Utilizing Life Cycle Assessment to Optimize Processes and Identify Emission Reduction Potential in Rice Husk-Derived Nanosilica Production

作者：Shan Gu, Yang Li, Xiaoye Liang, Jinsong Zhou · 发表于：Processes · 年份：2025 · DOI：10.3390/pr13020483 · 被引用次数：14 · 研究领域：Catalysis for Biomass Conversion、Extraction and Separation Processes、Catalytic Processes in Materials Science

A consistent life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was employed to show how the type of alkali (NaOH or Na2CO3) used for extracting water glass from rice husks, as well as the type of acid (HCl, H2SO4, or HNO3) used for precipitating water glass to nanosilica, affects the environmental emissions of rice husk-derived nanosilica (RH nanosilica). Six nanosilica production scenarios were explicitly compared to determine the most environmentally friendly route. The LCA results show that under the same circumstances, the majority of the environmental emissions of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) are significantly better than those of sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), except for the MAETP and ODP indicators. Similarly, except for the MAETP indicator, the environmental emissions of hydrochloric acid (HCl) are generally superior to those of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3). NaOH and HCl were selected as preferable for the extraction of silica from rice husks and the precipitation of water glass, respectively. In addition, the preferred route underwent further in-depth optimization with the aim of achieving optimal environmental emissions for RH nanosilica. The effects of electricity, diesel, fertilizers, and pesticides on the life cycle emission factors of RH nanosilica were examined. The results demonstrate that replacing traditional coal power with cleaner alternatives, such as wind, hydropower, solar power (both photovoltaic and thermal), and biogas electricity, can result in a subst...