Environmental and eco-costs life cycle assessment of an acrylonitrile process by capacity enlargement in Mexico

• Published in: Process safety and environmental protection 2012, Vol.90 (1), p.27-37
• Main Authors: Morales-Mora, M.A., Rosa-Dominguez, E., Suppen-Reynaga, N., Martinez-Delgadillo, S.A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetocyanhydrine; Acrylonitrile; Acrylonitriles; Byproducts; Costs; Eco-costs; Economics; Life cycle assessment; Life cycle engineering; Methyl methacrylate monomer; Morelos Petrochemical Complex; Redesign; Reduction
• ISSN: 0957-5820; 1744-3598
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2011.10.002

Life cycle assessment and marginal prevention costs (eco-costs method) for an acrylonitrile plant were carried out estimating the environmental impact and the eco-costs, due to the increment in the production capacity. This study compares the old plant's operative performance (old design) at 50,000 ton/year where the by-products were incinerated, with the current operation at 60,000 ton/year where those by-products in the waste stream will be treated to take advantage of its substance content, to generate profitable products. In addition, the effect of a wastewater flow rate with cyanide was evaluated on the biological wastewater treatment process. The redesign showed a high reduction percentage in eleven of eighteen midpoint impact categories. The reduction of 36% in the global impacts in the redesign was obtained when these ones were calculated based on the impacts of the year of 2005. The CO 2 emissions equivalents (CO 2eq) had a reduction of 46% (from 6.55 to 3.50 kg CO 2eq/kg of acrylonitrile). The total of marginal prevention costs (eco-costs) are 1.28 USD/kg for acrylonitrile old design and the 0.735 USD/kg for acrylonitrile redesign, i.e. 42.5% lower than the old design. This means that 94.5% are costs for pollution and the use of energy and 5.4% by depletions of material resources. This study proved that the redesign is environmentally most favorable and economically affordable method. Eco-costs method should be incorporated as part of the financial indicators of a project, but with the respective adaptation to the environmental and economic conditions of a region.