A Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Precious Metal Catalysts: The Effect of Production Pathway

摘要

The objective of this research is to illustrate the need to consider the environmental burden and impact posed by the adoption of alternative, green process technologies. Specifically, it addresses the synthesis of catalysts using an alternative, environmentally benign solvent. The life cycle assessment methodology, a quantitative technique that assigns damage metrics to process emissions, estimates the potential environmental damage. An extensive literature search validates the uniqueness and highlights the scientific merit of the research. Data gathered includes background information on supercritical processes, life cycle assessments of systems, aggregated in-house catalyst performance data, and a case study for catalyst application.;Catalyst synthesis via supercritical fluid deposition possesses several advantages over traditional techniques that can reduce production costs and environmental burden while maintaining high activity. The creation of catalysts using a "green" approach reduces harmful emissions but also drives the advancement of alternative fuel technology, an area known to make use of expensive catalytic materials. Additionally, this research provides a rationale for adoption of supercritical CO2 at the commercial level for metal-oxide supported catalysts. This study demonstrates how improvements at the nanoscale propagate upwards through a product development system, sometimes with unpredictable outcomes. Furthermore, it illustrates the benefit of a holistic approach to chemical process design, an area that strives for a balance between economics, performance, and environmental sustainability.