Advancing Sustainable Energy: Environmental and Economic Assessment of Plastic Waste Gasification for Syngas and Electricity Generation Using Life Cycle Modeling

被引:0
作者
Javed, Muhammad Hassan [1 ]
Ahmad, Anees [1 ]
Rehan, Mohammad [2 ]
Musharavati, Farayi [3 ]
Nizami, Abdul-Sattar [1 ,4 ]
Khan, Mohammad Ilyas [5 ]
机构
[1] Govt Coll Univ, Sustainable Dev Study Ctr, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
[2] King Abdulaziz Univ, Ctr Excellence Environm Studies CEES, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
[3] Qatar Univ, Dept Mech & Ind Engn, Doha, Qatar
[4] Korea Univ, Grad Sch Energy & Environm, Seoul 02481, South Korea
[5] King Khalid Univ, Coll Engn, Dept Chem Engn, Abha 61421, Saudi Arabia
关键词
gasification; life cycle assessment; plastic waste; sustainability; synthetic gas; TO-ENERGY; TECHNOLOGIES;
D O I
10.3390/su17031277
中图分类号
X [环境科学、安全科学];
学科分类号
08 ; 0830 ;
摘要
The explosion of plastic waste generation, approaching 400 million tons per year, has created a worldwide environmental crisis that conventional waste management systems cannot handle. This problem can be solved through gasification, which converts nonrecyclable plastics to syngas with potential applications in electricity generation and synthetic fuel production. This study investigates whether syngas production from plastic waste by gasification is environmentally and economically feasible. Environmental impacts were assessed through a life cycle assessment framework using a life cycle impact assessment approach, ReCiPe 2016, with 10 midpoint/endpoint categories. Midpoint results of the baseline scenario with grid-mix electricity revealed climate change (GWP) of 775 kg CO2 equivalent and fossil depletion potential (FDP) of 311 kg oil equivalent per ton of plastic waste. Meanwhile, a solar scenario showed GWP as 435 kg CO2 equivalent and FDP as 166 kg oil equivalent per ton of plastic waste. Switching to solar energy cut GWP 44% and FDP 47%, respectively. However, the tradeoffs were higher human toxicity potential (HTP) and marine ecotoxicity potential (METP) due to upstream material extraction of renewable systems, respectively. Among environmental performance drivers, electricity inputs and operating materials were identified through sensitivity and uncertainty analyses. Syngas production from a plant of 50 tons per day can yield electricity sales revenue of USD 4.79 million, excluding USD 4.05 million in operational expenditures. Financial indicators like a 2.06-year payback period, USD 5.32 million net present value over a 20-year project life, and 38.2% internal rate of return indicate the profitability of the system. An external cost analysis showed emissions-related costs of USD 26.43 per ton of plastic waste processed, dominated by CO2 and NOx emissions. Despite these costs, the avoided impacts of less landfilling/incineration and electricity generation support gasification. Gasification should be promoted as a subsidy and incentive by policymakers for wider adoption and integration into municipal waste management systems. Findings show it can be adapted to global sustainability goals and circular economy principles while delivering strong economic returns. The study findings also contribute to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for instance, SDG 7 by promoting clean energy technologies, SDG 12 by implementing circular economy, and SDG 13 by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
引用
收藏
页数:23
相关论文
共 50 条
  • [41] Life-cycle environmental performance assessment of electricity generation and transmission systems in Greece
    Orfanos, Neoptolemos
    Mitzelos, Dimitris
    Sagani, Angeliki
    Dedoussis, Vassilis
    RENEWABLE ENERGY, 2019, 139 : 1447 - 1462
  • [42] Environmental and economic performance analysis of recycling waste printed circuit boards using life cycle assessment
    Pokhrel, Prakash
    Lin, Sheng-Lung
    Tsai, Chi-Ting
    JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, 2020, 276 (276)
  • [43] The environmental footprint of UAETs electricity sector: Combining life cycle assessment and scenario modeling
    Treyer, Karin
    Bauer, Christian
    RENEWABLE & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY REVIEWS, 2016, 55 : 1234 - 1247
  • [44] Assessing Options for Electricity Generation from Biomass on a Life Cycle Basis: Environmental and Economic Evaluation
    Harish Kumar Jeswani
    Haruna Gujba
    Adisa Azapagic
    Waste and Biomass Valorization, 2011, 2 : 33 - 42
  • [45] Assessing Options for Electricity Generation from Biomass on a Life Cycle Basis: Environmental and Economic Evaluation
    Jeswani, Harish Kumar
    Gujba, Haruna
    Azapagic, Adisa
    WASTE AND BIOMASS VALORIZATION, 2011, 2 (01) : 33 - 42
  • [46] Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Two Types of Flexible Plastic Packaging under a Sustainable Circular Economy Approach
    Tuncok-Cesme, Borce
    Yildiz-Geyhan, Eren
    Ciftcioglu, Gokcen Alev
    SUSTAINABILITY, 2024, 16 (08)
  • [47] Life cycle assessment of hydrothermal carbonization of municipal solid waste for waste-to-energy generation
    Rahman, Kaniz Fatema
    Abrar, Md Farhatul
    Tithi, Sanjida Safa
    Kabir, Kazi Bayzid
    Kirtania, Kawnish
    JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, 2024, 370
  • [48] Environmental life cycle assessment of methanol and electricity co-production system based on coal gasification technology
    Sliwinska, Anna
    Burchart-Korol, Dorota
    Smolinski, Adam
    SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT, 2017, 574 : 1571 - 1579
  • [49] Decision analysis for plastic waste gasification considering energy, exergy, and environmental criteria using TOPSIS and grey relational analysis
    Hasanzadeh, Rezgar
    Mojaver, Parisa
    Azdast, Taher
    Khalilarya, Shahram
    Chitsaz, Ata
    Rosen, Marc A.
    PROCESS SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, 2023, 174 : 414 - 423
  • [50] Life cycle assessment of environmental impact on municipal solid waste incineration power generation
    Donghui Liu
    Shanshan Wang
    Ruoyu Xue
    Gengyu Gao
    Ruiqin Zhang
    Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2021, 28 : 65435 - 65446