Nanocellulose Life Cycle Assessment
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Abstract
Nanocellulose
is a nascent and promising material with many exceptional
properties and a broad spectrum of potential applications. Because
of the unique and functional materials that can be created using nanocellulose,
pilot-scale development for commercialization has begun. Thus a thorough
understanding of its environmental impact, covering the whole life
cycle of nanocellulose, becomes the foundation for its long-term sustainable
success. In this current study, four comparable lab scale nanocellulose
fabrication routes were evaluated through a cradle-to-gate life cycle
assessment (LCA) adopting the Eco-Indicator 99 method. The results
indicated that, for the chemical–mechanical fabrication routes,
the majority of the environmental impact of nanocellulose fabrication
is dependent upon both the chemical modification and mechanical treatment
route chosen. For sonication, the mechanical treatment overshadows
that from the chemical modifications. Adapting the best practice based
on unit mass production was 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)
oxidation followed by homogenization, as TEMPO oxidation resulted
in a lower impact than carboxymethylation. Even though the fabrication
process of nanocellulose presents a large environmental footprint
markup relative to its raw material extraction process (kraft pulping),
it still exhibits prominent environmental advantages over other nanomaterials
like carbon nanotubes