Process Data set: ethylene glycol production; technology mix; production mix, at plant; 100% active substance (en) en
A more recent version of this data set exists in the database.
Process information
| Key Data Set Information | |
| Location | RER |
| Reference year | 2017 |
| Name |
Base name
; Treatment, standards, routes
; Mix and location types
; Quantitative product or process properties
ethylene glycol production; technology mix; production mix, at plant; 100% active substance
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| General comment on data set | TYPE OF DATASET For every chemical compound three datasets are created; the unit process (partially terminated system), the non-energy and transport component of the partially terminated system, and the cumulative life cycle inventory dataset (system process). For more information and flow chart see the report (ecoinvent, 2017, Data on the Production of Chemicals created for the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) pilot phase implementation, www.ecoinvent.org, ecoinvent Association, Z\xc3\xbcrich, Switzerland). This dataset represent the cumulative life cycle inventory dataset (system process). PROCESS DESCRIPTION This dataset represents the production of 1 kg of ethylene glycol. The oxidation of ethylene oxide leads to the production of three coproducts: ethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycol (DEG) and triethylene glycol (TEG). This dataset shows the inputs and outputs associated with the production of MEG only. Ethylene glycol is primarily used for lowering the freezing point of water. Commercial antifreezes based on glycol also contain corrosion inhibitors and are used, for example, in motor vehicles, solar energy units, heat pumps, water heating systems, and industrial cooling systems. Ethylene glycol is also a commercially important raw material for the manufacture of polyester fibers, chiefly poly(ethylene terephthalate). This application consumes ca. 40\xe2\x80\x89% of the total ethylene glycol production. Polyesters are, however, used for other purposes, e.g., for producing recyclable bottles. Other minor uses of ethylene glycol are as a humectant (moisture-retaining agent), plasticizer, softener, hydraulic fluid, and solvent (Rebsdat & Mayer 2000). This dataset is based on a study published by PlasticsEurope & CEFIC/APPE and conducted by the Institut f\xc3\xbcr Energie- und Umweltforschung Heidelberg (IFEU). For more information please see the IFEU Eco-Profile (IFEU 2012). From the reception of ethylene oxide at the factory gate. This activity ends with the production of ethylene glycol. The dataset includes the input materials, energy use, infrastructure and emissions. References ecoinvent (2017) Data on the Production of Chemicals created for the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) pilot phase implementation, www.ecoinvent.org, ecoinvent Association, Z\xc3\xbcrich, Switzerland Gendorf (2016) Umwelterkl\xc3\xa4rung 2015, Werk Gendorf Industriepark, www.gendorf.de Rebsdat, S. and Mayer, D. 2000. Ethylene Glycol. Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. IPPC Chemicals 2002. European Commission, Directorate General, Joint Research Center, \xe2\x80\x9cReference Document on Best Available Techniques in the Large Volume Organic Chemical Industry\xe2\x80\x9d, February 2002 Wells 1999. G. Margaret Wells, \xe2\x80\x9cHandbook of Petrochemicals and Processes\xe2\x80\x9d, 2nd edition, Ashgate, 1999 IFEU 2012. Ethylene, Propylene, Butadiene, Pyrolysis Gasoline, Ethylene Oxide (EO), Ethylene Glycols (MEG, DEG, TEG). PlasticsEurope November 2012. Water content of the reference product: 0.0 kg Biogenic carbon content of the reference product: 0.0 kg DATA QUALITY ASSESSMENT The data quality ratings for the datasets were determined as the average of the 5 individual ratings for Technological Representativeness, Geographical Representativeness, Time-related representativeness, Precision/uncertainty, and implementation of the End of Life Formula. The final scores for these 5 descriptors were determined by the independent, external reviewer after a discussion with the internal reviewers. The basis for this determination was generally a contribution analysis of the material and energy inputs as well as direct resource uses and emissions. This process was required by the tender. The contribution analysis is based on the most important flows in the dataset, defined in the tender specifications as \xe2\x80\x9cthe unit processes contributing cumulatively to at least to 80% of the total environmental impact based on characterised and normalised results\xe2\x80\x9d. In addition to unit processes, direct emissions also qualified as input exchanges for this approach. For the normalization, the normalisation factors \xe2\x80\x9cEC-JRC Global (2010 or 2013), per person\xe2\x80\x9d available at http://eplca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/?page_id=140 were used. For each parameter, the DQR scores were chosen to best reflect the conditions and quality of the amount value, the appropriateness of the chosen exchange for the specific needs of the system under analysis, and the quality of the foreground and background data for aggregated inputs of exchanges from the technosphere, i.e. not direct emissions or resource uses. ENERGY AND TRANSPORT INFORMATION SOURCE Energy and transport was used in both the foreground and background of this dataset. When building the dataset, energy and transport demands were supplied directly by datasets provided by thinkstep. The background for every other input from technosphere uses a modified version of the ecoinvent database, created specifically for the PEF. In this version, every instance of energy and transport supply, anywhere in the database, was replaced by a dataset from thinkstep. This ensures that every demand for energy and transport, in the foreground and in the background, is supplied by a thinkstep dataset. BILL OF MATERIALS The bill of material includes the following inputs: chemical factory, organics: 4e-10 unit ethylene oxide: 0.713521785119 kg tap water: 5.9237413103 kg Electricity: 0.372208412331 kWh. NOT INCLUDED EXCHANGES The following exchanges have not been included in the inventory as they are not part of the official list of elementary exchanges published by the JRC. The EC and JRC were not able to provide an extended flow list during the duration of the data creation. If the JRC decides to include these exchanges in the master data, they may be added to the exchange section of the dataset by ecoinvent as part of a maintenance. The absence of these exchanges does not change the scores calculated with the ILCD recommended methods, but that might not be the case for other LCIA methods. Fatty acid methyl ester, Emissions to air, Emissions to air, unspecified: 1.86e-15 kg inland water bodies, Resources, Land occupation: 3.07e-05 m2*a sodium hydroxide, Emissions to water, Emissions to water, unspecified: 3.53e-14 kg sodium hypochlorite, Emissions to water, Emissions to water, unspecified: 6.56e-14 kg PROCESS DIAGRAM LEGEND The file 'chemical_dataset_diagram.jpg' presents the relationship between partially terminated datasets, energy and transport from datasets from thinkstep, and the aggregated inputs dataset. The aggregated inputs dataset is available on the node, under the name 'ethylene glycol production, aggregated inputs, RER.xml' The following datasets from thinkstep are used as inputs of energy: 0.372 kWh of Electricity from Electricity grid mix 1kV-60kV - EU-28+3 The following datasets from thinkstep are used as inputs of transport: 0.0058 metric ton*km of Transport from Barge - EU-28+3 0.0117 metric ton*km of Transport from Barge - ROW w/o EU-28+3 0.0393 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 3, Total weight >32 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.00288 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 3, Total weight 20-26 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.017 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Total weight 20-26 t, mix Euro 0-5 - ROW w/o EU-28+3 0.0127 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Total weight 14-20 t, mix Euro 0-5 - ROW w/o EU-28+3 0.00848 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Total weight 28-32 t, mix Euro 0-5 - ROW w/o EU-28+3 0.00144 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 3, Total weight 28-32 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.00234 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 3, Total weight 14-20 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.0022 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 3, Total weight <7.5 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.00018 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 3, Total weight 12-14 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.000404 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 3, Total weight 7,5-12 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.0363 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 4, Total weight >32 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.00119 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 4, Total weight 20-26 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.00191 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 4, Total weight 12-14 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.0025 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 4, Total weight 14-20 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.00143 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 4, Total weight <7.5 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.000286 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 4, Total weight 7,5-12 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.0154 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 5, Total weight >32 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.000781 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 5, Total weight 12-14 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.000481 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 5, Total weight 20-26 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.00102 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 5, Total weight 14-20 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.000573 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 5, Total weight <7.5 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.000135 metric ton*km of Transport from Articulated lorry transport, Euro 5, Total weight 7,5-12 t (without fuel) - EU-28+3 0.427 metric ton*km of Transporting capacity from Transoceanic ship, containers - GLO 0.107 metric ton*km of Transport from Freight train, diesel traction - EU-28+3 0.109 metric ton*km of Transport from Freight train, electricity traction - EU-28+3 0.00443 metric ton*km of Transport from Freight train, average (without fuel) - EU-28+3 |
| Copyright | Yes |
| Owner of data set | |
| Quantitative reference | |
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| Time representativeness | |
| Data set valid until | 2020 |
| Technological representativeness | |
| Technology description including background system | Ethylene oxide (EO), which is obtained from the oxidation of ethylene with air or oxygen, is treated with water (hydrolyzed) and forms a variety of glycols, most notably monoethylene glycol (MEG), diethylene glycols (DEG) and triethylene glycols (TEG). About 40% of all European EO production is converted into glycols, globally the figure is about 70%. Usually, EO and MEG are produced together at integrated plants. An ethylene oxide - water mixture is heated up to 190 - 200\xc2\xb0C and pressurized to 14-22 bar. About 70 \xe2\x80\x93 95% of the mixture consists of MEG, the rest primarily consisting of DEG and TEG. A yield for MEG of 67% is obtained. Poly-ethylene glycols are also formed, but can be controlled by using an excess of water. The usual configuration for glycols production is an integrated EO / EG plant. Glycol products typically consist of 70 \xe2\x80\x93 95% w/w of MEG, the primary co-product being DEG, some of which can further react to TEG. All of the EO feed is converted into MEG, DEG and TEG as well as some heavy glycols, which may however be incinerated. 2 \xe2\x80\x93 100 kg heavy glycols/ton EO can be produced. C2H4 + 1/2 O2 -> C2H4O (1) C2H4 O + H2O -> HO-C2H4-OH (2) HO-C2 H4-OH + C2H4O -> HO- C2H4-O- C2H4-OH(3) HO-C2 H4-O-C2H4-OH + C2H4O -> HO- C2H4-O-C2H4-O-C2H4-OH (4) (1) production of ethylene oxide (2) production of MEG from EO and water (3) production of DEG from EO and MEG (4) production of TEG from EO and DEG The water-glycol mixture is fed to multiple evaporators, where water is recovered and recycled. The water-free glycol mixture is separated by fractional distillation. Acids (e.g. 1% sulfuric acid) catalyse the hydration reaction and allow lower temperatures to be used. |
Modelling and validation
| LCI method and allocation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Type of data set | LCI result | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| LCI Method Principle | Attributional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deviation from LCI method principle / explanations | The background data use the \xe2\x80\x9cRecycled content cut-off\xe2\x80\x9d approach to allocate end-of-life by-products and secondary materials. This allocation is explained in the description of the recycled content system model (http://www.ecoinvent.org/database/system-models-in-ecoinvent-3/cut-off-system-model/allocation-cut-off-by-classification.html). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Deviations from LCI method approaches / explanations | Allocation following the ISO 14044 hierarchy. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Modelling constants | All modelling constants follow the requirements listed in the Tender Specifications ENV.B.1/SER/2016/0038vl. Completeness: All known environmental flows are included. All known resource uses and emissions are listed in the inventory. Water use: water use is modelled at country level using separate flows for water withdrawal, water release and water evaporation. Cut-off: All known environmental flows are included. All known resource uses and emissions are listed in the inventory. Handling multi-functional processes: the following PEF multi- functionality decision hierarchy is applied for resolving all multi- functionality problems: (1) subdivision or system expansion; (2) allocation based on a relevant underlying physical relationship (substitution may apply here); (3) allocation based on some other relationship. Direct land use change: GHG emissions from direct LUC allocated to good/service for 20 years after the LUC occurs, with IPCC default values. Carbon storage and delayed emissions: credits associated with temporary (carbon) storage or delayed emissions up to 300 years are not be considered. Emissions off-setting: are not included. Capital goods (including infrastructures) and their End of life: they are included. System boundaries: system boundaries include all processes linked to the product supply chain (e.g. maintenance). Time period: emissions and removals are modelled as if released or removed at the beginning of the assessment method. Fossil and biogenic carbon emissions and removals: removals and emissions are modelled as follows: All GHG emissions from fossil fuels (including peat and limestone) are modelled consistently with the most updated ILCD list of elementary flows. The non-fossil (biogenic) carbon flows are modelled consistently with the most updated ILCD list of elementary flows. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deviation from modelling constants / explanations | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data sources, treatment and representativeness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data cut-off and completeness principles | All known environmental flows are included. All known resource uses and emissions are listed in the inventory. The dataset dry mass balance has been checked to ensure the inventory is complete. Capital goods (e.g. infrastructure) and their end-of-life are included. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deviation from data cut-off and completeness principles / explanations | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data selection and combination principles | These datasets include, in both their foreground and background data, links to energy and transport data provided specifically for the PEF pilot projects. The relevant background data on energy and transport are from the existing LCDN data node (http://lcdn.thinkstep.com/Node/). All other background data in the supply chain of this product are from the ecoinvent v3.3 database (www.ecoinvent.org). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deviation from data selection and combination principles / explanations | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Data treatment and extrapolations principles | Several data sources have been used to model the inventory. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Deviation from data treatment and extrapolations principles / explanations | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Uncertainty adjustments | None | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Completeness | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Completeness of product model | All relevant flows quantified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Compliance Declarations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Approval of overall compliance
Fully compliant |
Nomenclature compliance
Fully compliant |
Methodological compliance
Fully compliant |
Review compliance
Fully compliant |
Documentation compliance
Fully compliant |
Quality compliance
Fully compliant |
| Compliance |
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Approval of overall compliance
Fully compliant |
Nomenclature compliance
Not defined |
Methodological compliance
Fully compliant |
Review compliance
Fully compliant |
Documentation compliance
Not defined |
Quality compliance
Fully compliant |
Administrative information
| Commissioner and goal | |
| Commissioner of data set | |
| Project | Provision of chemicals process-based product environmental footprint-compliant life cycle inventory datasets. Contract number ENV.A.1/SER/2016/0038vl |
| Intended applications | This dataset is to be used only within the pilot projects of the PEF/OEF. The dataset and background data contain modeling choices and data sources that are not generally recommended for use in LCAs beyond the PEF/OEF pilot projects. |
| Data generator | |
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| Data entry by | |
| Time stamp (last saved) | 2017-05-13T02:00:00+01:00 |
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| Data entry by | |
| Publication and ownership | |
| UUID | 8a0bea16-5e99-4411-b013-3e4b45ca1459 |
| Date of last revision | 2017-05-13T02:00:00+01:00 |
| Data set version | 03.00.008 |
| Owner of data set | |
| Copyright | Yes |
| Reference to entities with exclusive access | |
| License type | Free of charge for some user types or use types |
| Access and use restrictions | Free of charge for all final users implementing the data in one of the 24 PEFCRs/OEFSRs developed during the Environmental Footprint pilot phase. The final users using this dataset must agree with and submit to the ecoinvent End User License Agreement - EULA \'ecoinvent Production of Chemicals datasets created for the EU Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) implementation 2016 - 2020\' of ecoinvent (www.ecoinvent.org). Any use of this dataset or any derivative data not within the specific context of one of the PEF/OEF pilot projects or after the end of 2020 is not permitted. |
Inputs and Outputs
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LCIA results
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