Alternatives for the Composition of Interactive Environmental Impact Factors

Abstract

Composition of probabilistic preferences is applied here together with life cycle assessment in the evaluation of sewage sludge treatment scenarios. The computations are based on the transformation of preferences for the alternatives elicited applying each criterion into probabilities of being the best. Different forms of probabilistic composition are applied and the possibility of interaction between factors is considered. The results are compared to results previously obtained with different forms of composition modeling the interaction or assuming linearity. Eight scenarios combining different processing techniques and leading to distinct end-uses are compared. These scenarios are ranked combining probabilities of preference according to five environmental impact factors: water use, energy consumption, carbon footprint, human toxicity potential and terrestrial ecotoxicity potential. In the large spectrum of views that the probabilistic approach provides, evidence is found favoring a system that includes recovery of energy to be used in a dryer and in a cement kiln.