Comparative LCA of different graphene production routes

Cossutta, Matteo; McKechnie, Jon; Pickering, Stephen J.

Abstract

This study is an LCA of three graphene production routes: electrochemical exfoliation of graphite rods, chemical oxidation and subsequent chemical or thermal reduction and chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Different processes for each route are analysed and their cradle-to-gate LCA is presented. A comparative LCA of the least impacting processes for each route is also presented showing that the chemical oxidation process followed by thermal reduction is the least impacting to produce large quantities of graphene when lab equipment is used to its full potential.

A prospective LCA on a likely commercial scale of the least impacting processes is also presented and shows that almost all processes benefit from a scale-up activity and that the least impacting material route remains the chemical oxidation followed by thermal reduction. An optimistic scenario in which all electricity comes from renewable sources is also presented. While this last scenario promotes the more energy intensive processes, the least impacting technology to produce large quantities of graphene remains the chemical oxidation followed by thermal reduction.

Citation

Cossutta, M., McKechnie, J., & Pickering, S. J. (in press). Comparative LCA of different graphene production routes. Green Chemistry, 19(24), https://doi.org/10.1039/C7GC02444D

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 10, 2017
• Online Publication Date: Nov 10, 2017
• Deposit Date: Nov 28, 2017
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 11, 2018
• Journal: Green Chemistry
• Print ISSN: 1463-9262
• Electronic ISSN: 1463-9270
• Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 19
• Issue: 24
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/C7GC02444D
• Keywords: Graphene, LCA, Life Cycle Assessment, rGO, commercial scale graphene
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/893646
• Publisher URL: http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2017/GC/C7GC02444D#!divAbstract
• Contract Date: Nov 28, 2017