LCA and LCC of a chemical recycling process of waste CF-thermoset composites for the production of novel CF-thermoplastic composites. Open loop and closed loop scenarios

Rosa, Angela Daniela La; Greco, S.G.; Tosto, Claudio; Cicala, Gianluca

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127158

Cited by 51 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Due to their chemical nature, thermoplastics follow the path of recycling in most cases. However, among the most recent studies, a solution has emerged for the reuse of reinforcements of thermosetting matrix composites for subsequent use with thermoplastics [103]. Furthermore, the possibility of using recyclamines for the recycling of thermosetting matrices has been analyzed and is still under development [104].…”

Section: Limitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermoplastic Composite Materials Approach for More Circular Components: From Monomer to In Situ Polymerization, a Review

et al. 2022

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To move toward eco-sustainable and circular composites, one of the most effective solutions is to create thermoplastic composites. The strong commitment of world organizations in the field of safeguarding the planet has directed the research of these materials toward production processes with a lower environmental impact and a strong propensity to recycle the polymeric part. Under its chemical properties, Nylon 6 is the polymer that best satisfies this specific trade-off. The most common production processes that use a thermosetting matrix are described. Subsequently, the work aimed at investigating the use of thermoplastics in the same processes to obtain comparable performances with the materials that are currently used. Particular attention was given to the in situ anionic polymerization process of Nylon 6, starting from the ε-caprolactam monomer. The dependencies of the process parameters, such as temperature, time, pressure, humidity, and concentration of initiators and activators, were therefore investigated with reference to the vacuum infusion technique, currently optimized only to produce thermosetting matrix composites, but promising for the realization of thermoplastic matrix composite; this is the reason why we chose to focus our attention on the vacuum infusion. Finally, three production processes of the polymeric matrix and glass fiber composites were compared in terms of carbon footprint and cumulative energy demand (CED) through life-cycle assessment (LCA).

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Section: Limitationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermoplastic Composite Materials Approach for More Circular Components: From Monomer to In Situ Polymerization, a Review

et al. 2022

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“…Beigbeder et al (2018) analysed end-of-life scenarios (mechanical recycling, incineration, and industrial composting) of polymer (PP and PLA) biocomposites using arbitrary selected 6 midpoint ReCiPe categories. La Rosa et al (2021) used ReCiPe endpoint and CED results for environmental assessment reporting on chemical recycling of carbon bre thermosets for the production of thermoplastic composites and compared open and closed-loop scenario results. These researchers analysed the treatment of speci c polymer wastes, and obtained results were compared with results for only a minority of available alternative recovery technologies.…”

Section: Literature Review and Research Objectivementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, in WM analyses CED was used for sustainability analysis of energy recovery of waste through energy return indicator (Tomić and Schnieder 2017), comparison of municipal WM systems in two towns (Kaufman et al 2010), and was reported next to CML 2001 results for comparison of different WM practices (Giugliano et al 2011). Very few publications used CED as an indicator in plastic waste recovery sustainability assessments (Antelava et al 2019), and only three more recent publications in this eld are found -CED results were reported next to Carbon and Water Footprints for energy and environmental assessment of material recovery of greenhouse covering lms (Cascone et al 2020), as well as next to ReCiPe results for the analysis of recycling and incineration of waste PLA (Maga et al 2019) and for environmental assessment of chemical recycling of carbon bre thermosets for production of carbon bre thermoplastic composites (La Rosa et al 2021). Thus, it can be seen that there is a lack of publications that use CED, as a proven decision-making tool, in MPW management/recovery assessments.…”

Section: Literature Review and Research Objectivementioning

confidence: 99%

Thermochemical recovery from the sustainable economy development point of view—LCA-based reasoning for EU legislation changes

Tomić

Slatina²,

Schneider³

2022

Clean Techn Environ Policy

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The EU legislation put the focus on the material recovery of waste while energy recovery is not elaborate enough and all thermochemical conversion technologies are classi ed in the same category regardless of the nal products, which can hamper overall sustainability. Therefore, this research analyses technologies for recovery of plastic waste to review the existing EU legislation and technology classi cations. Most important LCA impact categories from the legislation point of view were identi ed and used in the analysis. As alternative thermochemical recovery technologies are not widely used, their inventories were modelled based on an extensive literature review. Results show that pyrolysis of plastic waste has 46%, 90%, and 55%, while gasi cation up to 24%, 8%, and 91%, lower global warming, abiotic depletion, and cumulative energy demand related impacts respectively, compared to incineration with CHP generation. Incineration-based scenarios show lower impacts only in the acidi cation potential category which is dependent on energy mixes of substituted energy vectors which are quickly changing due to the energy transition. Thus, alternative thermochemical recovery technologies can help in reaching sustainable development goals by lowering environmental impacts and import dependence. But, before considering new investments, the substitution of less environmentally sustainable fuels in facilities like cement kilns needs to be looked upon. Results of this analysis provide levelised results for environmental and resource sustainability based on which current legislative views on individual thermochemical recovery technologies may be re-examined.

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“…However, Tapper et al (2020) [22] reviewed the LCA studies to analyse the closed-loop CFRP waste disposal methods and pointed out pyrolysis as preferred to FBP in recycling CFRP wastes thermally. Furthermore, La Rosa et al (2021) [23] studied both closed-loop and open-loop using LCA for recycling CFRP wastes using chemical recycling, and highlighted the advantages of the open-loop approach being more realistic and cost-efficient.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life Cycle Assessment of a Thermal Recycling Process as an Alternative to Existing CFRP and GFRP Composite Wastes Management Options

et al. 2021

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There are forecasts for the exponential increase in the generation of carbon fibre-reinforced polymer (CFRP) and glass fibre-reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite wastes containing valuable carbon and glass fibres. The recent adoption of these composites in wind turbines and aeroplanes has increased the amount of end-of-life waste from these applications. By adequately closing the life cycle loop, these enormous volumes of waste can partly satisfy the global demand for their virgin counterparts. Therefore, there is a need to properly dispose these composite wastes, with material recovery being the final target, thanks to the strict EU regulations for promoting recycling and reusing as the highest priorities in waste disposal options. In addition, the hefty taxation has almost brought about an end to landfills. These government regulations towards properly recycling these composite wastes have changed the industries’ attitudes toward sustainable disposal approaches, and life cycle assessment (LCA) plays a vital role in this transition phase. This LCA study uses climate change results and fossil fuel consumptions to study the environmental impacts of a thermal recycling route to recycle and remanufacture CFRP and GFRP wastes into recycled rCFRP and rGFRP composites. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis was performed comparing with the traditional waste management options such as landfill, incineration with energy recovery and feedstock for cement kiln. Overall, the LCA results were favourable for CFRP wastes to be recycled using the thermal recycling route with lower environmental impacts. However, this contradicts GFRP wastes in which using them as feedstock in cement kiln production displayed more reduced environmental impacts than those thermally recycled to substitute virgin composite production.

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LCA and LCC of a chemical recycling process of waste CF-thermoset composites for the production of novel CF-thermoplastic composites. Open loop and closed loop scenarios

Cited by 51 publications

References 10 publications

Thermoplastic Composite Materials Approach for More Circular Components: From Monomer to In Situ Polymerization, a Review

Thermoplastic Composite Materials Approach for More Circular Components: From Monomer to In Situ Polymerization, a Review

Thermochemical recovery from the sustainable economy development point of view—LCA-based reasoning for EU legislation changes

Life Cycle Assessment of a Thermal Recycling Process as an Alternative to Existing CFRP and GFRP Composite Wastes Management Options

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