International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology (IJCIET) Volume 8, Issue 7, July 2017, pp. 340 345, Article ID: IJCIET_08_07_037 Available online at http:// http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?jtype=ijciet&vtype=8&itype=7 ISSN Print: 0976-6308 and ISSN Online: 0976-6316 IAEME Publication Scopus Indexed LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF HDPE AND LDPE PLASTIC BAGS USING SIMAPRO 8.3.0 (YAMUNANAGAR, HARYANA) Neha Ahuja PG Student, Department of Civil Engineering, Chandigarh University, Gharaun, Punjab, India Puneet Sharma Assistant Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Chandigarh University, Gharaun, Punjab, India ABSTRACT Plastic bags have become one of the most used items on the planet today. Each day a large number of shopping bags are used by the shoppers to bring home their groceries and other items and then discard the bags after one use. The increased use of the plastic bags has contributed to the environmental conditions ranging from pollution to overloaded landfills. Plastic bags effect the environment at various stages. Therefore in order to determine the energy usage, waste flows and emissions over the entire life cycle of the plastic bags, life cycle assessment is used. Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a standard method which is used to determine the environmental impacts of producing, using and disposing the product through its entire life cycle. The LCA process includes a Life Cycle Inventory of all the inputs of making a product and all of the outputs or wastes of the production, use and disposal of the product. Key words: Plastic bags, Pollution, Landfills, Waste flow, Life Cycle Assessment Cite this Article: Neha Ahuja and Puneet Sharma, Life Cycle Assessment of HDPE And LDPE Plastic Bags Using Simapro 8.3.0 (Yamunanagar, Haryana), International Journal of Civil Engineering and Technology, 8(7), 2017, pp. 332 339. http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/issues.asp?jtype=ijciet&vtype=8&itype=7 1. INTRODUCTION Plastic bags are widely used because of their cheapness and easiness to carry. The plastic bags find their main use in carrying groceries and other items. They are also widely used for packaging purposes. The plastic bags to be used for carrying food items should be non-toxic, safe in handling and resistant to bacterial growth. Apart from these the plastic bags should be environment friendly as well. But, now a day s excessive use of plastic bags have proven to be a huge source of pollution. The effects of plastic bags are devastating. The plastic bags don t http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/index.asp 340 editor@iaeme.com
Life Cycle Assessment of HDPE And LDPE Plastic Bags Using Simapro 8.3.0 (Yamunanagar, Haryana) decompose fully and in turn causes littering. Plastic bags when burnt releases toxic gases in the atmosphere contributing to air pollution.. Energy is the driving force behind every stage of the life cycle of plastic bag. This energy is usually produced from the non-renewable resources such as fossil fuels. The raw materials used for the making of the plastic bags are also the nonrenewable resources. Also, the transportation of these plastic bags contributes to the environmental impact. Therefore, in order to study the effects of using plastic bags life cycle assessment is used. 1.2. TYPES OF BAGS UNDER STUDY HDPE (high density polyethylene): These are the ethylene polymers with density 0.942 to 0.965 gm/cm 3. These bags are made from petroleum. Intense heat is applied to petroleum which than produces ethylene gas. Under controlled conditions these gas molecules link together to form polymers and produce polyethylene. LDPE (low density polyethylene): These are the ethylene polymer with density 0.915 to 0.925 gm/cm 3. The ethylene gas is treated at high pressure (1000-3000 bars) and polymerisation occurs. The polymer chain so formed is highly branched. The process is called blown film extrusion process. 2. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF VARIOUS PLASTIC BAGS The plastic bags such as HDPE and LDPE are studied and compared at various stages using Life Cycle Assessment. The data is collected based on the survey in the district Yamunanagar of Haryana. 2.1. PRODUCTION STAGE All the bags are generally manufactured using Extrusion process. The raw materials used for the manufacturing of plastic bags are the resins which are commonly called as ethylene polymers which are formed from the ethylene monomers using polymerisation process. polymerization nch2=ch [CH2 CH2]n (Ethylene monomers) (Ethylene polymer or resin) This resin or ethylene polymer is poured into the hopper through which it is feeded to the extruder. The required amount of heat is applied to the resin depending upon the type of bag desired, which converts the resin in the molten form. The molten resins are then extruded upwards through a circular die. Air is injected through the die. The pressure causes the extruded melt to expand in the form of bubble. The bubble is continuously pulled upwards and is cooled using cool air. After cooling, the bubble is made to pass through nip rollers which collapse the bubble into film. The film is then cut into required shape and size. The process requires ample amount of heat which varies for all kinds of plastic bags and their source too. The heat energy used for production of HDPE plastic bags is assumed to come from non-renewable source i.e. by burning petroleum and for LDPE bags the energy is assumed to come from natural gas. The heat energy produced by burning fuel in a furnace is assumed to b used for PP bag. The prodegradable additives are generally added in order to speed up the degradation process. Based on the data collected from the various manufacturers of the plastic bags, the approximate amount of heat energy used for making 500 plastic bags of different types is compared in Table 1. http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/index.asp 341 editor@iaeme.com
Neha Ahuja and Puneet Sharma TYPE OF PLASTIC BAG AMOUNT OF HEAT (MJ) High Density Polyethylene bag 12 High Density Polyethylene bag with 13 degradable additives Low Density Polyethylene bag 80 Polypropylene bag 150 Polypropylene bag with additive 155 TRANSPORTATION STAGE Large amount energy is utilised in production and transportation of plastic bags. The production of the plastic bags require the raw materials to be transported to the manufacturer and once produced they are required to be transported to the retailers everywhere. The raw materials required at the plant and finished goods i.e. the plastic bags are transported with the help of Lorries. The emissions of carbon during entire life cycle of the plastic bags have a very adverse effect on the environment. RECYCLE, REUSE AND DISPOSAL STAGE Many plastic bags find their secondary use as bin liners or to carry other items. Based on the interview conducted from the respondents of the city Yamunanagar, the various applications for the reuse of the plastic bags were found and are summarised in Table 2. APPLICATION PERCENTAGE OF REUSE Reused as the bin liner 45 Reused to store things 62 Reused for shopping 18 Reused for packing food items 4 Reused to carry things while going out 2 Used to put rubbish 37 Other uses 2 Also, after use the plastic bags are disposed at the landfill located at the outskirts of the city Yamunanagar, Haryana. LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT OF HDPE AND LDPE BAGS USING SIMAPRO 8.3.0 Simapro 8.3.0 is one of the leading LCA software which can be used to compare the life cycle of various products on the basis of certain characteristics. It also helps to identify the environmental hotspots in the life cycle of a product so that improvements if any could be done. ACIDIFICATION / EUTROPHICATION The acidification potential of both LDPE and HDPE bags is compared and shown in figure 1. The plastic bags are generally disposed in the water bodies like river etc where the plastic breaks down into the ocean. The polymers used for making the plastic bags leach out into the ocean thus polluting them and making them acidic. The following figure shows that acidification caused by HDPE bags is 20 times more than acidification caused by LDPE bags. http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/index.asp 342 editor@iaeme.com
Life Cycle Assessment of HDPE And LDPE Plastic Bags Using Simapro 8.3.0 (Yamunanagar, Haryana) Figure 1 Comparison of Acidification/Eutrophication caused by HDPE and LDPE bags ECOTOXICITY The eco toxicity refers to the environmental pollution caused due to the plastic bags. The ecotoxicity of both HDPE and LDPE bag is compared and shown in figure 2. It is shown that ecotoxicity of HDPE bag is 15times more than the LDPE bag. Figure 2 Comparison of Ecotoxicity caused by HDPE and LDPE bags CARCINOGENS The Carcinogens refer to the cancer causing chemical or substance present in the plastic bags. The people generally use plastic bags to store the food items but, the chemicals present in the plastic bag can react with the food and affect the human health. The percentage of carcinogens present in the plastic bags is shown in figure 3. The carcinogens present in HDPE bags is 10 times more than carcinogens present in the LDPE bags. http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/index.asp 343 editor@iaeme.com
Neha Ahuja and Puneet Sharma Figure 3 Comparison of Carcinogens present in HDPE and LDPE bags RESPIRATORY ORGANICS The respiratory organics refer to the organic substance released on burning the plastic bags. These substances when released cause environmental pollution and also affect the human health. The figure shows the amount in percentage of the Resp. Organics released by the LDPE and HDPE bag. The figure 4 clearly shows that amount of respiratory organics in HDPE bags is approximately 10 times more than in LDPE bags. Figure 4 Comparison of Respiratory Organics released by HDPE and LDPE bags RESULT The life cycle assessment done with the help of LCA software Simapro 8.3.0 tends to show that low density polymer bags i.e. the LDPE bags and high density polymer bags i.e. HDPE bags have similar effect on the environment. The characterization analysis shows that LDPE bags have approximately 14 times less harmful impact on environment as well as human health as compared to the high density polymer bags i.e. HDPE bags. Therefore, the use of HDPE bags should be reduced as it would help in reducing the impact on the climate change and would also help to conserve the resources. Though, one must limit the use of plastic bags as their effect on environment cannot be neglected. http://www.iaeme.com/ijciet/index.asp 344 editor@iaeme.com
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