life cycle of iron ore extraction from this mine using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method due to the extensive activities in the area and the lack of comprehensive studies.
Materials and Methods:  The LCA evaluated the impacts of iron ore extraction from the Goharzamin mine on human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion. The boundary system included the drilling and blasting processes. Following the cradle-to-gate model and an attributional approach, the production of 1 ton of iron ore was considered a functional unit. Impact and damage assessment were conducted using SimaPro software and the ReCiPE method at mid and end-point levels.
Results: The findings revealed that transportation by trucks with a capacity exceeding 20 tons accounted for the highest environmental burden in all categories (51.1%), particularly in overburden removal. The detrimental impacts of transportation on ionizing radiation (human health), land use, and freshwater eutrophication potentials (ecosystem quality) exceeded 95%. Carbon-14 emissions, agricultural land occupation, and BOD5 and COD releases resulting from iron ore extraction were identified as the key pollutants in these impact categories. The average damage to human health, ecosystem quality, and resource depletion was found to be 89.8%, 5.5%, and 4.6%, respectively.
Conclusion: To mitigate the negative impacts of transportation, it is advisable to enhance environmental sustainability by utilizing trucks that adhere to Euro 5 standards or higher, as well as exploring the use of renewable energies.
 

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