Abstract
A recent vector space theory on the sustainability assessment of industrial production treats the processes of production as vectors in a Euclidean space generated by the manufacturing factors. The present work extends that theory to a more comprehensive normed linear space that encompasses the Euclidean space. In this enhanced space, a robustness criterion is devised which shows unequivocally the robustness of the Euclidean norm. The analysis is also applied to previous works on sustainability aggregate indices. The results reveal a correlation between robustness and an accurate representation of the physical system.
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Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa Carlos Chagas Filho do Rio de Janeiro—FAPERJ and the Instituto Nacional de Metrologia, Qualidade e Tecnologia—INMETRO
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Appendix
Appendix
Processes and factors for chlorine manufacturing
Source: Sikdar (2009)
P 1 : Mercury cells | F 1 : Energy intensity (MJ/kg Cl2) |
P 2 : Diaphragm cells | F 2 : Material intensity (kg/kg Cl2) |
P 3 : Membrane cells | F 3 : Potential chemical risk |
F 4 : Potential environment impact |
Processes and factors for automobile fender production
Source: Sikdar et al. (2012)
P 1 : Aluminum | F 5 : ODP |
P 2 : Steel | F 6 : AP |
P 3 : PC/PBT | F 7 : EP |
P 4 : PP/EPDM | F 8 : POCP |
P 5 : PPO/PA | F 9 : Htox air |
F 1 : Energy | F 10 : Htox water |
F 2 : Resources | F 11 : EcoTox |
F 3 : Water | F 12 : Waste |
F 4 : GWP |
Processes for automotive shredder residue, Table 11
Source: Sikdar et al. (2012)
P 1 : Landfill |
P 2 : Recycle landfill |
P 3 : Energy recovery |
P 4 : Recycle energy |
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Olinto, A.C. Robustness of the vector space theory of sustainability assessment of industrial processes. Clean Techn Environ Policy 17, 1707–1715 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-014-0894-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-014-0894-5