250
10 Illustrative Case Study
Table 10.5
LCA impact characterization factors for the mass and energy flows within the life cycle inventory for: climate change (GWP), cumulative energy
demand (CED), ecotoxicity, and human toxicity. The factors were extracted from version 3.5 of the Ecoinvent database using the cut off by classification
system model and rounded to three significant figures. The activity name of the data set applied to represent each flow is shown as well as its geographical
basis, data source, and functional unit. Note that due to limitations in available data, some characterization factors describing similar but not identical activities
have to be applied to represent the material or energy flows
Material or energy flow
Activity name of Ecoinvent data set applied
IPCC 2013 GWP
100 yr [kg
CO
2 -eq]
Total CED
[MJ-eq]
USEtox
ecotoxicity
[CTU
e ] a
USEtox total
human toxicity
[CTU
h ] b
3-Chloro-2-isopropylthio
aniline
“Aniline production” in Europe by Hischier
(2007) [per kg]
4.82
104
18.8
1.66
× 10 −6
Copper(I) cyanide (CuCN)
“Copper carbonate production” in Europe by
Althaus et al. (2007) [per kg]
2.97
50.2
1170
9.53
× 10 −5
3-Methylpyridine (clean)
“Pyridine-compound production” in Europe
by Nemecek (2007) [per kg]
9.21
186
166
4.42
× 10 −6
Methyl ethyl ketone (clean)
“methyl ethyl ketone production” in Europe
by Althaus et al. (2007) [per kg]
1.81
62.1
3.60
3.10
× 10 −7
Sodium sulfide (Na
2 S)
“Sodium sulfide production” Global,
extrapolated by Ecoinvent [per kg]
3.05
42.3
16.9
1.72
× 10 −6
3-Methylpyridine (waste)
“Treatment of spent solvent mixture,
hazardous waste incineration” in Europe
without Switzerland, extrapolated by
Ecoinvent [per kg]
−2.03
−2.95
−0.871
−8.11 × 10 −8
Methyl ethyl ketone (waste)
“Treatment of spent solvent mixture,
hazardous waste incineration” in Europe
without Switzerland, extrapolated by
Ecoinvent [per kg]
−2.03
−2.95
−0.871
−8.11 × 10 −8
Steam
“Steam production, as energy carrier, in
chemical industry” in Europe by Althaus et al.
(2007) [per MJ]
0.103
1.56
7.73
× 10 −2
8.26
× 10 −9
a
CTU
e
= comparative toxic units for ecotoxicity
b
CTU
h
= comparative toxic units for human toxicity
10 Illustrative Case Study
Table 10.5
LCA impact characterization factors for the mass and energy flows within the life cycle inventory for: climate change (GWP), cumulative energy
demand (CED), ecotoxicity, and human toxicity. The factors were extracted from version 3.5 of the Ecoinvent database using the cut off by classification
system model and rounded to three significant figures. The activity name of the data set applied to represent each flow is shown as well as its geographical
basis, data source, and functional unit. Note that due to limitations in available data, some characterization factors describing similar but not identical activities
have to be applied to represent the material or energy flows
Material or energy flow
Activity name of Ecoinvent data set applied
IPCC 2013 GWP
100 yr [kg
CO
2 -eq]
Total CED
[MJ-eq]
USEtox
ecotoxicity
[CTU
e ] a
USEtox total
human toxicity
[CTU
h ] b
3-Chloro-2-isopropylthio
aniline
“Aniline production” in Europe by Hischier
(2007) [per kg]
4.82
104
18.8
1.66
× 10 −6
Copper(I) cyanide (CuCN)
“Copper carbonate production” in Europe by
Althaus et al. (2007) [per kg]
2.97
50.2
1170
9.53
× 10 −5
3-Methylpyridine (clean)
“Pyridine-compound production” in Europe
by Nemecek (2007) [per kg]
9.21
186
166
4.42
× 10 −6
Methyl ethyl ketone (clean)
“methyl ethyl ketone production” in Europe
by Althaus et al. (2007) [per kg]
1.81
62.1
3.60
3.10
× 10 −7
Sodium sulfide (Na
2 S)
“Sodium sulfide production” Global,
extrapolated by Ecoinvent [per kg]
3.05
42.3
16.9
1.72
× 10 −6
3-Methylpyridine (waste)
“Treatment of spent solvent mixture,
hazardous waste incineration” in Europe
without Switzerland, extrapolated by
Ecoinvent [per kg]
−2.03
−2.95
−0.871
−8.11 × 10 −8
Methyl ethyl ketone (waste)
“Treatment of spent solvent mixture,
hazardous waste incineration” in Europe
without Switzerland, extrapolated by
Ecoinvent [per kg]
−2.03
−2.95
−0.871
−8.11 × 10 −8
Steam
“Steam production, as energy carrier, in
chemical industry” in Europe by Althaus et al.
(2007) [per MJ]
0.103
1.56
7.73
× 10 −2
8.26
× 10 −9
a
CTU
e
= comparative toxic units for ecotoxicity
b
CTU
h
= comparative toxic units for human toxicity