SNM: Designing and Integrating LCA Methods for Nanomanufacturing Scale-up

该可伸缩纳米制造(SNM)研究项目使用生命周期评估(LCA)方法来解决决策中的伦理、法律和社会影响(ELSI)，因为纳米制造已扩展到商业生产。将确定三种碳纳米管(CNT)纳米应用的资源和排放清单，因为它们适用于制造、使用和报废(EOL)管理，包括回收和处置。将通过与研究人员和行业合作伙伴合作开发成本模型并收集库存。为了评估人类对碳纳米管材料的暴露，将在制造期间(机械加工、研磨)和寿命结束时(回收、焚烧)进行暴露监测。高负载聚合物基碳纳米复合材料的回收策略的可行性将被确定。生命周期释放、去向和迁移以及生态毒性模型输出将被合并为影响评估表征因子，用于标准生命周期评价软件模型。将审查和调整生命周期评价中包含的假设，以便在决策中更好地纳入可持续性的价值。研究将为纳米产品的管理策略的调整提供建议。研究将为纳米产品价值链中的不同利益相关者提供更全面的LCA作为决策工具的效用。州和联邦政策制定者也将受益于更好地理解LCA如何为有效的环境治理做出贡献。该项目将研究如何加强LCA方法并将其更好地整合到决策中，特别是关注纳米材料对新兴产品管理计划的整体影响。这项研究倡导负责任地发展纳米技术，将其作为促进可扩展纳米制造和产品商业化的核心，系统地考虑短期和长期社会影响，以避免意外和不适当的有害后果。最终，该项目将有助于促进纳米技术的可持续发展。

This Scalable NanoManufacturing (SNM) research project uses the life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology to address the ethical, legal, and societal impacts (ELSI) in decision-making as nanomanufacturing scales to commercial production. Resource and emission inventories from three carbon nanotube (CNT) nano-enabled applications will be determined as they apply to manufacture, use, and end-of-life (EOL) management, including recycling and disposal. Cost models will be developed and inventories collected through collaboration with researchers and industry partners. To assess human exposures to CNT materials, exposure monitoring will be performed during manufacturing (machining, grinding) and at end-of-life (recycling, incineration). The viability of recycling strategies for highly-loaded polymer based CNT nanocomposites will be determined. Life cycle release, fate and transport, and ecotoxicity model outputs will be combined into an impact assessment characterization factor to be used in standard LCA software models. The assumptions embedded in LCA valuation will be examined and adjusted to better incorporate values of sustainability in decision-making. Recommendations for adapting stewardship strategies for nano-enabled products will be developed.The research will provide greater overall insights into the utility of LCA as a decision tool for various stakeholders in the nano-enabled product value chain. State and federal policymakers will also benefit from better understanding of how LCA contributes to effective environmental governance. The project will examine how LCA approaches could be strengthened and better integrated into decision-making, with particular focus on the overall impacts of nanomaterials on emerging product stewardship programs. This research advocates the responsible development of nanotechnology as central to promoting scalable nanomanufacturing and product commercialization by offering a systematic consideration of short and long-term societal impacts to avoid unintended and unduly harmful consequences. Ultimately, this project will help to foster the sustainable development of nanotechnology.