The LCA Methodology for Ceramic Tiles Production by Addition of MSWI BA

Abstract

Integrated waste management and sustainable use of natural resources are the basis of the Green Economy. In this context, the management of the Municipal Solid Waste Incineration Bottom Ashes (MSWI BA) is one of the current issues worldwide. This paper presents an application of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) procedure to the industrial production of ceramic tiles using bottom ashes in the mixture together with feldspathic sands and clays. The comparison between ashes and traditional mixture showed a similar mineralogical and rheological composition. In the reported procedure the MSWI BA, after storage, were treated to separate and recover metals. The residual ashes were added to the mixture and then they followed the traditional industrial production cycle. Samples of the different materials were taken during the experimental industrial activity and leaching tests were carried out to verify the environmental compatibility of MSWI BA use to produce ceramic tiles. The results of the LCA show large environmental and energy benefits related to the proposed reuse of BA. Metal recovery and lower use of clay in traditional mixture avoids emission of substances with a negative potential impact for environment. This study provides a sustainable alternative to the MSWI BA final disposal in landfill as MSWI BA are hazardous wastes that present complicated management and high disposal costs.

Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Lightweight Aggregates Made from Waste—Applying the Circular Economy

“…In Scenarios 2 and 3, it is more negligible, being in the order of 4% for the extraction stage of Scenario 2 and 12% in Scenario 3. The second stage that presents a greater reduction in environmental impact is the manufacturing stage (Figure 5), as discussed above and in other industry work [55,57]. Specifically, for Scenario 1 and PR clay, the improvement is 35%, this being the mixture that presents the best results.…”

Life Cycle Assessment of Magnetite Production Using Microfluidic Devices: Moving from the Laboratory to Industrial Scale

“…Consequently, transport impacted the ozone formation category significantly due to the emissions of methane and volatile organic compounds (VOC) to the atmosphere. 53 Figure 6 shows the total contribution of each impact for processing each stage and wastewater during the synthesis process of MNPs. The manufacturing stage at the laboratory scale shows the most considerable contribution, with approximately 97% of all impact categories.…”

Life cycle assessment applied to waste management in Italy: A mini-review of characteristics and methodological perspectives for local assessment

“…Avoiding the production of recycled or reused goods also affects the results (Mondello et al, 2017). Furthermore, bottom and fly ashes and all residues must be managed or disposed (Sappa et al, 2019); the flow of these materials must be accounted coherently. Finally, dedicated attention to the analysis of possible rebound effects in LCA stages is required (Vivanco et al, 2018).…”

“…Impacts of MSW management processes are also investigated; for example, pollution abatement strategies produce impacts that cannot be neglected (Barjoveanu et al, 2018). Moreover, residues of waste management processes, such as ashes, have significant environmental impacts (Margallo et al, 2015); different end-of-life paths of ashes, mixing of different waste (Assi et al, 2020) and technological uses (Mostbauer et al, 2014) for new products (Barberio et al, 2010; Sappa et al, 2019) are assessed, focusing on the entire life cycle (Bosio et al, 2014; Di Gianfilippo et al, 2016, 2018; Margallo et al, 2015).…”