ANÁLISIS DE CICLO DE VIDA (ACV) DE UN PROCESO DE FABRICACIÓN DE ABRASIVOS REVESTIDOS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the environmental performance of a product generated in a process of manufacture of coated abrasives through the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The evaluated product was analyzed before and after a change in the formulation using the methodology set out in ISO 14044:2006. It was applied the methodology established in the ISO 14044:2006 standard. The information collected was processed, analyzed and assessed using the TEAM™ software and its databases for LCA called DEAM™. The information collected was processed, analyzed and evaluated using the TEAM ™ software (Tool for Environmental Analysis and Management) and his databases for LCA called DEAM ™ (Data for Environmental Analysis and Management). The functional unit used was “unit/m2". The scope of analysis included the manufacture of raw materials and inputs, all the flows involved in the process of manufacturing and product use. Disposal activities were excluded. The determination of environmental impacts was through the CML 2000 characterization factors of Institute of Environmental Sciences of the University of Leiden. Through LCA, were quantified 9 categories of environmental impact: Greenhouse gas (GHG), Stratospheric ozone depletion (SOD), Abiotic resources depletion (ARD), Photooxidant formation (POx), Air acidification (AAc), Eutrophication (EU), Human toxicity (HTx), Aquatic toxicity (ATx) and Terrestrial Toxicity (TTx), one result was the identification of internal process on which the company should undertake actions to improve the environmental performance of the product Additional, was concluded that the change in the formulation improved the environmental performance of the analyzed product since that the totality of environmental impacts evaluated reduced from product to product. For the three categories of toxicity and AOE, reductions of over 60% were achieved. According the magnitude of the LCIA; the degree of environmental significance for the geographical zone; industry initiatives and representatively in the LCI: GHG with 1,161 geqCO2, POx with 0.22 geqEtilene and AAc with 9.68 geqSO2 were determined as significant environmental impacts for the product studied, their reduction percentages was 34%, 22% and 31% respectively. This study is the first application of LCA to a process of manufacture of coated abrasives in Mexico.