Analysis of Environmental Impact for Concrete Using LCA by Varying the Recycling Components, the Compressive Strength and the Admixture Material Mixing
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sustainability Article Analysis of Environmental Impact for Concrete Using LCA by Varying the Recycling Components, the Compressive Strength and the Admixture Material Mixing Taehyoung Kim 1, Sungho Tae 2,* and Chang U Chae 1 1 Building and Urban Research Institute, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Daehwa-dong 283, Goyandae-Ro, ILsanseo-Gu, Goyang-Si 10223, Korea; [email protected] (T.K.); [email protected] (C.U.C.) 2 School of Architecture & Architectural Engineering, Hanyang University, Sa 3-dong, Sangrok-Gu, Ansan-Si 04763, Korea * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +82-31-400-5187; Fax: +82-31-406-7118 Academic Editors: Vivian W. Y. Tam, Khoa N. Le and Liyin Shen Received: 21 March 2016; Accepted: 13 April 2016; Published: 20 April 2016 Abstract: Concrete is a type of construction material in which cement, aggregate, and admixture materials are mixed. When cement is produced, large amounts of substances that impact the environment are emitted during limestone extraction and clinker manufacturing. Additionally, the extraction of natural aggregate causes soil erosion and ecosystem destruction. Furthermore, in the process of transporting raw materials such as cement and aggregate to a concrete production company, and producing concrete in a batch plant, substances with an environmental impact are emitted into the air and water system due to energy use. Considering the fact that the process of producing concrete causes various environmental impacts, an assessment of various environmental impact categories is needed. This study used a life cycle assessment (LCA) to evaluate the environmental impacts of concrete in terms of its global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, ozone depletion potential, photochemical ozone creation potential, and abiotic depletion potential (GWP, AP, EP, ODP, POCP, ADP). The tendency was that the higher the strength of concrete, the higher the GWP, POCP, and ADP indices became, whereas the AP and EP indices became slightly lower. As the admixture mixing ratio of concrete increased, the GWP, AP, ODP, ADP, and POCP decreased, but EP index showed a tendency to increase slightly. Moreover, as the recycled aggregate mixing ratio of concrete increased, the AP, EP, ODP, and ADP decreased, while GWP and POCP increased. The GWP and POCP per unit compressed strength (1 MPa) of high strength concrete were found to be about 13% lower than that for its normal strength concrete counterpart. Furthermore, in the case of AP, EP, ODP, and ADP per unit compressed strength (1 MPa), high-strength concrete was found to be about 10%~25% lower than its normal strength counterpart. Among all the environmental impact categories, ordinary cement was found to have the greatest impact on GWP, POCP, and ADP, while aggregate had the most impact on AP, EP, and ODP. Keywords: concrete; life cycle assessment; environmental impact; admixture; recycled aggregate 1. Introduction Concrete is a construction material manufactured by the mixing of cement, aggregate, mixed water, and admixture materials. In the process of producing cement, which is the main composition material for concrete, not only do natural resources such as limestone and clay become depleted, but environmental impact substances are also emitted during clinker manufacturing through pyro process Sustainability 2016, 8, 389; doi:10.3390/su8040389 www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability Sustainability 2016, 8, 389 2 of 14 due to large amounts of energy use [1]. Additionally, the extraction of natural aggregate can lead to soil erosion or ecosystem destruction, while the waste sludge and wastewater emitted from a concrete batch plant have harmful effects on the water ecosystem [2]. As concrete has several impacts on the environment, the selection of various environmental impact categories is needed. When only a single environmental impact is evaluated, the limited Sustainability 2016, 8, 389 2 of 14 assessment could lead to false interpretations of concrete’s eco-friendliness. Therefore, efforts and investmentprocess to develop due to large a design amounts standard of energy from use [1]. the Additionally, perspective the of extraction the life cycleof natural of concrete aggregate to can minimize its environmentallead to soil erosion impact or ecosystem are being destruction, conducted. while In the environmentally waste sludge and wastewater advanced emitted nations from such a as the concrete batch plant have harmful effects on the water ecosystem [2]. U.K. and Sweden, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) [3] and the Swedish Environmental As concrete has several impacts on the environment, the selection of various environmental Managementimpact Council categories [4 is] areneeded. developing When only Product a single Category environmental Rules impact (PCRs) is andevaluated, conducting the limited certification focusedassessment on construction could lead products to false interpretations from their production of concrete’s toeco their‐friendliness. disuse. Therefore, The development efforts and of the draft versioninvestment [5] of to ISOdevelop 13315-2 a design (environmental standard from the management perspective of the for life concrete cycle of concrete and concrete to minimize structures), an internationalits environmental standard impact regarding are being concrete, conducted. is In ongoing. environmentally However, advanced in Korea, nations quantitative such as the U.K. studies on and Sweden, the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) [3] and the Swedish Environmental the environmental impact in the concrete industry are at their starting points, and data for policymaking Management Council [4] are developing Product Category Rules (PCRs) and conducting certification and technologicalfocused on construction support to products turn the from concrete their production industry intoto their a sustainabledisuse. The development industry are of the also draft lacking [6]. Most researchversion [5] has of aISO strong 13315‐ tendency2 (environmental to be management focused on for global concrete warming and concrete wherein structures), greenhouse an gas emissionsinternational are evaluated. standard In regarding addition concrete, to those is concerning ongoing. However, global in warming, Korea, quantitative studies onstudies product on the category rules andenvironmental standards impact development in the concrete on acidification, industry are at ozone their starting layer points, destruction, and data and for policymaking eutrophication are also in theirand technological primary stages support [7 to,8 ].turn The the object concrete of industry this study into a is sustainable to evaluate industry the effects are also of lacking the increase [6]. Most research has a strong tendency to be focused on global warming wherein greenhouse gas in compressiveemissions strength, are evaluated. admixture In addition material to those concerning mixing, recycled global warming, aggregate studies mixing, on product and category the amount of binder onrules environmental and standards development impact in a on quantitative acidification, manner. ozone layer The destruction, environmental and eutrophication impact assessment are on concretealso was in basedtheir primary on the stages life cycle [7,8]. assessmentThe object of this process study suggested is to evaluate in the the effects ISO 14040of the increase series [ in9, 10], and environmentalcompressive impact strength, assessment admixture index material was basedmixing, on recycled “Korean aggregate Eco-indicator mixing, methodology”and the amount suggestedof by the Ministrybinder on of environmental Environment impact in Korea in a quantitative [11]. Environmental manner. The environmental impacts (global impact warming, assessment acidification, on concrete was based on the life cycle assessment process suggested in the ISO 14040 series [9,10], and eutrophication,environmental ozone impact depletion, assessment photochemical index was ozone based creation, on “Korean and abioticEco‐indicator depletion) methodology” were evaluated in a quantitativesuggested by manner the Ministry using of 1000 Environment concrete in designsKorea [11]. of Environmental a mix proportion impacts database, (global warming, and the major causes ofacidification, environmental eutrophication, impact wereozone analyzed. depletion, photochemical ozone creation, and abiotic depletion) were evaluated in a quantitative manner using 1000 concrete designs of a mix proportion database, 2. Methodand the of Environmentalmajor causes of environmental Impact Assessment impact were for analyzed. Concrete 2.1. Goal2. and Method Scope of Definition Environmental Impact Assessment for Concrete The2.1. product Goal and selected Scope Definition for environmental impact assessment was ordinary concrete, and based on various functionsThe product of concrete, selected concrete for environmental structures impact and assessment the formation was ordinary of concrete concrete, products and based were on selected as majorvarious functions. functions Concrete of concrete, size of concrete 1 m3 was structures selected and as the the formation functional of unit.concrete products were Theselected product as major stage functions. of concrete Concrete (Cradle size of to 1 Gate) m3 was was selected selected as the as functional the system unit. boundary for the life cycle assessmentThe product of concrete, stage of as concrete can be (Cradle seen in to Figure Gate) 1was. Furthermore,