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A review of the environmental impact of nanomaterial synthesis using continuous flow hydrothermal synthesis

Caramazana, Pablo; Dunne, Peter; Gimeno-Fabra, Miquel; McKechnie, Jon; Lester, Ed

Authors

Pablo Caramazana

Peter Dunne

JON MCKECHNIE Jon.Mckechnie@nottingham.ac.uk
Professor of Engineering Sustainability



Abstract

Continuous flow hydrothermal synthesis (CFHS) is an emerging process technology for the manufacture of nanomaterials. Recent work has been undertaken to establish the green ‘credentials’ of CFHS amongst alternative techniques for nanosynthesis. In this paper we review how the production of silver sulfide (Ag2S) nanoparticles using CFHS is possible at 400 °C and how the environmental impact compares to other production methods. α-Ag2S nanoparticles were produced with a particle size 1000 tonnes per year). The total greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) for the industrial production of 1 kg of Ag2S nanoparticles are 68.60 kg CO2-eq per kg of Ag2S nanoparticles, with the silver nitrate precursor being the main contributor CO2 emissions (∼81%). This review shows how the environmental impact of AgS production at full scale is predominantly through the production of the precursors themselves (i.e. environmental legacy) and not the CHFS itself.

Citation

Caramazana, P., Dunne, P., Gimeno-Fabra, M., McKechnie, J., & Lester, E. (2018). A review of the environmental impact of nanomaterial synthesis using continuous flow hydrothermal synthesis. Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry, 12, 57-62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2018.06.016

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jun 19, 2018
Online Publication Date Jun 28, 2018
Publication Date 2018-08
Deposit Date Dec 18, 2018
Journal Current Opinion in Green and Sustainable Chemistry
Print ISSN 2452-2236
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 12
Pages 57-62
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cogsc.2018.06.016
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1222652
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452223618300403?via%3Dihub