Process-based LCA of ultrafiltration for drinking water production

•Novel decision-making tool for filtration developed at a unit operation level.•Extensive operating conditions and input water categories as model variables.•Environmental impacts as sensitive to operating conditions as to electricity mix.•Easy combination possible with existing fabrication model fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water research (Oxford) 2021-07, Vol.199, p.117156-117156, Article 117156
Main Authors: Prézélus, Flavie, Tiruta-Barna, Ligia, Remigy, Jean-Christophe, Guigui, Christelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
cellulose triacetate
Chemical engineering
Chemical Sciences
drinking water
environmental assessment
hollow fiber
membrane filtration
Process modelling
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Summary:•Novel decision-making tool for filtration developed at a unit operation level.•Extensive operating conditions and input water categories as model variables.•Environmental impacts as sensitive to operating conditions as to electricity mix.•Easy combination possible with existing fabrication model for cradle-to-grave LCA. Researchers and industrials need decision-making tools to make informed decisions on environmental mitigation strategies and proceed with the overall ecodesign of processes. In this study, a tool that couples membrane filtration process modelling and life cycle analysis has been developed, for which material and energy flows are calculated for variable operating conditions and are the basis for environmental impact assessment. The resulting generic model has been applied to dead-end ultrafiltration of ground and surface waters for drinking water production with cellulose triacetate hollow fibers. Operating strategies have been investigated to mitigate environmental impacts of the two major hotspots (electricity and backwash cleaning chemical consumptions). Adjusting filtration cycle duration and filtration flux has shown to be a promising lever. The developed model is sufficiently flexible and modular for its adaptation to other membrane materials, filtration configurations (i.e. cross-flow) as well as to other applications. [Display omitted]
ISSN:0043-1354
1879-2448
DOI:10.1016/j.watres.2021.117156