Distillation is one of the most important processes in the chemical industry. An environmental assessment of distillation processes is difficult because of the highly specific features of each distillation process. Life-cycle inventory (LCI) information is therefore scarce. The goal of this paper is to provide reliable data ranges for inventory flows of waste solvent distillation (i.e. amount of recovered distillate, consumption of steam, electricity, nitrogen, cooling water and ancillary product, and the generation of organic waste, wastewater, and outlet air). For this purpose, we collected data from approximately 150 waste solvent distillation processes from chemical industry and analyzed them statistically. The results of the statistical analysis compose generic data ranges for each LCI parameter. Where appropriate, the data of each LCI parameter have been subdivided according to the distillation technology or the waste solvent composition. Additionally, probability distributions have been fitted to the data of each LCI parameter, thus enabling quantitative uncertainty analysis (e.g. Monte Carlo Simulation). In a case study we illustrate the application of the inventory data ranges according to situations of differing data availability.
The software tool ecosolvent is presented that allows for comparative environmental assessment of treatment technologies for specific, user‐defined, waste‐solvent mixtures. The tool is composed of models for waste‐solvent distillation as well as for thermal treatment in hazardous waste‐solvent incinerators and cement kilns. It was designed with a tiered structure in order to allow for a high flexibility regarding informational needs. The life‐cycle assessment method was used to assess the environmental impact. The applicability of the tool is shown with two case studies from industry. In these case studies, various waste‐solvent treatment technologies are compared for two specific waste‐solvent mixtures. Potential use of the ecosolvent tool for its role in practical decision making in chemicals industries is illustrated by two case studies of waste‐solvent systems. In the ethyl acetate case study, the tool indicates that solvent recovery by distillation is clearly better than incineration of the waste solvent. The results from the methanol case study are less clear‐cut. In the subsequent article (part II), the ecosolvent tool will be used to derive general rules of thumb and specific recommendations for 45 important solvents used in chemical industries. Additionally, a framework will be presented that provides quick and easy decision support regarding environmentally optimized waste‐solvent management.
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