Sustainable Cost Indicators Used in Biosorption Process Applied for Heavy Metals Removal

The environmental pollution is still a major concern for both the scientific community and population due to the direct and indirect impacts on human health. Biosorption, is an eco-friendly process, developed to ensure the quality of life through the use of biosorbents. To have a correct vision regarding the biosorption process impact on the environment and human health, a Life Cycle Analysis is appropriate. In the scientific literature there are different methodologies to evaluate the impacts caused by environmental pollution. For the environmental impact the most useful methodology is Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), followed by the cost impacts, which are calculated by applying Life Cycle Cost (LCC) methodology. These two methodologies are defined by ISO 14040/44 to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product’s/process’ life from raw material extraction through materials processing, use, maintenance, and disposal or recycling. In this study, we propose a view towards the sustainable cost indicators identification by considering the LCC framework. Application of this methodology allows us to identify the stages of biosorption that are appropriate to be developed and implemented as they are, and to improve the stages that show different issues, to ensure the sustainability of the process.