Life cycle assessment of hydrogen peroxide produced from mainstream hydrogen sources in China. (10th June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jia, Yuke; Bai, Yueyang; Chang, Jingcai; Zhai, Yijie; Zhang, Tianzuo; Ren, Ke; Hong, Jinglan
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 352(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06-10
• Subjects: Life cycle assessment -- Hydrogen peroxide -- Environmental impact -- Hydrogen source -- Electricity structure -- Industrial layout; GSD2 squared geometric standard deviation -- LCA life cycle assessment -- LCIA life cycle impact assessment; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.131655
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) is a mild chemical synthetic oxidant, which has gained wide importance in industrial and research fields. However, systematic assessment of its environmental performance during H2 O2 production is limited worldwide. In this regard, a life cycle assessment was conducted to quantify the environmental impacts of H2 O2 produced by four mainstream hydrogen production technologies in the upstream, identify the optimization potential, and provide a basis for chemical product research. Results illustrated that compared with the hydrogen from coal, petroleum, and natural gas, the utilization of chlor-alkali by-product hydrogen to produce H2 O2 could prevent 27%, 11%, and 25% environmental contamination throughout the national life cycle, respectively. Fossil depletion, global warming, water depletion, and non-carcinogens categories are the main areas of concern for H2 O2 production. The potential environmental impacts of H2 O2 production are primarily ascribed to energy (i.e., electricity and steam) consumption and direct water consumption. Therefore, several suggestions are provided for the critical environmental impact factors of H2 O2 production toward the achievement of sustainable development requirements. The recommendations are to develop renewable energy sources, change the fuel composition, optimize the steam heat recovery systems, and apply air–water coupled cooling technology in the H2 O2 production process to achieve cleaner production and improve environmental performance. From the perspective of industrial layout, China's western region should consider the promotion of H2 O2 production from the chlor-alkali industry given the abundant renewable energy and raw material resources to enhance inter-regional coordination and sustainability. Highlights: The environmental performance of China's H2 O2 production is qualified. H2 O2 produced using four sources of hydrogen are compared. Hydrogen produced from the chlor-alkali industry is the most eco-friendly scenario. Hydropower substitution and steam heat recovery system are worth promoting. Western China has potential to produce H2 O2 in resource and environmental aspects.