Radiation-induced enhancements in plastics recycling: a life cycle-based case study on compatibilizer polymers and their environmental impacts
摘要
The growing environmental burden of multilayer plastic waste demands recycling strategies beyond conventional methods. This study applies Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to evaluate radiation-induced compatibilizer production using electron beam irradiation and its application in thatch panel manufacturing. The functional unit was 1 kg of compatibilizer, producing 357 panels. Results show a global warming potential of 14.355 kg CO2 eq kg−1, largely from electricity-intensive irradiation, but reductions in fossil resource use and human toxicity were observed. Benchmarking highlights trade-offs and suggests renewable electricity integration could improve sustainability, making radiation-assisted compatibilization a promising but energy-sensitive pathway.