Life Cycle Assessment of Emerging Technologies in Industrial Wastewater Treatment and Desalination

Life Cycle Assessment of Hybrid Nanofiltration Desalination Plants in the Persian Gulf

“…Economic constraints and technical specifications including the capacity, accessible technologies and specification of the feed are key factors in selecting the appropriate technology. However, desalination plants significantly impact the environment and natural resources and have direct and indirect emissions of pollutants into water, soil, and air through energy and chemical consumption [ 6 , 7 ]. Although seawater desalination is a well-established technology in the region, the assessment of environmental hazards and damages has not yet been adequately and thoroughly reviewed and considered by governments and industries [ 7 , 8 ].…”

“…LCA is used to assess and calculate the damage caused to the environment by a product or a process, which can be examined with several approaches, such as cradle to grave, gate to gate, cradle to gate, etc. [ 6 , 7 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ].…”

“…There are several studies worldwide which have evaluated various aspects of desalination, including some the effects on the environment and human life. At first, pollutants’ emissions of desalination were assessed qualitatively without LCA [ 7 ]. Basic LCA studies on desalination processes were started in the 1990s; however, in the 2000s, research processes improved, and new quantitative comparisons between desalination technologies were published by applying LCA [ 7 ].…”

“…At first, pollutants’ emissions of desalination were assessed qualitatively without LCA [ 7 ]. Basic LCA studies on desalination processes were started in the 1990s; however, in the 2000s, research processes improved, and new quantitative comparisons between desalination technologies were published by applying LCA [ 7 ]. In the early 2000s, Lundie et al investigated the environmental impacts of the RO process [ 14 ].…”

“…Furthermore, they assessed the role of renewable energy on air pollution caused by water supply plants [ 21 ]. In 2008, two studies by Vince et al investigated the midpoint impacts of several RO and UF processes located in France [ 7 , 22 , 23 ]. Muñoz et al studied several life cycle impacts of RO processes in Spain, in four projects [ 7 , 24 , 25 , 26 ].…”