Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Industrial symbiosis (IS) plays a crucial role in enhancing sustainability within industrial ecosystems by facilitating the exchange of waste, by-products, energy, and resources among different industries. This collaborative approach reduces resource consumption, minimizes waste generation, lowers disposal costs, and creates economic opportunities through synergistic relationships. This study focuses on the production of potassium nitrate (KNO3) in the Escombreras industrial area in Spain, employing life cycle assessment (LCA) and life cycle cost analysis (LCC) to evaluate the impact of IS strategies. The ReCiPe method, implemented through SimaPro software and supported by market data from the Ecoinvent 3.8 database, is used for a comparative analysis between conventional KNO3 production and improved technologies that promote circular economy principles. The LCA and LCC methodologies provide a comprehensive evaluation of both environmental and economic performance, considering key factors influenced by IS synergies. Results demonstrate significant environmental and economic benefits from the integration of IS into KNO3 production, revealing the potential for improved sustainability and competitiveness through circular economy practices. This research provides valuable insights into how IS can enhance both environmental performance and cost-efficiency in industrial processes. These findings support the integration of IS as a viable pathway toward sustainable and cost-effective fertilizer production.
Source: Sustainability
DOI: 10.3390/su17093866
Authors: Héctor Leiva, María Dolores Mainar-Toledo, Irene González García, David Martinez-Hernandez, Francisca Galindo, Andrés Cubero
Institution: CIRCE - Centro Tecnológico
Language: English
Subfield: Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,896
Funder: European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W4409819141