Environmental Impacts of the Red Ceramics Industry in Northeast Brazil

Abstract

Abstract-his paper exposes the current negative environmental impacts that have been identified in various stages of ceramic production in Northeast Brazil, through the extraction of clay, the generation of solid residues, the extraction of native vegetation for burning, and emissions into the atmosphere. A representative factory was studied, located in the municipality of Guarabira (Northeast Brazil). Although the area is developing economically, some stages of the process are not being accomplished in a way that ensures the sustainability of the activity in the environment. The pressing need for an optimized and environment-friendly ceramic production has triggered research on the production process and alternative methods. The environmental impacts observed were described herein, and a Life Cycle Assessment was carried out to quantify the carbon footprint associated with the productive process of the factory.

Exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental comparison of diesel-biodiesel blends in a direct injection engine at variable loads

“…Recent applications of LCA to energy-related fields include four disposal scenarios for urban pruning waste (including the production of heat and electricity) [41], elephant grass cultivation for energy purposes [42], energy supply to a heat pump (solar energy vs. electric grid) [43], and comparison of emissions relative to two food industry production processes [44]. LCA has also been applied as a decision criterion for the implementation of solar photovoltaic panels in a hospital [45] and to assess the environmental performance of a red ceramics factory [46].…”

Second law assessment of a Hoffmann kiln for the red ceramics industry

“…However, EcoBrick [37] mentioned that efficiency figures for Hoffmann kilns using coal as a fuel range from 1800 to 2350 kJ per kg fired brick, in China and England, which is considerably higher than the values calculated herein. Although not focused on thermodynamics analysis, the work by [38] reports on a simplified life cycle assessment for the same case study presented herein. There is a clear relationship between energy use and environmental impact, which remains underexplored.…”

Urban Pruning Waste: Carbon Footprint Associated With Energy Generation and Prospects for Clean Development Mechanisms

“…LCA is a methodology that evaluates the potential environmental impacts associated with a product, service or activity, throughout its life cycle, from the extraction of raw materials, including processing, manufacture, transportation, use and fi nal disposal (Guinée 2002, Araújo et al, 2018Coelho Junior et al, 2018). Improvements in a process can reduce adverse eff ects throughout its life cycle -which can infl uence positively, negatively (or both) the environmental performance of goods and services (Carvalho et al, 2016;Freire et al, 2016;Abrahão and Carvalho, 2018;Carvalho et al, 2019a;Carvalho et al, 2019b). Cortez (2011) mentioned that there are scarce reports on the large-scale use of urban pruning waste (for energy purposes or not), and listed the reuse as fi rewood and charcoal production as disposal scenarios.…”