Official project website: www.nanosustain.eu
Project duration: 1 May 2010 – 31 May 2013
Project funding: 2.5 Mio. EUR from the EC Seventh Framework Programme under Grant Agreement No. 247989
After three exciting and stimulating years of research, meetings and discussions, the NanoSustain project implemented by 12 partners from seven different European countries ended on 31 May 2013. A huge amount of data has been produced and already published that will help to improve our current understanding of the intricate behavior of engineered nanomaterials when released and exposed to man and the environment. The ultimate goal of NanoSustain was to develop new technical solutions for the safe and sustainable handling of engineered nanomaterials, in particular during end-of-life phases, such as reuse/recycling, final treatment and/or disposal. To reach this goal a comprehensive physicochemical (pc) and hazard characterization (toxicology, dose-response, no-effect levels) analyses have been realized, including exposure (human, environment), risk (RA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) of selected engineered nanomaterials (nanocellulose, nano-TiO2, CNTs, nano-ZnO) and associated products, in particular related to their transport, transformation and environmental fate.
The main task of UniHB (work package leader of WP4 Life cycle assessment and prospective technological assessment) in the NanoSustain project has been the LCA of selected nanoproducts during all life cycle stages. The following specific organic and inorganic nanomaterials and associated applications were selected as case studies for the LCA:
During the last months of the project, the WP4 case studies were completed in terms of the life cycle assessment and exposure modeling of engineered nanoparticles by using the life cycle perspective.
The first objective of this WP was the "Cradle-to-gate" Life Cycle Assessment of the mentioned nanomaterials with a functional unit of 1kg nanomaterial (see Table 1).
Environmental impact | Unit | NanoTiO2 | MWCNT | NanoZnO | Nanocellulose |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cumulative energy demand | MJ-Eq/kg | 81.954 | 164.716 | 474.27 | 131.30 |
Global warming potential 100a | kg CO2-Eq/kg | 4.276 | 4.405 | 21.002 | 1.608 |
Acidification potential, average European | kg SO2-Eq/kg | 0.015 | 0.016 | 0.119 | 0.015 |
Eutrophication potential, average European | kg NOx-Eq/kg | 0.007 | 0.012 | 0.061 | 0.009 |
Human Tox potential, 100a not nanospecific | kg 1,4-DCB/kg | 0.854 | 0.842 | 8.647 | 0.845 |
Marine aquatic ecotoxicity, 100a not nanospecific | kg 1,4-DCB/kg | 2.980 | 2.845 | 45.674 | 1.678 |
Depletion of abiotic resources | kg Antimon-Eq/kg | 0.035 | 0.070 | 0.172 | 0.010 |
Summer smog | kg ethylen/kg | 2.726E-04 | 3.937E-04 | 2.48E-03 | 1.62E-04 |
Stratospheric ozone depletion 10a | kg CFC-11-/kg | 1.140E-06 | 1.027E-07 | 1.72E-06 | 1.29E-07 |
The second focus was on "Cradle-to-grave" (prospective) LCA of different nanotechnological based applications with different functional units compared to conventional materials/applications. For the modeling of nanospecific emissions we integrated release factors based on different sources and specific analogy estimation (REACH/ECHA-Documents, OECD ESDs, spERCs, industrial (personal) information, and a few available peer reviewed articles in the life cycle model.
At the same time, the enhanced LCA model has provided data for potential nanomaterial release in an environmental setting that is urgently needed for the exposure assessment of final products in their complete life cycle (i.e. synthesis, use, and recycling & disposal).
In cooperation with our internal project partners and the Swiss subcontract partner, we have developed different exposure models and calculated probabilistic material flows of our selected nano-applications. Based on this, we also generated probability distributions for the predicted environmental concentrations (PEC) of our selected nanomaterials that are needed for a environmental risk assessment.
For the precautionary design and for improved recyclability of engineered nanomaterials, a comprehensive approach was derived and developed as a third objective. This concept for the early stage of the development of new nanomaterials and nano-applications includes precautionary risk aspects, resource aspects, and environmental impacts (see Table 2) showing different data sources and their data quality for each aspect, which is relevant for an precautionary design.
Categories and aspects | Data quality | Source |
---|---|---|
Precautionary risk aspects | ||
Potential exposure of humans | Semi-quantitative | Swiss precautionary matrix for synthetic nanomaterials |
Potential input into the environment | Semi-quantitative | Swiss precautionary matrix for synthetic nanomaterials |
Potential of incident | Semi-quantitative | German Ã?I Sustainability check, orientation on Swiss precautionary matrix |
Resource aspects | ||
Criticality | Qualitative, Semi-quantitative | EU concept of criticality |
Abiotic resource requirement | Quantitative | Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
Other LCA impact categories | ||
Energy requirement | Quantitative | Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
Global warming potential | Quantitative | Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
Toxicological potential, but not nanospecific | Quantitative | Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
Ecotoxicological potential, but not nanospecific | Quantitative | Based on Life Cycle Assessment |
In addition, in the case studies we investigated the influence of the nanomaterials on the environmental impact of new (prospective) applications. As a result, it was possible to derive the following characteristics of future applications to realize high environmental (sustainable) benefits:
Information provided by Michael Steinfeldt at UniHB.
Steinfeldt, M.: Life cycle assessment of nanotechnology-based applications. In: Rickerby, D. (ed.) (forthcoming): Sustainable Nanotechnology Manufacturing, Taylor & Francis, Forthcoming (06-2014)
Steinfeldt, M. (2014): Precautionary Design of Nanomaterials and Nanoproducts. In: Michalek, T. et al. (Ed.): Technology Assessment and Policy Areas of Great Transitions. Informatorium, Prague, p.321-328; 412/413
Steinfeldt, M.: Environmental impact and energy demand of nanotechnology. In: Lambauer,J.; Fahl,U.; VoÃ?, A.(Ed.) (2012): Nanotechnology and Energy - Science, promises and its limits, Pan Stanford Publishing, Singapore 2012 p.247-264
Steinfeldt, M.: Umweltentlastungen durch Nanotechnologien. In: Decker, M.; Grunwald, A.; Knapp, M. (Hg.) (2012): Der Systemblick auf Innovation. Technikfolgenabschätzung in der Technikgestaltung, edition sigma, Berlin 2012 S.271-280
Gleich, A. von; Steinfeldt, M.: зeлeнÑ?e наноÑ?еÑ?нологий. Oздopoвлeниe oкpyжaÑ?Ñ?eй cpeдÑ?. labor & more (Russia), (2012) 1.12, Succidia, Darmstadt 2012 S.26-29
Steinfeldt, M.: A method of prospective technological assessment of nanotechnological techniques. In: Finkbeiner, M. (ed.) (2011): Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Management, Springer, Dordrecht Heidelberg London New York 2011 p.131-140
Gleich, A. von; Steinfeldt, M:. green nano. Umweltschutz durch Nanotechnologien - Faktor 10 oder eher inkrementelle Effizienzsteigerungen? labor&more (2011) 2.11, Succidia, Darmstadt 2011 S.64-67
Steinfeldt, M.: (Prospective) Life Cycle and environmental Exposure Assessment of nanotechnology-based applications: NanoSustain case studies. Book of abstracts of the 10th International Particle Toxicology Conference in Düsseldorf, Germany, June 4-7, 2013
Steinfeldt, M.: Precautionary design of new nanomaterials. Book of abstracts of the European TA Conference â??Technology Assessment and Policy Areas of Great Transitionsâ?? in Prague, Czech Republic, 15th March, 2013
Steinfeldt, M.: (Prospective) Life Cycle Assessment of nanotechnology-based applications. Abstract book of the 2nd QNano International Conference in Prague, Czech Republic, 27th February â?? 1st March 2013
Steinfeldt, M.: Umweltentlastungspotentiale durch Nanoprodukte und -materialien. Book of abstracts der Fachtagung Synthetische Nanopartikel in der Umwelt in München, Germany, 27th November 2012
Steinfeldt, M.: LCA case studies of nanotechnology-based applications in the project NanoSustain. Book of abstracts of the International Conference on Safe production and use of nanomaterials, Nanosafe 2012 in Grenoble, France, 13-15th November 2012
Steinfeldt, M.: Criteria and guiding principles for the precautionary design and for improved recyclability of engineered nanomaterials. Book of abstracts ot the International Conference on Safe production and use of nanomaterials, Nanosafe 2012 in Grenoble, France, 13-15th November 2012
Steinfeldt, M.: Life Cycle Assessment of nanotechnology-based products. Book of abstracts of the Nanotechitaly Conference 2011, Promoting Responsible Innovation (Second NanoSustain dissemination event) in Venice, Italy, 25th November 2011
Steinfeldt, M.: A method of prospective technological assessment of nanotechnological techniques. Proceeding of the Life Cycle Management Conference 2011, Berlin, 28-31 August 2011
Steinfeldt, M.: Environmental relief effects of nanotechnology-based applications, by the example of CNT composite materials and films and nanoscaled polyaniline. Proceeding of the Symposium Safety issues of nanomaterials along their life cycle in Barcelona, Spain, 4-5th May 2011
Steinfeldt, M.; Gleich, A. von; Henkle, J.L.L.; Endo, M.; Morimoto, S.; Momosaki, E.: Environmental relief effects of nanotechnologies – factor 10 or only incremental increase of efficiency. Proceeding of the EcoBalance 2010, The 9th International Conference on EcoBalance Towards & Beyond 2020, Tokio, Japan, 9-12 November 2010
Steinfeldt, M.: (Prospective) LCA of nanotechnology-based applications: NanoSustain case studies. nanoLCA 2013, Joint Workshop â??Health and Environmental Impact of nano-enabled products along the life cycleâ?? 07th May 2013, Barcelona, Spain
Steinfeldt, M.: Life Cycle Assessment software demonstration. nanoLCA 2013, Training Workshop â??Health and Environmental Impact of nano-enabled products along the life cycleâ??, 06th May 2013, Barcelona, Spain
Steinfeldt, M.: Methodology and tools for Life Cycle Assessment and Risk Assessment of nano-enabled products. nanoLCA 2013, Training Workshop â??Health and Environmental Impact of nano-enabled products along the life cycleâ??, 06th May 2013, Barcelona, Spain
Steinfeldt, M.: Life Cycle Assessment of nanotechnology-based applications in the project NanoSustain. Joint NanoValid - NanoSustain Workshop, 9th May 2012, Copenhagen, Denmark
Steinfeldt, M.: LCA case studies of nanotechnology-based applications in the project NanoSustain. Symposium: Safety issues and regulatory challenges of nanomaterials, 4th May 2012, San Sebastian, Spain
Steinfeldt, M.: Environmental relief effects of nanotechnology-based applications, by the example of CNT materials. OECD WPMN SG9 Workshop on Environmentally Sustainability Use of Manufactured Nanomaterials, 14th September 2011, Rome, Italy
Steinfeldt, M.: LCA of manufactured nanomaterials and nanotechnology based applications. Workshop on LCA of manufactured nanomaterials and Nanotechnology based applications, 26-27th September 2011, Bremen, Germany
Steinfeldt, M.: NanoSustain - Development of sustainable solutions for nanotechnology-based products based on hazard characterization and LCA. Specialist Brainstorming and Coordination Meeting ,Life cycle Assessment (LCA) & Risk Analysis in Nanomaterials-related NMP projects', 02th March 2011, Brussels, Belgium
Steinfeldt, M.: Umweltentlastungen durch Nanotechnologie – Faktor 10 oder eher inkrementelle Effizienzsteigerungen mit hohen Risiken? NTA4 – Vierte Konferenz des Netzwerkes TA "Der Systemblick auf Innovation – Technikfolgenabschätzung in der Technikgestaltung", 25th November 2010, Berlin, Germany