LCA to choose among alternative design solutions: The case study of a new Italian incineration line

• Published in: Waste management (Elmsford) Vol. 29; no. 9; pp. 2462 - 2474
• Main Authors: Scipioni, A., Mazzi, A., Niero, M., Boatto, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Air Pollutants - analysis; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Carbon - chemistry; Carcinogens - analysis; CLEANING; Coal Ash; COMBUSTION; Conservation of Energy Resources; Design engineering; ECOSYSTEMS; Electricity; ENERGY RECOVERY; Environment; ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS; Environmental Pollution - analysis; Eutrophication; Exact sciences and technology; FLUE GAS; Flues; Fossil Fuels - economics; General processes of purification and dust removal; General treatment and storage processes; Incineration; Incineration - economics; Incineration - methods; INCINERATORS; Italy; Life cycle assessment; Life cycle engineering; MANAGEMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTES, AND NON-RADIOACTIVE WASTES FROM NUCLEAR FACILITIES; Minerals - analysis; Minerals - economics; MONTE CARLO METHOD; Other wastes and particular components of wastes; Ozone - analysis; Particulate Matter - chemistry; Pollution; Prevention and purification methods; Radiation; SOLID WASTES; Uncertainty; Urban and domestic wastes; WASTE MANAGEMENT; Waste Products - economics; Wastes; Italy; Monte Carlo method; Uncertainty; Life cycle (environment); Urban waste; Prediction; Energy recovery; Waste management; Incineration plant; Incineration; Ecosystem; Environment impact; Solid waste; Flue gas purification; Public health
• ISSN: 0956-053X; 1879-2456
• DOI: 10.1016/j.wasman.2009.04.007

At international level LCA is being increasingly used to objectively evaluate the performances of different Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) management solutions. One of the more important waste management options concerns MSW incineration. LCA is usually applied to existing incineration plants.
In this study LCA methodology was applied to a new Italian incineration line, to facilitate the prediction, during the design phase, of its potential environmental impacts in terms of damage to human health, ecosystem quality and consumption of resources. The aim of the study was to analyse three different design alternatives: an incineration system with dry flue gas cleaning (without- and with-energy recovery) and one with wet flue gas cleaning. The last two technological solutions both incorporating facilities for energy recovery were compared. From the results of the study, the system with energy recovery and dry flue gas cleaning revealed lower environmental impacts in relation to the ecosystem quality.
As LCA results are greatly affected by uncertainties of different types, the second part of the work provides for an uncertainty analysis aimed at detecting the extent output data from life cycle analysis are influenced by uncertainty of input data, and employs both qualitative (pedigree matrix) and quantitative methods (Monte Carlo analysis).