A First-year Introduction to Life Cycle Analysis Stephanie FarrellRowan University Eduardo CavanaghGlassboro, NJ USA Mariano Savelski

Life Cycle Analysis A tool used to evaluate the full range of environmental impacts a products life from cradle to grave Energy and raw material consumption Energy and raw material consumption Emissions Emissions Other important considerations Other important considerations Used to improve processes, support policy and provide a sound basis for informed decisions

Life Cycle Analysis Valuable tool to engineers Valuable tool to engineers Must be able to integrate LCA concepts with traditional science and mathematics skills Must be able to integrate LCA concepts with traditional science and mathematics skills Increasing interest in introducing LCA into the engineering curriculum Increasing interest in introducing LCA into the engineering curriculum

LCA in the First Year Developed an introduction to LCA for a first- year engineering course (Engineering Clinic) Developed an introduction to LCA for a first- year engineering course (Engineering Clinic) Hands-on, project based course Hands-on, project based course Multidisciplinary – students from 4 Engineering majors Multidisciplinary – students from 4 Engineering majors 1 hr lecture plus 3 hr lab each week 1 hr lecture plus 3 hr lab each week 24 students per section 24 students per section

Theme Biodiesel vs. Fossil Diesel Interest in Biodiesel Interest in Biodiesel Reduce dependence on fossil fuels Reduce dependence on fossil fuels Develop more environmentally friendly fuels from renewable energy sources Develop more environmentally friendly fuels from renewable energy sources Increase industrial uses of agricultural products Increase industrial uses of agricultural products

Learning Objectives: Introduce the 4 Steps of LCA Step 1: Goal Definition & Scope (ISO 14040) Step 2: Inventory Analysis (ISO 14041) Step 3: Impact Assessment (ISO 14042) Step 4: Improvement Assessment / Interpretation (ISO 14043)

Learning Objectives Source quantitative data and make best estimates when no information is given Source quantitative data and make best estimates when no information is given Make logical assumptions that simplify the calculations yet maintain integrity of analysis Make logical assumptions that simplify the calculations yet maintain integrity of analysis Develop a flow sheet to describe the process graphically Develop a flow sheet to describe the process graphically Evans et al. Education for Chemical Engineers, 3(2008), e57-e65

Step 1: Defining the goal and scope (ISO 14040) The goal: What do you hope to achieve? The goal: What do you hope to achieve? The scope: What are the boundaries of your system? The scope: What are the boundaries of your system?

Step 1: Defining the Goal What is the purpose of the study? To compare the overall environmental impacts of biodiesel and diesel To compare the overall environmental impacts of biodiesel and diesel What is its application? What is its application? To change a process to reduce environmental impact To change a process to reduce environmental impact

Step 1: Defining the Scope The scope is defined by: The scope is defined by: The boundaries chosen for the process The boundaries chosen for the process The basis of comparison, e.g. amount produced The basis of comparison, e.g. amount produced Is the production of useful byproducts considered? Is the production of useful byproducts considered? What environmental impacts are considered and how they are calculated? What environmental impacts are considered and how they are calculated? What data are needed? What data are needed?

Step 1: Scope Boundaries - Cradle to Gate Boundaries - Cradle to Gate Raw materials Raw materials Transportation Transportation Processing Processing Manufacturing Manufacturing life-cycle-analysis-for-biofuels Consider glycerin a useful byproduct Consider glycerin a useful byproduct Credited to the process Credited to the process

Step 2: Inventory analysis (ISO 14041) Summary of all the inputs and outputs associated with the product or energy used (within boundaries) Summary of all the inputs and outputs associated with the product or energy used (within boundaries) Diesel (production) is in the Simapro ® database Diesel (production) is in the Simapro ® database Biodiesel inventory based on student data for biodiesel production (from NVO and WVO) Biodiesel inventory based on student data for biodiesel production (from NVO and WVO) Next slides show experiments Next slides show experiments

Step 2: Inventory Analysis (Production: Pre-treatment & Reaction) Biodiesel Glycerin Biodiesel from New and Waste Vegetable Oil Pretreatment Pretreatment Transesterification reaction Transesterification reaction VWO + MeOH Biodiesel + Glycerin Alkalai catalyst (NaOH)

Step 2: Inventory Analysis (Production: Purification) Purification removes impurities that cause engine damage Purification removes impurities that cause engine damage 3 water washes 3 water washes 1:2 volume ratio water: biodiesel 1:2 volume ratio water: biodiesel WashingFinished Product

Step 2: Inventory Assessment (Biodiesel from WVO) Input/OutputAmount Inputs Sodium hydroxide 50% (kg)0.007 Used Vegetable Oil, pretreated (kg)0.894 Electricity (kWh)0.316 Methanol, at plant (kg)0.158 Water, cooling, drinking (ml)1500 Outputs (product) Biodiesel (kg)0.863 Output (avoided products) Glycerin, from vegetable oil (kg)0.094 Outputs (waste) Wastewater, treatment, sewage from residence (ml)1599

Step3: Impact Assessment (Production) Simapro 7 – IMPACT Scalar Impact per kg

Step 4: Interpretation and Improvement Assessment How to improve process? How to improve process? Target large impacts Target large impacts NVO – reduce land use (algae) NVO – reduce land use (algae) WVO – reduce non-renewable energy and CO2 emissions WVO – reduce non-renewable energy and CO2 emissions Which process/product is better? Which process/product is better? Biodiesel outperforms fossil diesel and NVO BD Biodiesel outperforms fossil diesel and NVO BD

Learning Outcomes Gain in knowledge for ten concepts n=24

Learning Outcomes > 60% overall gain in knowledge between pre-test and post-test n = 24 p < 1e-7

Summary/Conclusions Hands-on, project-based Introduction to LCA for first- year students Hands-on, project-based Introduction to LCA for first- year students Significant gain in knowledge related to LCA concepts Significant gain in knowledge related to LCA concepts (Not shown) significant gain in knowledge of science and engineering (mass balances, reaction yield, phase equilibrium, etc.) (Not shown) significant gain in knowledge of science and engineering (mass balances, reaction yield, phase equilibrium, etc.)

Acknowledgement United States Department of Energy, EE United States Department of Energy, EE Al-Farabi National Kazakh University (KazNU) students Al-Farabi National Kazakh University (KazNU) students Balzhan Ashim Balzhan Ashim Saltanat Kozbakarova Saltanat Kozbakarova Albina Belgibayeva Albina Belgibayeva

Production LCA Simapro 7 Impact Scalar impact per kg

Step 2: Inventory Analysis (Use) Mass emission Factor (kg emissions/kg fuel consumed) Mass emission Factor (kg emissions/kg fuel consumed) Comparing apples to oranges!

Step 2: Inventory Analysis (Use) Energy emission Factor (kg emissions/MJ produced) Energy emission Factor (kg emissions/MJ produced) Comparing apples to apples!