Analysis of supercritical water oxidation for detoxification of waste organic solvent in university based on life cycle assessment

• Published in: Journal of hazardous materials 2011-10, Vol.194, p.283-289
• Main Authors: Kikuchi, Yasunori, Kurata, Kohjiro, Nakatani, Jun, Hirao, Masahiko, Oshima, Yoshito
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Academic lab waste; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Chemical engineering; Data processing; dioxins; environmental impact; Exact sciences and technology; General treatment and storage processes; Global environmental pollution; inventories; LCA; life cycle assessment; Organic Chemicals - chemistry; organic wastes; oxidation; Oxidation-Reduction; particulates; Pollution; Reactors; risk; Risk communication; SCWO; solvents; Solvents - chemistry; Spray incineration; universities; waste treatment; Wastes; Water - chemistry
• ISSN: 0304-3894; 1873-3336
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.07.107

► We assess a supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) process for hazardous solvent. ► Our analysis can reveal its environmental aspects using life cycle assessment (LCA). ► Negligible risk of creating dioxin and particulate matter is an important characteristic. ► Environmental impacts of SCWO should be interpreted with its merits as a detoxification process. ► Right technologies should be implemented for sustainable universities. Spray incineration and supercritical water oxidation (SCWO) processes have been used for detoxifying waste organic fluids in the University of Tokyo. In this study, we aim to elucidate the environmental aspects of these waste treatment processes by life cycle assessment (LCA). Through the investigation of actual plants, the inventory data and other characteristics of actual plants were collected and analyzed. To confirm the potential of SCWO, three modification types of the process and operation were considered and assessed on the basis of estimated inventory data. The results demonstrate that spray incineration has less environmental impact than SCWO in all scenarios. However, SCWO has various advantages for installation as a treatment process in universities such as negligible risk of creating dioxins and particulate matter. Proper choice of the treatment method for organic waste fluid requires a comprehensive analysis of risks. Spray incineration poses the risk of providing dioxins and particulate matter, while SCWO has such risk at negligible level. This means that waste including concerned materials related to such emission should be treated by SCWO. Using the right technologies for the right tasks in the detoxification of hazardous materials should be implemented for sustainable universities.