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Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida da Cristobalite
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Abstract(s)
O presente trabalho desenvolve uma Avaliação do Ciclo de Vida (ACV) da cristobalite, de acordo com as normas internacionais ISO 14040:2006 e ISO 14044:2006, com o objetivo de identificar e quantificar os potenciais impactes ambientais associados à sua produção. A unidade funcional considerada corresponde a 1 kg de cristobalite seca pronta para expedição, numa abordagem cradle-to-gate, abrangendo as etapas de extração, lavagem, classificação da areia siliciosa especial, processos de calcinação no forno rotativo industrial, consumos energéticos e fluxos residuais.
A avaliação foi realizada com recurso à metodologia Environmental Footprint 3.1, utilizando o software SimaPro e bases de dados secundárias (Ecoinvent 3.11), sempre que dados primários não estavam disponíveis. Os resultados foram normalizados em Pessoa Equivalente (PEq), permitindo identificar e priorizar as categorias de impacte mais relevantes.
As análises evidenciaram que a produção de calor por combustão de gás natural no processo de calcinação é responsável por mais de 98% dos impactes nas categorias de Alterações Climáticas, Utilização de Recursos Fósseis e Formação Fotoquímica de Ozono, constituindo o principal vetor de pressão ambiental. Adicionalmente, verificaram-se contributos significativos em Toxicidade Humana (cancerígenos) e Ecotoxicidade em água doce, relacionados com emissões gasosas, resíduos sólidos e efluentes provenientes da extração e da transformação mineral.
Este trabalho contribui para a literatura científica ao disponibilizar inventários e resultados específicos da realidade industrial portuguesa, reforçando a importância da integração da ACV como ferramenta de apoio à decisão na indústria mineral e cerâmica. Os resultados sustentam o alinhamento da produção de cristobalite com os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS 7, 9, 12 e 13) e fornecem uma base sólida para a definição de estratégias de economia circular e de neutralidade carbónica no setor.
This work develops a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of cristobalite, in accordance with the international standards ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006, with the aim of identifying and quantifying the potential environmental impacts associated with its production. The functional unit considered corresponds to 1 kg of dry cristobalite ready for dispatch, under a cradle-to-gate approach, covering the stages of extraction, washing, and classification of special silica sand, calcination in an industrial rotary kiln, energy consumption, and residual flows. The assessment was carried out using the Environmental Footprint 3.1 methodology, with the support of SimaPro software and secondary databases (Ecoinvent 3.11) whenever primary data were not available. The results were normalized into Person Equivalent (PEq), enabling the identification and prioritization of the most relevant impact categories. The analyses showed that heat production from natural gas combustion in the calcination process is responsible for over 98% of the impacts in the categories of Climate Change, Fossil Resource Use, and Photochemical Ozone Formation, representing the main environmental pressure point. In addition, significant contributions were observed in Human Toxicity (carcinogenic) and Freshwater Ecotoxicity, associated with gaseous emissions, solid waste, and effluents from extraction and mineral processing. This study contributes to the scientific literature by providing inventories and results specific to the Portuguese industrial context, reinforcing the importance of integrating LCA as a decision-support tool in the mineral and ceramic industries. The results support the alignment of cristobalite production with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 7, 9, 12, and 13) and provide a solid basis for defining circular economy and carbon neutrality strategies in the sector.
This work develops a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of cristobalite, in accordance with the international standards ISO 14040:2006 and ISO 14044:2006, with the aim of identifying and quantifying the potential environmental impacts associated with its production. The functional unit considered corresponds to 1 kg of dry cristobalite ready for dispatch, under a cradle-to-gate approach, covering the stages of extraction, washing, and classification of special silica sand, calcination in an industrial rotary kiln, energy consumption, and residual flows. The assessment was carried out using the Environmental Footprint 3.1 methodology, with the support of SimaPro software and secondary databases (Ecoinvent 3.11) whenever primary data were not available. The results were normalized into Person Equivalent (PEq), enabling the identification and prioritization of the most relevant impact categories. The analyses showed that heat production from natural gas combustion in the calcination process is responsible for over 98% of the impacts in the categories of Climate Change, Fossil Resource Use, and Photochemical Ozone Formation, representing the main environmental pressure point. In addition, significant contributions were observed in Human Toxicity (carcinogenic) and Freshwater Ecotoxicity, associated with gaseous emissions, solid waste, and effluents from extraction and mineral processing. This study contributes to the scientific literature by providing inventories and results specific to the Portuguese industrial context, reinforcing the importance of integrating LCA as a decision-support tool in the mineral and ceramic industries. The results support the alignment of cristobalite production with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 7, 9, 12, and 13) and provide a solid basis for defining circular economy and carbon neutrality strategies in the sector.
Description
Keywords
Cristobalite Avaliação do ciclo de vida Sustentabilidade Areia siliciosa especial