LCA as a decision support tool for evaluating cleaner production schemes in iron making industry

In China, the evaluation mechanism of cleaner production schemes is characterized with flaws and lacks quantitative evaluation methods, which are the key technical aspects in cleaner production audit. This paper is based on a combination of life cycle assessment (LCA) and cost analysis methods to evaluate cleaner production schemes in the iron making industry. Eight environmental impact categories, including Acidification Potential, Eutrophication Potential, Freshwater Aquatic Ecotoxicity Pot, Global Warming Potential, Human Toxicity Potential, Marine Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential, Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential, and Terrestric Ecotoxicity Potential, are chosen to analyze the environmental impact of the iron making industry. The results show that the greatest contribution factor to the iron making industry is the blast furnace process. The most significant environmental impact category is Global Warming Potential. According to the results, we proposed 14 cleaner production schemes. LCA is used to evaluate the environmental performances of 14 cleaner production schemes, which conclude that the scheme of the use of recycled water increases environmental impacts, while the other 13 cleaner production schemes result in environmental benefits. Meanwhile, the cost analysis based on payback period, net present value and internal rate of return indicates that the 13 schemes are economically feasible. (c) 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 35: 195-203, 2016