Comparative life cycle assessment of high-yield synthesis routes for carbon dots

Fernandes, Sónia; Silva, Joaquim C. G. Esteves da; Silva, Luís Pinto da

doi:10.1016/j.impact.2021.100332

Cited by 27 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…Here, we only summarize some common UVvisible absorption phenomenon rather than some special examples. Typically, one or more absorption peaks can be clearly observed in the UV region ranged from 260 nm to 320 nm [116][117][118][119][120][121][122]. And, a tail can extend to the overall visible region.…”

Section: Uv-absorption Property Of Cdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Ren²,

et al. 2021

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Carbon dots (CDs) are known as the rising star of carbon-based nanomaterials and, by virtue of their unique structure and fascinating properties, they have attracted considerable interest in different fields such as biological sensing, drug delivery, photodynamic therapy, photocatalysis, and solar cells in recent years. Particularly, the outstanding electronic and optical properties of the CDs have attracted increasing attention in biomedical and photocatalytic applications owing to their low toxicity, biocompatibility, excellent photostability, tunable fluorescence, outstanding efficient up-converted photoluminescence behavior, and photo-induced electron transfer ability. This article reviews recent progress on the synthesis routes and optical properties of CDs as well as biomedical and photocatalytic applications. Furthermore, we discuss an outlook on future and potential development of the CDs based biosensor, biological dye, biological vehicle, and photocatalysts in this booming research field.

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Section: Uv-absorption Property Of Cdsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Ren²,

et al. 2021

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“…In the last two decades, a number of studies related to the LCA application in a wide range of nanotechnology fields, using different types of nanomaterials, have been conducted in a total of 128 works ( Figure 9 ). The reference studies are from 2001 to 2022 and were mostly recompiled from a few review studies [ 240 , 241 , 242 ] and from [ 222 , 243 , 244 , 245 , 246 , 247 , 248 , 249 , 250 , 251 , 252 , 253 , 254 , 255 ]. From this analysis, it is possible to observe a wide variety of nanomaterials and application fields.…”

Section: Life Cycle Assessment and Nanosafetymentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanosafety: An Evolving Concept to Bring the Safest Possible Nanomaterials to Society and Environment

et al. 2022

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The use of nanomaterials has been increasing in recent times, and they are widely used in industries such as cosmetics, drugs, food, water treatment, and agriculture. The rapid development of new nanomaterials demands a set of approaches to evaluate the potential toxicity and risks related to them. In this regard, nanosafety has been using and adapting already existing methods (toxicological approach), but the unique characteristics of nanomaterials demand new approaches (nanotoxicology) to fully understand the potential toxicity, immunotoxicity, and (epi)genotoxicity. In addition, new technologies, such as organs-on-chips and sophisticated sensors, are under development and/or adaptation. All the information generated is used to develop new in silico approaches trying to predict the potential effects of newly developed materials. The overall evaluation of nanomaterials from their production to their final disposal chain is completed using the life cycle assessment (LCA), which is becoming an important element of nanosafety considering sustainability and environmental impact. In this review, we give an overview of all these elements of nanosafety.

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“…On the other hand, high-yield synthesis adds complexity to the synthesis procedures to ensure higher synthesis yields, by different approaches such as using a mixture of salts during thermal treatment, [ 40 ] or performing a subsequent alkaline peroxide treatment of the solid carbon by-product [ 36 ]. According to a previous study [ 41 ] that compared two high-yield syntheses, it was concluded that the procedure of an alkaline peroxide treatment of hydrochar [ 36 ] was more sustainable than a thermal treatment of carbon precursors mixed in a eutectic mixture of salts [ 40 ]. For this reason, the present work used the study [ 36 ] as the representative high-yield synthesis with the best environmental performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our LCA study will consider different parameters to evaluate the environmental impacts of the syntheses, for this, four distinct life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods will be used that specifically assess general parameters, CO 2 emissions, water consumption, and toxicity. This tool (LCA) has already been used to evaluate the environmental impacts related to different types of engineered nanomaterials, such as carbon nanotubes [ 45 , 46 , 47 , 48 ], copper nanoparticles [ 49 ], graphene oxide [ 50 ], silver nanoparticles [ 39 , 51 ], nanocellulose [ 52 ], TiO 2 nanoparticles [ 53 ], and even CDs [ 27 , 29 , 33 , 41 , 54 ]. Therefore, we expect to identify the synthesis route that is more sustainable and the most crucial parameters associated with the environmental impacts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life Cycle Assessment-Based Comparative Study between High-Yield and “Standard” Bottom-Up Procedures for the Fabrication of Carbon Dots

Fernandes

Silva

2022

Materials

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Carbon dots (CDs) are carbon-based nanomaterials with remarkable properties that can be produced from a wide variety of synthesis routes. Given that “standard” bottom-up procedures are typically associated with low synthesis yields, different authors have been trying to devise alternative high-yield fabrication strategies. However, there is a doubt if sustainability-wise, the latter should be really preferred to the former. Herein, we employed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach to compare and understand the environmental impacts of high-yield and “standard” bottom-up strategies, by applying different life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) methods. These routes were: (1) production of hydrochar, via the hydrothermal treatment of carbon precursors, and its alkaline peroxide treatment into high-yield CDs; (2) microwave treatment of carbon precursors doped with ethylenediamine; (3) and (6) thermal treatment of carbon precursor and urea; (4) hydrothermal treatment of carbon precursor and urea; (5) microwave treatment of carbon precursor and urea. For this LCA, four LCIA methods were used: ReCiPe, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, AWARE, and USEtox. Results identified CD-5 as the most sustainable synthesis in ReCiPe, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and USEtox. On the other hand, in AWARE, the most sustainable synthesis was CD-1. It was possible to conclude that, in general, high-yield synthesis (CD-1) was not more sustainable than “standard” bottom-up synthesis, such as CD-5 and CD-6 (also with relatively high-yield). More importantly, high-yield synthesis (CD-1) did not generate much lower environmental impacts than “standard” approaches with low yields, which indicates that higher yields come with relevant environmental costs.

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Comparative life cycle assessment of high-yield synthesis routes for carbon dots

Cited by 27 publications

References 66 publications

Carbon Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Carbon Dots: Synthesis, Properties and Applications

Nanosafety: An Evolving Concept to Bring the Safest Possible Nanomaterials to Society and Environment

Life Cycle Assessment-Based Comparative Study between High-Yield and “Standard” Bottom-Up Procedures for the Fabrication of Carbon Dots

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