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Prospective Dynamic and Probabilistic Material Flow Analysis of Graphene-Based Materials in Europe from 2004 to 2030
Hyunjoo Hong1, Florian Part2,3, Bernd Nowack1
1Technology and Society Laboratory, Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technologies, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Environmental Science & Technology
|September 23, 2022
Summary
Environmental releases of graphene-based materials (GBMs) are assessed. Despite growing production, environmental outflow remains low due to long product lifespans, with predicted 2030 releases at 1.4% of annual production.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Industrial demand for graphene-based materials (GBMs) is increasing.
- Potential environmental risks associated with GBMs require thorough assessment.
- Understanding material flow is crucial for predicting environmental releases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a first-time assessment of environmental releases of GBMs.
- To model GBMs' material flow from 2004 to 2030, considering all uses.
- To predict environmental concentrations of GBMs in the future.
Main Methods:
- Dynamic probabilistic material flow analysis was employed.
- The model encompassed current and projected GBM applications.
- Mass flow analysis considered consumption and end-of-life phases.
Main Results:
- GBM production is projected to grow exponentially, but outflow shows a slow increase due to long product lifetimes.
- In 2030, waste management will likely involve incineration (50%), landfill (16%), and export (12%).
- Predicted environmental release in 2030 is 1.4% of annual production, with concentrations of 1.4 ng/L in surface water and 20 μg/kg in soil.
Conclusions:
- GBM environmental releases are currently low but require monitoring as production scales.
- Waste management strategies significantly influence GBM environmental fate.
- This study provides crucial data for future environmental risk assessments of GBMs.
