One promising future bulk application of graphene is as
composite additive. Therefore, we compare two production routes for insolution
graphene using a cradle-to-gate lifecycle assessment focusing on
potential differences in energy use, blue water footprint, human toxicity,
and ecotoxicity. The data used for the assessment is based on information
in scientific papers and patents. Considering the prospective nature of this
study, environmental impacts from background systems such as energy
production were not included. The production routes are either based on
ultrasonication or chemical reduction. The results show that the
ultrasonication route has lower energy and water use, but higher human
and ecotoxicity impacts, compared to the chemical reduction route.
However, a sensitivity analysis showed that solvent recovery in the ultrasonication process gives lower impacts for all included
impact categories. The sensitivity analysis also showed that solvent recovery is important to lower the blue water footprint of the
chemical reduction route as well. The results demonstrate the possibility to conduct a life cycle assessment study based mainly on
information from patents and scientific articles, enabling prospective life cycle assessment studies of products at early stages of
technological development
