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Environmental and Risk Assessment at Multiple Scales with Application to Emerging Nanotechnologies

Khanna, Vikas
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1245316311

Abstract Details

2009, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Chemical Engineering.
Systems analysis offers a good toolbox for evaluating the broader environmental impact of products and processes. However, it also poses unique challenges especially for technologies in an early stage of development. The need for the environmental life cycle assessment of potential nanoproducts has been identified but has received very little attention. This work develops original life cycle inventory modules for the synthesis of carbon nanofibers (CNFs) and CNF reinforced polymer composites. The modules are used to evaluate and compare the life cycle environmental implications of the use of polymer nanocomposites vs. steel in automotive body panels. The benefits and limitations of life cycle assessment (LCA) for emerging technologies are highlighted via case studies specific to nanotechnology. Although LCA studies are important and represent important step towards a conceptual systems thinking in the context of emerging technologies, their utility is limited for guiding decision-making due to several challenges. Some of these include the selection of an arbitrary life cycle analysis boundary and the inability to account for multiple and conflicting design objectives in a rigorous manner. In this work, a novel multiscale, multiobjective, and thermodynamic based approach is developed to utilize the available information at multiple scales ranging from individual equipment and processes, to the supply and demand chains, to the economy and ecosystems for gaining insights into the tradeoffs between ecological and economic aspects of manufacturing processes. Economic aspects are accounted via traditional cost analysis. Ecological aspects are considered via exergy analysis of the inputs at each scale, and depend on the selected processes. The utility and implications of the proposed multiscale approach over traditional methods in guiding ecologically and economically conscious methods for engineering design is illustrated via case studies of chemical process design.Finally this work explores the utility of Input-Output (I/O) models for studying the effect of sudden shocks and quantifying the associated risks on complex industrial systems. Economic Input-Output (EIO) models have been used for various purposes such as studying the effect of changes in final demand, taxes, and other economic changes. Models based on the EIO model have also been developed for life cycle assessment by combining the EIO model with data about emissions and resource consumption. We are using the Ecologically-based LCA model to understand the impact of changes in the availability of natural resources including natural capital. This includes understanding the potential impact of loss of services such as pollination, water scarcities, and soil fertility. The approach is suitable for modeling the effect of sudden perturbations such as resource shortage on the complex industrial systems and identifying industrial sectors with greatest sensitivity to a given perturbation. Methodologically, this work complements existing biophysical methods such as LCA and material flow analysis by developing new modeling approaches for environmentally conscious process design and an IO based framework for assessing risks to complex industrial systems.
Bhavik Bakshi (Advisor)
James Rathman (Committee Member)
Jose Castro (Committee Member)
232 p.
Chemical Engineering
Nanotechnology; Life Cycle Assessment; Multiscale; Multiobjective; Input-Output Model

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Khanna, V. (2009). Environmental and Risk Assessment at Multiple Scales with Application to Emerging Nanotechnologies [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1245316311

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Khanna, Vikas. Environmental and Risk Assessment at Multiple Scales with Application to Emerging Nanotechnologies. 2009. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1245316311.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Khanna, Vikas. "Environmental and Risk Assessment at Multiple Scales with Application to Emerging Nanotechnologies." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1245316311

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1245316311
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.