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Ecoefficiency of Thermal Insulation Sandwich Panels Based On Fly Ash Modified with Colloidal Mesoporous Silica
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry.
Umeå University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry.ORCID iD: 0000-0001-7589-9653
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2019 (English)In: ACS Sustainable Chemistry and Engineering, E-ISSN 2168-0485, Vol. 7, no 24, p. 20000-20012Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The current practice of landfilling fly ash generated by waste incineration is nonsustainable, so alternative ways of using this material are needed. Silanization effectively immobilizes the heavy metal contaminants in the incineration fly ash and enables its circular utilization because silanized fly ash (SFA) has market value as a low-cost filler for polymer composites. This study examines the ecoefficiency of a thermal insulation panel that consists of a polyurethane (PU) foam core sandwiched between two epoxy composite skins prepared by reinforcing glass fibers (GF) and SFA in epoxy resin. The ecoefficiency of such panels was evaluated by comparing their life cycle environmental externality costs (LCEE) to their life cycle costs (LCC). The LCEE was calculated by monetizing the panels' environmental impacts, which were quantified by performing a life cycle assessment (LCA). The results revealed that the ecoefficiency of the composite panels is positive (47%) and superior to that of market incumbent alternatives with PU foam or rockwool cores and steel skins. The two market incumbents have negative ecoefficiencies, primarily due to their high LCEE. The environmental performance of the panel with SFA GF epoxy composite skins can be further improved by using lignin-based epoxy resin or thermoplastic polypropylene as the polymer matrix of composite skins. Overall, application as a filler in fabricating polymer composite skins of sandwich panels is an upcycling pathway of SFA that combines circular economy prospects with sustainability benefits.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
American Chemical Society (ACS), 2019. Vol. 7, no 24, p. 20000-20012
Keywords [en]
Ecoefficiency, Thermal insulation sandwich panels, Colloidal mesoporous silica, Municipal solid waste incineration fly ash, Life cycle assessment, Life cycle costing, Lignin-epoxy resin
National Category
Polymer Technologies
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-167053DOI: 10.1021/acssuschemeng.9b05726ISI: 000503330400072Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85075697945OAI: oai:DiVA.org:umu-167053DiVA, id: diva2:1384094
Projects
Bio4Energy
Funder
Swedish Research Council Formas, 2016-20022Bio4EnergyAvailable from: 2020-01-09 Created: 2020-01-09 Last updated: 2024-07-02Bibliographically approved
In thesis
1. Circularity Assessment of Water and Waste in Cities: A Proposed Framework for Sustainable Performance Evaluation using LCA and LCC
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Circularity Assessment of Water and Waste in Cities: A Proposed Framework for Sustainable Performance Evaluation using LCA and LCC
2021 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

Urbanization is a global phenomenon, happening on a massive scale and at a rapid rate, with 68% of the planet’s population predicted to be living in cities by 2050 (UN-DESA, 2018). The sustainability of a city (Goal 11 of UN SDGs) undergoing rapid urbanization depends on its ability to maintain a low consumption of resources and materials at any given time (referred to as the urban metabolic rate), whilst simultaneously providing essential municipal services to its inhabitants, such as a water supply, wastewater treatment and solid waste management. The latter must comply with circular economy principles, meaning recovery of byproducts, prevention of discharge of toxic pollutants, and avoidance of landfill usage. The appended papers in the thesis (Papers I–V) describe sustainable assessments of wastewater and waste services to increase their degree of circularity, using tools such as Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Life Cycle Costing (LCC). Paper I describes the environmental performance of using the biogas from a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and converting it to Liquefied Biomethane (LBM), which can used as fuel in Tractor-Trailers (TT). Overall, the study suggests that changing from diesel to LBM fuel improves the environmental performance of TT. However, the magnitude of environmental benefit depends on an alternate source of electricity required for operation of the WWTP. Paper II evaluates the Social Cost-Benefit Analysis (SCBA) of Compressed Biomethane (CBM) obtained from a food waste digestion plant in Mumbai, India for use as a fuel in transit buses. SCBA results indicate that the food waste-based CBM model can save 6.86 billion Indian rupees (99.4 million USD) annually for Mumbai. Paper III describes the Sustainable Return on Investment (SROI) of lightweight Advanced High Strength Steel (AHSS) and Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) intensive multi-material Body in White (BIW) for automobiles. The SROI of CFRP BIWs is maximized when carbon fiber production uses energy from a low carbon-intensity electric grid or decentralized sources such as waste-to-energy incineration plants. Paper IV assesses the ecoefficiency of a thermal insulation panel that consists of a Polyurethane (PU) foam core sandwiched between two epoxy composite skins, prepared by reinforcing Glass Fibers (GF) and SFA (Silanized Fly Ash) in epoxy resin. The results revealed that the ecoefficiency of the composite panels is positive (47%) and superior to that of market incumbent alternatives with PU foam or rockwool cores and steel skins. Paper V quantifies the Total Cost to Society (TCS) (sum of private cost and environmental externalities cost) of a centralized urban WWTP, including the operation as well as byproduct utilization stream. The environmental performance and circular compliance are both factored in, when determining the TCS of a WWTP. The results revealed savings of 1.064 million USD, which include direct and indirect revenues to the plant, as well as avoidance costs attributed to environmental externalities. Based on the studies described in4these papers, a five-stage assessment framework for determining the overall sustainability performance of essential treatment services in a city is proposed in this thesis. The framework considers the combined effect of urban metabolic features and initiatives aimed at improving circular compliance of essential services.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
umeå: Umeå University, 2021. p. 70
Keywords
Life cycle assessment, life cycle costing, environmental externalities cost, sustainable city, circularity, wastewater treatment, organic waste, waste to energy, assessment framework
National Category
Natural Sciences
Research subject
environmental science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-182194 (URN)978-91-7855-527-7 (ISBN)978-91-7855-528-4 (ISBN)
Public defence
2021-05-10, Glasburen KBC/ Fokusrummet, KBC Linneus väg 6, 907 36, Umeå, Umeå, 09:30 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Available from: 2021-04-19 Created: 2021-04-12 Last updated: 2021-04-19Bibliographically approved

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Shanmugam, KavithaJansson, StinaTysklind, MatsUpadhyayula, Venkata K.K.

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