Abstract
Purpose
Galvanized sheet is the most widely used coated steel plate globally in the industry of construction, automobile, electronics manufacturing, etc. Large amounts of resources and energy are used in galvanized sheet production, which likewise generates vast amounts of pollutant emissions. In the face of the rapid growth of the production and demand of galvanized sheet in China, it is very important to find out the key factors of the environment impact in the production of galvanized sheet. An evaluation of the environmental impact of galvanized sheet production in China was conducted by using the framework of life cycle assessment to improve resource saving and environmental protection in the galvanized sheet industry, and update the life cycle inventory database of galvanized sheet production.
Methods
The environmental impact assessment was carried out based on the life cycle assessment framework by the use of ReCiPe 2016 method which was applicable on a global scale to evaluate the environmental impact of galvanized sheet production. Methods of uncertainty analysis and sensitivity analysis were adopted to provide credible support.
Results and discussion
The midpoint categories of global warming and fossil resource scarcity, as well as the endpoint categories of human health contributed most to environmental burden, which were mainly caused by carbon dioxide emissions and coal consumption. Environmental impact was dominated by the key process of continuous casting billet production, followed by electrolytic zinc production and electricity generation.
Conclusions
Additional CO2-reducing measures should be implemented in galvanized sheet production to slow the effect of global warming. Moreover, biomass char reducing agents, rather than coal-based reducing agents, should be utilized in steelmaking to reduce fossil resource consumption. Furthermore, renewable energy, rather than coal-based electricity, should be used in galvanized sheet production to reduce carbon emissions and fossil resource consumption. Increasing the recycling rate of scrap steel and zinc waste can save resources and reduce environmental burden. The results of this study can provide guidance in the reduction of resource consumption and environmental burden of galvanized sheet production to the maximum extent.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdul Quader M, Shamsuddin A, Dawal SZ, Nukman Y (2016) Present needs, recent progress and future trends of energy-efficient ultra-low carbon dioxide (CO2) steelmaking (ULCOS) program. Renew Sust Energ Rev 55:537–549
Arasto A, Tsupari E, Kärki J, Pisilä E, Sorsamäki L (2013) Post-combustion capture of CO2 at an integrated steel mill–part I: technical concept analysis. Int J Greenh Gas Control 16:271–277
Bolin CA, Smith ST (2011) Life cycle assessment of borate-treated lumber with comparison to galvanized steel framing. J Clean Prod 19:630–639
Brito M, Martins F (2017) Life cycle assessment of butanol production. Fuel 208:476–482
Burchart-Korol D (2013) Life cycle assessment of steel production in Poland: a case study. J Clean Prod 54:235–243
Cherubini F, Strømman AH (2011) Life cycle assessment of bioenergy systems: state of the art and future challenges. Bioresour Technol 102:437–451
Chisalita DA, Petrescu L, Cobden P, van Dijk HAJ, Cormos AM, Cormos CC (2019) Assessing the environmental impact of an integrated steel mill with post-combustion CO2 capture and storage using the LCA methodology. J Clean Prod 211:1015–1025
CISSY (2017) China iron and steel statistical yearbook. China Iron and Steel Industry Association. Available from< http://www.chinaisa.org.cn/ >. Accessed 21 Feb 2020
CNMIY (2017) China nonferrous metals industry yearbook. China statistics press. Available from< http://www.chinania.org.cn/>. Accessed 21 Feb 2020
CPLCID (2018) Chinese process-based life cycle inventory database. Available from< http://www.huanke.sdu.edu.cn/info/1024/3275.htm>. Accessed 21 Feb 2020
Feliciano-Bruzual C (2014) Charcoal injection in blast furnaces (bio-PCI): CO2 reduction potential and economic prospects. J Mater Res Technol 3:233–243
Goedkoop M, Heijungs R, Huijbregts M, De Schryver A, Struijs J, Van Zelm R, (2009) A Life Cycle Impact Assessment Method Which Comprises Harmonised Category Indicators at the Midpoint and the Endpoint Level, first ed. In: Report I: Characterization. Available from< http://www.lciarecipe.net>. Accessed 21 Feb
GRID (2018) State garid Shandong electric power company. Available from<http://www.sd.sgcc.com.cn/>. Accessed 21 Feb 2020
Hernández-Betancur JD, Hernández HF, Ocampo-Carmona LM (2019) A holistic framework for assessing hot-dip galvanizing process sustainability. J Clean Prod 206:755–766
Huang Z, Ding X, Sun H, Liu S (2010) Identification of main influencing factors of life cycle CO2 emissions from the integrated steelworks using sensitivity analysis. J Clean Prod 18:1052–1058
Huijbregts MAJ, Steinmann ZJN, Elshout PMF, Stam G, Verones F, Vieira M, Zijp M, Hollander A, van Zelm R (2017) ReCiPe2016: a harmonised life cycle impact assessment method at midpoint and endpoint level. Int J Life Cycle Assess 22:138–147
ISO 14040 (2006) International Standard. Environmental management-life cycle assessment-principles and framework. Available from<http://www.iso.org/iso/home/store/catalogue_tc/catalogue_detail.htm?csnumber=37456>. Accessed 21 Feb 2020
King JH, Buckton G, Poole S (2015) Life cycle assessment of electricity production from renewable energies: review and results harmonization. Renew Sust Energ Rev 42:1113–1122
Kong G, White R (2010) Toward cleaner production of hot dip galvanizing industry in China. J Clean Prod 18:1092–1099
Li H, Tan XC, Guo JX, Zhu KW, Huang C (2019) Study on an implementation scheme of synergistic emission reduction of CO2 and air pollutants in China’s steel industry. Sustainability 11:22
Lobato NCC, Villegas EA, Mansur MB (2015) Management of solid wastes from steelmaking and galvanizing processes: a brief review. Resour Conserv Recycl 102:49–57
Ma H, Oxley L, Gibson J, Li W (2010) A survey of China’s renewable energy economy. Renew Sust Energ Rev 14:438–445
Ma X, Yang D, Shen X, Zhai Y, Zhang R, Hong J (2018) How much water is required for coal power generation: an analysis of gray and blue water footprints. Sci Total Environ 636:547–557
Manhabosco SM, Manhabosco TM, Geoffroy N, Vignal V, Dick LFP (2018) Corrosion behaviour of galvanized steel studied by electrochemical microprobes applied on low-angle cross sections. Corros Sci 140:379–387
Mathiesen BV, Lund H, Karlsson K (2011) 100% renewable energy systems, climate mitigation and economic growth. Appl Energy 88:488–501
Midrex-Technologies (2010) Environmental. A clean environment. Available from<http://www.midrex.com>. Accessed 21 Feb 2020
Ng KW, Giroux L, Todoschuk T (2018) Value-in-use of biocarbon fuel for direct injection in blast furnace ironmaking. Ironmak Steelmak 45:406–411
Olmez GM, Dilek FB, Karanfil T, Yetis U (2016) The environmental impacts of iron and steel industry: a life cycle assessment study. J Clean Prod 130:195–201
Pohlmann JG, Borrego AG, Osório E, Diez MA, Vilela ACF (2016) Combustion of eucalyptus charcoals and coals of similar volatile yields aiming at blast furnace injection in a CO2 mitigation environment. J Clean Prod 129:1–11
Pritzel dos Santos A, Manhabosco SM, Rodrigues JS, Dick LFP (2015) Comparative study of the corrosion behavior of galvanized, galvannealed and Zn55Al coated interstitial free steels. Surf Coat Technol 279:150–160
Qi C, Ye L, Ma X, Yang D, Hong J (2017) Life cycle assessment of the hydrometallurgical zinc production chain in China. J Clean Prod 156:451–458
Raja VS, Panday CK, Saji VS, Vagge ST, Narasimhan K (2006) An electrochemical study on deformed galvanneal steel sheets. Surf Coat Technol 201:2296–2302
Ranzani da Costa A, Wagner D, Patisson F (2013) Modelling a new, low CO2 emissions, hydrogen steelmaking process. J Clean Prod 46:27–35
Rossi B, Marquart S, Rossi G (2017) Comparative life cycle cost assessment of painted and hot-dip galvanized bridges. J Environ Manag 197:41–49
Seré PR, Deyá C, Elsner CI, Di Sarli AR (2015) Corrosion of painted galvanneal steel. Procedia Mater Sci 8:1–10
Sleeswijk AW, van Oers LF, Guinee JB, Struijs J, Huijbregts MA (2008) Normalisation in product life cycle assessment: an LCA of the global and European economic systems in the year 2000. Sci Total Environ 390:227–240
Suopajärvi H, Umeki K, Mousa E, Hedayati A, Romar H, Kemppainen A, Wang C, Phounglamcheik A, Tuomikoski S, Norberg N, Andefors A, Öhman M, Lassi U, Fabritius T (2018) Use of biomass in integrated steelmaking–status quo, future needs and comparison to other low-CO2 steel production technologies. Appl Energy 213:384–407
Tongpool R, Jirajariyavech A, Yuvaniyama C, Mungcharoen T (2010) Analysis of steel production in Thailand: environmental impacts and solutions. Energy 35:4192–4200
Wang C, Larsson M, Lövgren J, Nilsson L, Mellin P, Yang W, Salman H, Hultgren A (2014) Injection of solid biomass products into the blast furnace and its potential effects on an integrated steel plant. Energy Procedia 61:2184–2187
Wen L, Lund H, Mathiesen BV, Zhang X (2011) Potential of renewable energy systems in China. Appl Energy 88:518–525
Xu C, Hong J, Ren Y, Wang Q, Yuan X (2015) Approaches for controlling air pollutants and their environmental impacts generated from coal-based electricity generation in China. Environ Sci Pollut Res 22:12384–12395
Yellishetty M, Mudd GM, Ranjith PG, Tharumarajah A (2011) Environmental life-cycle comparisons of steel production and recycling: sustainability issues, problems and prospects. Environ Sci Pol 14:650–663
Zhao G, Pedersen AS (2018) Life cycle assessment of hydrogen production and consumption in an isolated territory. Procedia CIRP 69:529–533
Funding
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Major Basic Research Projects of the Shandong Natural Science Foundation, China (ZR2018ZC2362), National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant No. 2017YFF0206702; 2017YFF0211605), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71671105; 71974113), and The Fundamental Research Funds of Shandong University, China (2018JC049).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Communicated by Omer Tatari
Publisher’s note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Electronic supplementary material
ESM 1
(DOCX 31 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ji, C., Ma, X., Zhai, Y. et al. Environmental impact assessment of galvanized sheet production: a case study in Shandong Province, China. Int J Life Cycle Assess 25, 760–770 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01735-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11367-020-01735-7