Life cycle assessment of bio-nanocomposite membranes and adsorbents for water purification

Elina Saarivuori, Tiina Pajula

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference Abstract › Scientific

    Abstract

    NanoSelect project deals with the development of fully bio-based membranes and adsorbents containing nanocellulose as functional entity to selectively adsorb and remove contaminants from water. Nanocellulose is isolated from bio-resources or industrial residues and shows potential for removal of contaminants from industrial waters. The environmental performance of bio-based membranes and adsorbents, prepared by using native and surface modified nanocellulose as functional additives, were evaluated based on life cycle assessment methodology (LCA). Inventories, based on primary and database data, of relevant inputs and outputs for different membrane systems were compiled to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the products. The goal of LCA in NanoSelect is to support product development internally by assessing the environmental hotspots of the studied membrane systems. In addition, LCA assessment will be utilised in communication of environmental performace of the developed products. The assessment will cover the life cycle from cradle to grave, i.e. raw material production, membrane production, membrane use, and end-of-life stages of the developed membrane systems, including used chemicals, fuels, energy and transports. In the first phase the presumably most significant elements of the value chain in terms of environmental impacts have been identified [3]. Results of selected impact categories and main contributors to the environmental impacts will be presented. The cradle-to-gate results indicate that the energy intensive nano-sized raw material content of the membrane has a great impact on the results. LCA is a good tool to identify environmental aspects within the product development. It is an iterative process, and should be redone once the lab scale concepts are scaled up to larger and optimised production levels.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages40-41
    Publication statusPublished - 2015
    Event5th Dissemination workshop of the Nano4Water cluster: Nanotechnology for Water Treatment - Barcelona, Spain
    Duration: 20 Jan 2015 → 21 Jan 2015
    Conference number: 5

    Workshop

    Workshop5th Dissemination workshop of the Nano4Water cluster
    CountrySpain
    CityBarcelona
    Period20/01/15 → 21/01/15

    Fingerprint

    life cycle
    membrane
    product development
    environmental impact
    methodology
    water purification
    pollutant
    energy
    communication
    water
    resource

    Keywords

    • life cycle assessment
    • water purification
    • bio-nanocomposite
    • membrane
    • nano cellulose
    • environmental performance

    Cite this

    Saarivuori, E., & Pajula, T. (2015). Life cycle assessment of bio-nanocomposite membranes and adsorbents for water purification. 40-41. Abstract from 5th Dissemination workshop of the Nano4Water cluster, Barcelona, Spain.
    Saarivuori, Elina ; Pajula, Tiina. / Life cycle assessment of bio-nanocomposite membranes and adsorbents for water purification. Abstract from 5th Dissemination workshop of the Nano4Water cluster, Barcelona, Spain.
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    title = "Life cycle assessment of bio-nanocomposite membranes and adsorbents for water purification",
    abstract = "NanoSelect project deals with the development of fully bio-based membranes and adsorbents containing nanocellulose as functional entity to selectively adsorb and remove contaminants from water. Nanocellulose is isolated from bio-resources or industrial residues and shows potential for removal of contaminants from industrial waters. The environmental performance of bio-based membranes and adsorbents, prepared by using native and surface modified nanocellulose as functional additives, were evaluated based on life cycle assessment methodology (LCA). Inventories, based on primary and database data, of relevant inputs and outputs for different membrane systems were compiled to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the products. The goal of LCA in NanoSelect is to support product development internally by assessing the environmental hotspots of the studied membrane systems. In addition, LCA assessment will be utilised in communication of environmental performace of the developed products. The assessment will cover the life cycle from cradle to grave, i.e. raw material production, membrane production, membrane use, and end-of-life stages of the developed membrane systems, including used chemicals, fuels, energy and transports. In the first phase the presumably most significant elements of the value chain in terms of environmental impacts have been identified [3]. Results of selected impact categories and main contributors to the environmental impacts will be presented. The cradle-to-gate results indicate that the energy intensive nano-sized raw material content of the membrane has a great impact on the results. LCA is a good tool to identify environmental aspects within the product development. It is an iterative process, and should be redone once the lab scale concepts are scaled up to larger and optimised production levels.",
    keywords = "life cycle assessment, water purification, bio-nanocomposite, membrane, nano cellulose, environmental performance",
    author = "Elina Saarivuori and Tiina Pajula",
    note = "Project : 236305 ; 5th Dissemination workshop of the Nano4Water cluster : Nanotechnology for Water Treatment ; Conference date: 20-01-2015 Through 21-01-2015",
    year = "2015",
    language = "English",
    pages = "40--41",

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    Saarivuori, E & Pajula, T 2015, 'Life cycle assessment of bio-nanocomposite membranes and adsorbents for water purification', 5th Dissemination workshop of the Nano4Water cluster, Barcelona, Spain, 20/01/15 - 21/01/15 pp. 40-41.

    Life cycle assessment of bio-nanocomposite membranes and adsorbents for water purification. / Saarivuori, Elina; Pajula, Tiina.

    2015. 40-41 Abstract from 5th Dissemination workshop of the Nano4Water cluster, Barcelona, Spain.

    Research output: Contribution to conference › Conference Abstract › Scientific

    TY - CONF

    T1 - Life cycle assessment of bio-nanocomposite membranes and adsorbents for water purification

    AU - Saarivuori, Elina

    AU - Pajula, Tiina

    N1 - Project : 236305

    PY - 2015

    Y1 - 2015

    N2 - NanoSelect project deals with the development of fully bio-based membranes and adsorbents containing nanocellulose as functional entity to selectively adsorb and remove contaminants from water. Nanocellulose is isolated from bio-resources or industrial residues and shows potential for removal of contaminants from industrial waters. The environmental performance of bio-based membranes and adsorbents, prepared by using native and surface modified nanocellulose as functional additives, were evaluated based on life cycle assessment methodology (LCA). Inventories, based on primary and database data, of relevant inputs and outputs for different membrane systems were compiled to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the products. The goal of LCA in NanoSelect is to support product development internally by assessing the environmental hotspots of the studied membrane systems. In addition, LCA assessment will be utilised in communication of environmental performace of the developed products. The assessment will cover the life cycle from cradle to grave, i.e. raw material production, membrane production, membrane use, and end-of-life stages of the developed membrane systems, including used chemicals, fuels, energy and transports. In the first phase the presumably most significant elements of the value chain in terms of environmental impacts have been identified [3]. Results of selected impact categories and main contributors to the environmental impacts will be presented. The cradle-to-gate results indicate that the energy intensive nano-sized raw material content of the membrane has a great impact on the results. LCA is a good tool to identify environmental aspects within the product development. It is an iterative process, and should be redone once the lab scale concepts are scaled up to larger and optimised production levels.

    AB - NanoSelect project deals with the development of fully bio-based membranes and adsorbents containing nanocellulose as functional entity to selectively adsorb and remove contaminants from water. Nanocellulose is isolated from bio-resources or industrial residues and shows potential for removal of contaminants from industrial waters. The environmental performance of bio-based membranes and adsorbents, prepared by using native and surface modified nanocellulose as functional additives, were evaluated based on life cycle assessment methodology (LCA). Inventories, based on primary and database data, of relevant inputs and outputs for different membrane systems were compiled to evaluate the potential environmental impacts associated with the products. The goal of LCA in NanoSelect is to support product development internally by assessing the environmental hotspots of the studied membrane systems. In addition, LCA assessment will be utilised in communication of environmental performace of the developed products. The assessment will cover the life cycle from cradle to grave, i.e. raw material production, membrane production, membrane use, and end-of-life stages of the developed membrane systems, including used chemicals, fuels, energy and transports. In the first phase the presumably most significant elements of the value chain in terms of environmental impacts have been identified [3]. Results of selected impact categories and main contributors to the environmental impacts will be presented. The cradle-to-gate results indicate that the energy intensive nano-sized raw material content of the membrane has a great impact on the results. LCA is a good tool to identify environmental aspects within the product development. It is an iterative process, and should be redone once the lab scale concepts are scaled up to larger and optimised production levels.

    KW - life cycle assessment

    KW - water purification

    KW - bio-nanocomposite

    KW - membrane

    KW - nano cellulose

    KW - environmental performance

    M3 - Conference Abstract

    SP - 40

    EP - 41

    ER -

    Saarivuori E, Pajula T. Life cycle assessment of bio-nanocomposite membranes and adsorbents for water purification. 2015. Abstract from 5th Dissemination workshop of the Nano4Water cluster, Barcelona, Spain.