Life-Cycle Assessment of Electric Rice Cooker: A Case Study

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhenghui Sha ◽  
Gaurav Ameta
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Cycle System ◽  
Complete Life Cycle ◽  
Product Manufacturing ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

Nowadays, almost every family has one electric rice cooker, thus making electric rice cooker one of the most popular household appliance in our society. If the product is not designed ecologically and is used heavily, then the product may lead to large ecological impact to our environment. To assess a product’s environmental impacts, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology is utilized. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, for one such technology (electric rice cooker), no complete LCA studies have existed by far. Therefore, the question about the electric rice cooker’s environmental performance is still open. This paper presents an LCA study for the complete life cycle of an electric rice cooker with the power 500Watts as the functional unit. In order to conduct LCA study, the whole life cycle of electric rice cooker was divided into four primary phases: raw materials acquisition, product manufacturing, product utilization and final disposal. To facilitate the data collection and LCA implementation, the whole life cycle system was classified as two subsystems — background system and foreground system. Based on the proposed method, primary data and environmental impact calculation was aided by Simapro 7.2 software. In the light of the Ecoindicator-99 methodology, eleven impact categories (Carcinogens, Resp. organics, Resp. inorganics, Climate change, Radiation, Ozone layer, Ecotoxicity, Acidification, Land use, Minerals, Fossil fuels) were used for the classification and characterization of the life cycle impact assessment. In this paper, the LCA study was found as a very helpful tool to define ecodesign measures for this product. Several measures are suggested to the manufacturers to implement the ecodesign in the future: 1) Use recyclable plastics in the minor parts and hidden components, such as switcher, handle etc.; 2) Reduce the number of different materials in packaging; 3) Avoid incompatible plastics during recycling; 4) Minimize the volume of the heat plate on the premise of meeting the rated heating power.

A Life Cycle Assessment Study on a New Countertop Material

2021 ◽  
Vol 897 ◽  
pp. 137-142
Author(s):  
Luiza Silva ◽  
Elisabete Silva ◽  
Isabel Brás ◽  
Idalina Domingos ◽  
Dulcineia Wessel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Water Scarcity ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Photochemical Oxidation ◽  
Impact Categories ◽  
Product Packaging ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Abiotic Depletion

The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is one of the most important analytical tools available to provide the scientific basis of engineering solutions for sustainability. The focus of this study was a LCA (cradle to gate) of a product intended to be used in countertops. The functional unit chosen was 1 m2 of finished panel (countertop) and the boundary system involved the study of raw materials and product packaging and the panel’s production process. The chosen method for impact assessment was EPD (2018) available in SimaPro PhD software and Acidification, Eutrophication, Global Warming, Photochemical Oxidation, Abiotic Depletion (elements), Abiotic Depletion (fossil fuels), Water Scarcity and Ozone Layer Depletion were the impact categories considered. Results showed that the panel’s manufacturing is the process that presented the highest influence in all categories analyzed ranging from 88% on Abiotic Depletion to approximately 101% on Water Scarcity. Polyvinylchloride (PVC) is the greatest contributors to all impact categories except to Photochemical Oxidation that is the Polyester.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment of Local Rice Production at Limau Manis Padang, West Sumatra

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 20-27
Author(s):  
Shabrina Nashya Aswin ◽  
Wiwit Juita Sari ◽  
Nurul Hathiqah ◽  
Rahma Dzulqa Dzulqa ◽  
Idil Saputra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Production Process ◽  
Co2 Emissions ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Ch4 Emissions ◽  
Local Product

Limau Manis is an area that is famous for producing rice, known as 'Sokan Limau Manis rice'. The development of sokan rice as a local product of Padang City can encourage increased rice production. The increase in production will affect the quality of the environment as a result of the entire series of sokan rice production activities. To find out the amount of emissions that can be generated from the Sokan Limau Manis rice production process, it is necessary to do an analysis using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The LCA method can help identify and analyze the production cycle, the stages of the process, the flow of materials and materials as well as the energy that occurs during the rice production process in a comprehensive manner. Furthermore, the LCA method is able to provide an overview of the environmental impacts that can be generated from a series of rice production processes in which the implementation uses input raw materials that have the potential to damage the environment such as the use of chemical fertilizers. This research was conducted in Limau Manih Village, Pauh District, Padang City. The data used are primary data obtained from field observations and interviews with related parties. Primary data include the life cycle of rice, input and output of raw materials needed at each stage of the life cycle, as well as the use of tools and machinery at each stage of the life cycle. Secondary data includes the way the calculations are carried out, the value of emissions, and energy conversion. Sokan rice production system includes cultivation activities, rice refining until the final rice product is obtained requires input and energy consumption in the form of seeds, fertilizer, and diesel fuel as fuel. The development of Life Cycle Inventory (LCI) in the LCA analysis helps facilitate the process of data inventory in identifying the flow of raw materials in one production cycle of a product. The results of the analysis show that sokan rice produces emissions of 1.94 kg CO2eq / kg of rice produced with a total energy use value of 11,363.7 MJ / ton of rice. The largest CO2 emissions come from production and transportation activities, while the largest value of non-CO2 emissions comes from the stage of rice cultivation in the form of CH4 emissions. The value of CH4 emissions is influenced by the high use of fertilizers on the land. The improvement of the current system is more focused on reducing the consumption of synthetic fertilizers and increasing the use of organic materials and reuse of production waste to reduce the value of emissions on land and the environment

Cradle-to-Grave Life Cycle Assessment of Solid-State Perovskite Solar Cells

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingyi Zhang ◽  
Xianfeng Gao ◽  
Yelin Deng ◽  
Yuanchun Zha ◽  
Chris Yuan
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Solar Cells ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Solar Cell ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cells ◽  
Dye Sensitized Solar Cells ◽  
Perovskite Solar Cell ◽  
Primary Data ◽  
Promising Alternative ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

With the advantages of low cost and high conversion efficiency, perovskite solar cell attracts enormous attention in recent years for research and development. However, the toxicity potential of lead used in perovskite solar cell manufacturing causes grave concern for its environmental performance. To understand and facilitate the sustainable development of perovskite solar cell, a comprehensive life cycle assessment has been conducted by using attributional life cycle assessment approach from cradle to grave, with manufacturing data from our lab experiments and literature. The results indicate that the major environmental problem is associated with system manufacturing, including gold cathode, organic solvent usage and recycling, and electricity utilization in component manufacturing process. Lead only contributes less than 1% of human toxicity and ecotoxicity potentials in the whole life cycle, which can be explained by the small amount usage of lead in perovskite dye preparation. More importantly, the uncertainties caused by life cycle inventory have been investigated in this study to show the importance of primary data source. In addition, a comparison of perovskite solar cell with conventional solar cells and other dye sensitized solar cells shows that perovskite solar cell could be a promising alternative technology for future clean power generations.

scholarly journals Environmental Profiling of Green Educational Building Using Life Cycle Assessment

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
Talha Bin Farooq ◽  
Muhammad Bilal Sajid
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Ecological Impact ◽  
Case Method ◽  
Environment Friendly ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Material Input

Over the last twenty years, architects and designers have been working towards minimizing the impact that buildings have on the environment. In spite of the fact that many architects claim their buildings are environment-friendly, the claims cannot be justified unless a Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is conducted. The two major parts of the theoretical basis of the proposed scheme are the concept of sustainability of the environment and methods of assessing the building’s environmental impacts. The objective of this report is to evaluate the possible ecological impact of an educational building through its life cycle, from extracting raw materials to the end of life. In order to accomplish the goal of the study, a single-case method of a life cycle assessment was used to determine which stage of the life cycle (manufacturing, construction, consumption, maintenance, and dismantling) made the most contribution to the overall impact. The main installation system (foundation, frame, wall, floor, roof) of a building will have an impact on the environment during its life cycle. A typical new educational building was used as a case study in Islamabad, along with an optimized LCA method based on energy consumption inventories, the material input and output, and the assessment of the environmental impact.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment of A Hydrocarbon-based Electrified Cleaning Agent

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-52
Author(s):  
Peng Liu ◽  
◽  
Bo Zhang ◽  
Changyan Yang ◽  
Yu Gong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Power Consumption ◽  
Production Process ◽  
Carbon Emissions ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Human Toxicity ◽  
Cleaning Agent ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

The electrified cleaning agent requires a moderate volatilization rate, low ozone-depleting substances value, non-flammable, non-explosive and other characteristics. This study performed a whole life cycle assessment on a hydrocarbon-based electrified cleaning agent. The life cycle model is cradle-to-grave, and the background data sets include power grid, transportation, high-density polyethylene, chemicals, etc. The analysis shows that the global warming potential (GWP) of the life cycle of 1 kg of electrified cleaning agent is 2.08 kg CO2 eq, acidification potential (AP) is 9.49E-03 kg SO2 eq, eutrophication potential (EP) is 1.18E-03 kg PO43-eq, respirable inorganic matter (RI) is 2.13E- 03 kg PM2.5 eq, ozone depletion potential (ODP) is 4.91E-05 kg CFC-11 eq, photochemical ozone formation potential (POFP) is 2.89E-02 kg NMVOC eq, ionizing radiation-human health potential (IRP) is 3.16E-02 kg U235 eq, ecotoxicity (ET) is 2.69E-01 CTUe, human toxicity-carcinogenic (HT-cancer) is 4.32E-08 CTUh, and human toxicity-non-carcinogenic (HT-non cancer) is 2.31E-07 CTUh. The uncertainty of the results is between 3.46-9.95%. The four processes of tetrachloroethylene production, D40 solvent oil production, tetrachloroethylene environmental discharge during product use, and electricity usage during product disposal have substantial effects on each LCA indicator, so they are the focus of process improvement. Changes in power consumption during production and transportation distance of raw materials have little effect on total carbon emissions. Compared with the production process of single-solvent electrified cleaning agent tetrachloroethylene and n-bromopropane, the production of the electrified cleaning agent developed in this study has its own advantages in terms of carbon footprint and other environmental impact indicators. Carbon emissions mainly come from the power consumption of each process, natural gas production and combustion, and other energy materials for heating. It is recommended to use renewable raw materials instead of crude oil to obtain carbon credits based on geographical advantages, and try to use production processes with lower carbon emissions, while the exhaust gas from the traditional production process is strictly absorbed and purified before being discharged.

scholarly journals Antifreeze life cycle assessment (LCA)

2005 ◽  
Vol 59 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 132-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelena Kesic ◽  
Dejan Skala
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Ethylene Glycol ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Energy Inputs ◽  
Energy Processes ◽  
Energy Balances ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

Antifreeze based on ethylene glycol is a commonly used commercial product The classification of ethylene glycol as a toxic material increased the disposal costs for used antifreeze and life cycle assessment became a necessity. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) considers the identification and quantification of raw materials and energy inputs and waste outputs during the whole life cycle of the analyzed product. The objectives of LCA are the evaluation of impacts on the environment and improvements of processes in order to reduce and/or eliminate waste. LCA is conducted through a mathematical model derived from mass and energy balances of all the processes included in the life cycle. In all energy processes the part of energy that can be transformed into some other kind of energy is called exergy. The concept of exergy considers the quality of different types of energy and the quality of different materials. It is also a connection between energy and mass transformations. The whole life cycle can be described by the value of the total loss of exergy. The physical meaning of this value is the loss of material and energy that can be used. The results of LCA are very useful for the analyzed products and processes and for the determined conditions under which the analysis was conducted. The results of this study indicate that recycling is the most satisfactory solution for the treatment of used antifreeze regarding material and energy consumption but the re-use of antifreeze should not be neglected as a solution.

scholarly journals Life Cycle Assessment of Wood Pellet Production in Thailand

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (17) ◽  
pp. 6996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Piyarath Saosee ◽  
Boonrod Sajjakulnukit ◽  
Shabbir Gheewala
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Wood Pellets ◽  
Wood Pellet ◽  
Pellet Production ◽  
Production Processes

Thailand has increased wood pellet production for export and domestic use. The variations in production processes, raw materials, and transportation related to wood pellet production make it necessary to evaluate the environmental impacts assessment. The objective of this study was to compare via Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), eight different cases of wood pellet production varying in terms of raw materials, production processes, energy use, and the format of transportation and to compare LCA of electricity production from wood pellets and fossil fuels. The comparison results show that leucaena is better as a feedstock for wood pellet production than acacia due to shorter harvest cycle and lesser use of resources. Pellet production consumes the most energy contributing significantly to the environmental impacts. The use of fossil fuels in wood pellet production and transportation also has a major contribution to the environmental impacts. Using wood pellets for electricity production is better than lignite in terms of human health, ecosystem quality and resource scarcity. Recommendations from this study include increasing yield of feedstock plants, shortening harvest cycle, reducing overuse of fertilizers and herbicides, pollution control, reducing fossil fuel use in the supply chain, good logistics, feedstock access, and offering incentives considering the externality cost.

Life Cycle Assessment of a Wall Made of Prefabricated Hempcrete Blocks

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valeria Arosio ◽  
Chiara Moletti ◽  
Giovanni Dotelli
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Construction Material ◽  
Net Zero ◽  
Long Time ◽  
Natural Building ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Whole Life Cycle ◽  
The Eu

Hempcrete is a natural building material obtained mixing hemp shives (i.e., the woody core of the hemp plant) with a lime-based binder and water. Hempcrete as construction material is gaining increasing interest as the EU aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. This material has, in fact, the ability to uptake carbon dioxide from air (i.e., via carbonation) and to store carbon for long time. The goal of the present work is to deeper analyze the environmental profile of hempcrete, in order to assess its potentials in reducing emissions of construction sector. Specifically, Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of a non-load-bearing wall made of hempcrete blocks is carried on. The analysis encompasses the whole life cycle from the extraction of raw materials to the end of the service life. The analyzed blocks are produced by an Italian company. Only aerial lime is used as binder, microorganisms are added to the blocks to accelerate carbonation. The impact on climate change is assessed through the GWP 100 method proposed by IPCC. Preliminary results reveal a nearly neutral carbon budget.

The Study of Life Cycle Assessment of Propylene Carbonate Manufacturing

2013 ◽  
Vol 743-744 ◽  
pp. 812-816
Author(s):  
Xian Ce Meng ◽  
Chen Li ◽  
Zhi Hong Wang ◽  
Xian Zheng Gong ◽  
Ming Hui Fang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Propylene Carbonate ◽  
Environmental Performance ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Renewable Resource ◽  
Environmental Loads ◽  
Key Aspects ◽  
Poly Propylene ◽  
Whole Life Cycle

This study attempted to estimate the environmental performance of poly (propylene carbonate, PPC) in the whole life cycle. The life cycle is from raw materials, energy acquisition, manufacture, transportation, to the final disposal, sequentially. The environment impacts of these phases are assessed by the method of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to identify key aspects of environmental loads involving global warming, non-renewable resource consumption, and acidification effects and so on. Moreover, a comparative study due to manufacturing of PPC in its whole life cycle was taken to reveal which stage would make the most environmental load.

scholarly journals 2-Piece Cork Stoppers as Alternative for Valorization of Thin Cork Planks: Analysis by LCA Methodology

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 873
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Flor-Montalvo ◽  
Agustín Sánchez-Toledo Ledesma ◽  
Eduardo Martínez Cámara ◽  
Emilio Jiménez-Macías ◽  
Jorge Luis García-Alcaraz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Lca Methodology ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Different Dimensions ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Different Thickness ◽  
Cork Stoppers ◽  
Wine Bottle

Natural stoppers are a magnificent closure for the production of aging wines and unique wines, whose application is limited by the availability of raw materials and more specifically of cork sheets of different thickness and quality. The growing demand for quality wine bottle closures leads to the search for alternative stopper production. The two-piece stopper is an alternative since it uses non-usable plates in a conventional way for the production of quality caps. The present study has analyzed the impact of the manufacture of these two-piece stoppers using different methodologies and for different dimensions by developing an LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), concluding that the process phases of the plate, its boiling, and its stabilization, are the phases with the greatest impact. Likewise, it is detected that the impacts in all phases are relatively similar (for one kg of net cork produced), although the volumetric difference between these stoppers represents a significant difference in impacts for each unit produced.

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