Possible Approaches to Lca Methodology for Nanomaterials in Sustainable Energy Production

Abstract

Nano-engineered materials are playing an ever growing role in the rapidly developing field of sustainable energy production. Besides providing numerous opportuni-ties for innovations in this domain, utilisation of nanostructured materials raises numerous doubts regarding their impact on the environment and possible adverse effects on human health. Providing reliable methods for analysis, evaluation and dealing with the environ-mental and health effects of nanotechnology is therefore crucial. In this article we will try to give an outline of possible approaches to deployment of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) tools to nanomaterials used in certain applications for sustainable energy production. Use of such methods should also provide the possibility of comparing these new, emerging, technologies with that of already existing conventional ones in terms of their environmental, health and safety impacts.

Exploring the need for creating a standardized approach to managing nanowaste based on similar experiences from other wastes

“…[6][7][8] Finally, there is no comprehensive or uniform plan to address the true extent of the issue. Various methods such as life cycle analysis (LCA) and material flow analysis [9][10][11] have been used to estimate the amount of waste produced and to track its path from beginning to end, but these methodologies, especially LCA, rely heavily on the fact that the materials being tracked behave similarly to traditional materials (e.g., comparing the life cycle of a plastic bottle to the life cycle of a glass bottle); however, in the case of nanomaterials, a full characterization of the emissions factors for new materials are not available. 10 In theory, nanowaste would fall under the auspices of a conventional regulatory infrastructure for managing the disposal of waste materials, such as the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).…”