State of the art review: Investigation of various modeling strategies for chemicals in the field of synthetic resins

Kurzfassung

Due to the large number of chemicals and the variety in their production pathways, there can be considerable gaps and associated uncertainties while conducting Life Cycle Assessments (LCA), especially during the phase of the life cycle inventory (LCI). In this regard, commercial databases and previous modelling approaches have focused on estimating values and proxies in the absence of specific industrial or confidential data. These methodologies are continuously developed and adapted in multiple approaches. However, a challenge that should not be neglected is the need for detailed and case-specific literature research and comprehensive knowledge of the chemical-technical field, which can lead to misunderstandings, errors and the exclusion of important information in the modelling phase, especially for practitioners unfamiliar with the subject. Despite various methodologies for modelling the LCI, especially for resin systems and their raw materials, there is no established and uniform framework for simplified modelling. In this research we want to show which methodologies are used to create these customised LCIs and what their similarities and differences are. It can be shown how conventional databases, like Ecoinvent or Cm.chemicals, and recent modelling approaches deal with data gaps. In addition to the common basis for these databases, it will be examined how new data sets can be developed independently with the help of databases in combination with current modelling strategies in order to create a consistent yet comprehensive LCI. The results help to provide some insight into the overview and comparison of existing methodologies and draw attention to the associated uncertainties. This lays the foundation of providing a future framework to pursue a suitable and uniform modelling strategy in accordance with the existing databases. The overview carried out can support non-specialist LCA practitioners in particular to apply a suitable methodology when creating a detailed and holistic LCA for resin systems.