This is the home page of Used Oil LCA, an online tool for assessing the potential environmental impacts of recycling motor oil. Use the navigation bar (above) to explore the model, view impact assessment results, and see other model information.
The model is built from a network of 'proceses' linked by 'flows.' The network can be broken down into 'fragments' that each describe different parts of the model, such as used oil collection or improper disposal. Each fragment looks like a tree and can be visualized as a flow diagram. Fragments can be nested inside other fragments, in which case they are called 'sub-fragments.'
Every process has input and output flows, such as oil, concrete, or transportation services. Some processes also have environmental emissions, such as cobalt released into fresh water or carbon dioxide released to air. These emissions, also called 'elementary flows,' are the source of all environmental impacts.
The purpose of life cycle assessment is to analyze a process-flow network, compute the environmental emissions that result from the included processes, and then estimate the potential environmental impacts of the resulting emissions. Environmental impacts are estimated using life cycle impact assessment methods, or LCIA methods. The LCIA methods implemented by this tool are shown in a table at the bottom of this page.Click on a scenario name to view details about the scenario, or on the top-level fragment to view the process-flow network.
| Scenario | Activity Level | Top Level Fragment |
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Click on a method name to view details and characterization factors.
| Active | Name |
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