Ex-ante Life Cycle Assessment approach developed for a case study on bio-based polybutylene succinate

摘要: Abstract The evaluation of the environmental impact an innovative material at early stage development is fundamental importance during design phase a product. In this regard, full-fledged Life Cycle Assessment presents some major limitations: it can be performed mainly as ex-post analysis, and does not account for intrinsic properties material. growing need to compare new materials with those industrially optimized ones poses further issues. For example, production lab/pilot scale cannot directly compared industrial systems, primarily due large discrepancy in yields processes involved. present work, ex-ante approach proposed forecast material, overcoming aforementioned most relevant added value methodology lies use primary data collected on systems alongside simulated from thermo-chemical considerations. A scale-up protocol thus detailed then applied case polybutylene succinate, biopolymer that gaining attention particularly replacement polyolefins, obtained bio-based succinic acid. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis used evaluate different renewable sources chemical routes available Monte Carlo simulation process uncertainty all assessments. study succinate highlights advantages adopted particular reference ease implementation consistency results.