About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Materials Processing Fundamentals: Towards Sustainable Process Modeling, Design, and Operation
|
| Presentation Title |
A New Thermodynamic Process-Simulation Tool for Sustainable Metallurgy Integrating LCA and Optimization With FactFlow |
| Author(s) |
Kentaro Oishi, Kyota Poëti, Daniel Wei, Khloé Le Boulanger, Patrice Chartrand, Jean-Philippe Harvey |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Kentaro Oishi |
| Abstract Scope |
This work presents a computational framework for evaluating and optimizing primary and secondary production routes of strategic metals using FactFlow, a process simulation tool integrated within FactSage. The methodology couples computational thermochemistry with Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to assess cradle-to-gate environmental impacts, including energy use and CO₂ emissions. A key feature of the framework is its ability to perform multi-criteria optimization based on user-defined performance indices. Among these, the Energy Processing Performance Index (EPPI) and the CO₂ Processing Performance Index (CPPI) serve as illustrative examples that link thermodynamic feasibility with energy and environmental efficiency. FactFlow provides detailed mass and energy balances, while upstream environmental impacts are captured using data from Ecoinvent and complementary literature. This integrated and customizable approach supports informed decision-making and flexible process screening across diverse scenarios, offering a robust digital tool for improving the sustainability of strategic metal production. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Pyrometallurgy, Extraction and Processing, Modeling and Simulation |