فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

This study presents a detailed assessment of the water footprint associated with polypropylene (PP) production in the Iranian petrochemical industry, employing Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Water Footprint Assessment (WFA) methodologies. The research aims to quantify the Blue Water Footprint (BWF) and Gray Water Footprint (GWF) in the production of PP, identify key water-intensive stages, and propose strategies to reduce water usage and mitigate environmental pollution. The analysis adopts a "gate-to-gate" system boundary, encompassing all processes from raw material reception to final packaging, with a functional unit of one metric ton of PP produced. Using the Impact 2002+ framework within OpenLCA software, the study calculates the BWF and GWF as 88,788,323.5 m³ and 97 m³ per ton of PP, respectively, indicating significant water consumption and contamination potential. Additionally, the production facility releases approximately 12,700 kg of CO2-equivalent emissions per ton of PP, contributing notably to global warming potential. The findings underscore the necessity for more sustainable practices, such as adopting renewable energy sources and enhancing process efficiencies, to lower the environmental impact. This research fills a critical gap in the literature by providing region-specific insights into the environmental performance of PP production, thereby supporting the development of more sustainable approaches in the petrochemical sector.