Sustainability insights into the synthesis of engineered nanomaterials - Problem formulation and considerations

Mohammadreza Khalaj; Mohammadreza Kamali; Tejraj M Aminabhavi; M Elisabete V Costa; Raf Dewil; Lise Appels; Isabel Capela

doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.115249

Sustainability insights into the synthesis of engineered nanomaterials - Problem formulation and considerations

Environ Res. 2023 Mar 1:220:115249. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115249. Epub 2023 Jan 9.

Authors

Mohammadreza Khalaj¹, Mohammadreza Kamali², Tejraj M Aminabhavi³, M Elisabete V Costa⁴, Raf Dewil⁵, Lise Appels⁵, Isabel Capela⁶

Affiliations

¹ Department of Environment and Planning, Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, CESAM,University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; Department of Materials and Ceramics Engineering, Aveiro Institute of Materials, CICECO, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.
² Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal; KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
³ School of Advanced Sciences, KLE Technological University, Hubballi, Karnataka, 580 031, 580 031, India; Department of Chemistry, Karnatak University, Dharwad, 580 003, India; University Center for Research & Development (UCRO), Chandigarh University, Gharuan, Mohali, Punjab, 140 413, India. Electronic address: aminabhavit@gmail.com.
⁴ Department of Materials and Ceramics Engineering, Aveiro Institute of Materials, CICECO, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal. Electronic address: elisabete.costa@ua.pt.
⁵ KU Leuven, Department of Chemical Engineering, Process and Environmental Technology Lab, J. De Nayerlaan 5, 2860, Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium.
⁶ Department of Environment and Planning, Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, CESAM,University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal.

PMID: 36632884
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115249

Abstract

Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have been introduced into the market for a wide range of applications. As per the literature review, the fabrication of new generations of ENMs is starting to comply with environmental, economic, and social criteria in addition to technical aspects to meet sustainability criteria. At this stage, identification of the appropriate criteria for the synthesis of ENMs is critical because the technologies already developed at the lab scales are being currently transferred to pilot and full scales. Hence, the development of scientific-based methodologies to identify, screen, and prioritize the involved criteria is highly necessary. In the present manuscript, a fuzzy-Delphi methodology is adopted to identify the main criteria and sub-criteria encompassing the sustainable fabrication of ENMs, and to explore the "degree of consensus" among the experts on the relative importance of the mentioned criteria. The "health and safety risks" respecting the equipment and the materials, solvent used, and availability of "green experts" were identified as the most critical criteria. Furthermore, although all the criteria were identified as being important, some criteria, such as "solvent" and "raw materials cost", raised a lower degree of consensus, indicating that various "degrees of uncertainties" still exist regarding the level of importance of the studied criteria.

Keywords: Degrees of uncertainty; Engineered nanomaterials; Fuzzy-delphi methodology; Sustainability; Synthesis.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Nanostructures*
Research Design*
Technology