Introduction to Life-Cycle Assessment and Decision Making Applied to Forest Biomaterials 149
Problem 2 The following lists the inputs and outputs in a wood beam processing
operation – data from the US LCI database. Usemasscutoff criteria of 0.1% to
determine which inputs would be included in an LCA. Usemasscut off criteria of
0.001% to determine which outputs would be included in an LCA.
Estimate that all liquids and gels have a density of 1.0 g cm−^3 (a gross assumption), all
solids have a density of 1.5 g cm−^3 , and all powders have a density of 0.5 g cm−^3 .Show
all your work including unit conversions. Make a table with columns listing the amount
of each input or output in the units presented, the converted quantity in mass in grams,
the % mass of the entire product, and whether or not it is included.
Details for Glue laminated beam processing, at plant, US PNW
Flow Category Type Unit Amount
Outputs
2-Propanol Air/unspecified ELEMENTARY_FLOW kg 4.34E-04
Co-products of glue laminated
beam production, at plant,
unspecified, US PNW
Wood product manu-
facturing/sawmills
PRODUCT_FLOW kg 2.24E-01
Ethanol Air/unspecified ELEMENTARY_FLOW kg 1.04E-05
Formaldehyde Air/unspecified ELEMENTARY_FLOW kg 7.12E-07
Glue laminated beam
processing, at plant, US PNW
Wood product manu-
facturing/sawmills
PRODUCT_FLOW kg 1.00E+ 00
Methanol Air/unspecified ELEMENTARY_FLOW kg 2.15E-05
Particulates, unspecified Air/unspecified ELEMENTARY_FLOW kg 1.28E-03
Phenol Air/unspecified ELEMENTARY_FLOW kg 2.17E-05
Resorcinol Air/unspecified ELEMENTARY_FLOW kg 2.07E-08
VOC, volatile organic
compounds
Air/unspecified ELEMENTARY_FLOW kg 6.03E-04
Inputs
CUTOFF Hogfuel-Biomass
(50% MC). combusted in
industrial boiler
Null/CUTOFF Flows PRODUCT_FLOW kg 1.75E-01
CUTOFF Kerosene,
combusted in industrial boiler
Null/CUTOFF Flows PRODUCT_FLOW l 3.40E-07
Diesel, combusted in
industrial boiler
Utilities/steam and
air-conditioning supply
PRODUCT_FLOW l 7.49E-04
Dry rough lumber, at kiln, US
PNW
Wood product manu-
facturing/sawmills
PRODUCT_FLOW kg 9.17E-01
Electricity, at grid, Western
US, 2000
Utilities/electric power
distribution
PRODUCT_FLOW kWh 1.74E-01
Gasoline, combusted in
equipment
Utilities/steam and
air-conditioning supply
PRODUCT_FLOW l 1.90E-04
Liquefied petroleum gas,
combusted in industrial boiler
Utilities/steam and
air-conditioning supply
PRODUCT_FLOW l 3.34E-03
Melamine urea formaldehyde
hardener, at plant
Chemical
manufacturing
PRODUCT_FLOW kg 1.82E-04
