Life cycle assessment

Footprints per functional unit, as computed in each process's own LCA. Compare only like with like: same functional unit, boundary and allocation, and check the data quality of the factors.

Open life-cycle inventory database for Brightway, openLCA and other tools

The inventories of 54 processes as one open foreground database (84 activities), free to use under CC BY 4.0. The same inventories come in several formats: for Brightway, for openLCA, and as a spreadsheet and JSON that other LCA software and scripts can read. Use them next to the background database you are licensed for: background activities are referenced by name only, and no ecoinvent data is included.

Preliminary39 of 54 processes are preliminary: some exchanges have no background mapping yet, so they are exported unlinked and count no burden. Such inventories are incomplete and marked Preliminary on their pages; gaps.json lists every gap. While any gap remains, the Brightway installer writes nothing (see Import into Brightway, below).

For	File	Format	Size
Brightway Excel workbook in the bw2io layout, allocated per co-product. Also readable as a spreadsheet.	cheme-as-code-atlas-preview-c3ab348.xlsx	bw2io ExcelImporter workbook, bw2io 0.9 Excel layout	292 kB
openLCA JSON-LD package (olca-schema 2): multi-output processes with their allocation factors.	cheme-as-code-atlas-preview-c3ab348-olca-jsonld.zip	openLCA JSON-LD (olca-schema), 2	407 kB
Brightway multifunctional The unallocated multi-output datasets with allocation properties.	cheme-as-code-atlas-preview-c3ab348-multifunctional.json	Brightway 2.5 multifunctional database (JSON, for the multifunctional package), cheme-as-code/lci-multifunctional/v1	694 kB
Metadata Every activity, its exchanges, data quality and sources, as JSON.	datapackage.json	Atlas LCI datapackage, cheme-as-code/lci-datapackage/v1	2.6 MB
Benchmarks How the datasets compare with published reference values.	benchmarks.json	Atlas benchmark report, cheme-as-code/benchmark-report/v1	21 kB
Mapping gaps The exchanges not yet linked to a background dataset.	gaps.json	Atlas LCI mapping gaps, cheme-as-code/lci-gaps/v1	67 kB

Version preview-c3ab348. Checksums (sha256) of every file are in index.json. Brightway installer: cheme_as_code_lci-0.1.0-py3-none-any.whl.

Browse the 104 dataset pages: exchanges, data quality, links and downloads per activity, searchable by product, CAS, ISIC/CPC and geography.

How to cite

Schweidtmann, A. M. & Weber, J. M. (2026, in preparation). Process Atlas: an open, git-native, reproducible library and life cycle inventory of chemical processes (working title).

Cite this paper, which is in preparation and has no DOI yet, and name the database version: preview-c3ab348.

BibTeX

@unpublished{schweidtmann_process_atlas,
  author = {Schweidtmann, Artur M. and Weber, Jana M.},
  title = {{Process Atlas: an open, git-native, reproducible library and life cycle inventory of chemical processes (working title)}},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://atlas.cheme-as-code.org},
  note = {in preparation}
}

Import into Brightway

# pip install cheme_as_code_lci-0.1.0-py3-none-any.whl   (the installer, below)
import bw2data as bd
from cheme_as_code_lci import install

bd.projects.set_current("my-project")   # holds your licensed ecoinvent + biosphere3
report = install("cheme-as-code-atlas-preview-c3ab348.xlsx",
                 background="ecoinvent-3.11-cutoff", location="DE")
print(report.summary())                 # lists anything that did not link; then nothing is written

The installer writes nothing yetWhile any exchange of the database has no mapping, install() writes nothing and only lists the unlinked exchanges. To work with the inventories now, import the openLCA package, which carries the gaps as flows of their own, or read the workbook with plain bw2io.ExcelImporter and resolve the exchanges in gaps.json yourself before you write the database.

The installer (cheme_as_code_lci) matches every exchange to your background and biosphere databases, writes the database only when every exchange links, reports what did not, and never overwrites an existing database unless asked. The workbook also imports with plain bw2io.ExcelImporter.

Import into openLCA

Import the JSON-LD package into an openLCA database that has openLCA's reference units and flow properties, next to your background. Inputs another Atlas process makes are linked to it; background inputs are product flows named after their reference product, to be mapped to your background with openLCA's flow mapping.

Caveats

Research output. The inventories come from research designs at the design maturity each process states; they are not verified plant data.
No background data is included: link the database to the ecoinvent (or other) databases you are licensed for; background activities are referenced by name, reference product, unit and location only.
The datasets are screening level (concept-stage flows and duties, about +/-30 %); check each process's maturity and review status before use.
Screening proxies (code proxy:*) stand in where a dataset counts a flow in a unit the background has no activity for; their amounts are assumptions (see lci/mappings.yaml).
Atmospheric pass-through emissions and the ambient air intake are not exported (curated decision in lci/mappings.yaml).
Markets (code market:*) mix the Atlas's own producers of a product, not the region's actual production; most of their distances and losses are ASSUMED screening values (datapackage.json markets, docs/markets.md).
PRELIMINARY: 159 exchange(s) of 39 process(es) are mapping gaps (lci/gaps.json): exported unlinked, without a background link (column atlas gap), so they count no burden and these processes' inventories are incomplete: acetaldehyde-1, acetic-acid-1, acetic-anhydride-1, acetone-1, acetylene-1, alumina-1, aniline-1, bromine-1, chloromethane-1, cumene-1, dmf-1, ethanol-1, ethylbenzene-1, ethylene-1, ethylene-glycol-1, formaldehyde-1, formic-acid-1, glycerol-1, hydrazine-1, hydrogen-bromide-1, hydrogen-peroxide-1, hydroxylamine-1, iodine-1, isobutene-1, kraft-pulp-1, methanol-1, methylamines-1, n-bromosuccinimide-1, natural-gas-processing-1, phosgene-1, phosphorus-oxychloride-1, potassium-permanganate-1, silicon-carbide-1, sodium-cyanide-1, sodium-nitrite-1, styrene-1, thf-1, thionyl-chloride-1, urea-1. An activity that links one of them inherits that. install() refuses the database until they are mapped.
Background names (lci/mappings.yaml): unchecked, not checked against a licensed background yet (scripts/check_mappings.py) (datapackage.json brightway.background_check).

Footprints per process

Process	Category	Baseline	Per	Boundary · allocation	Factors ?
Acetaldehyde by the one-stage Wacker oxidation of ethylene (100 kt/a) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Acetaldehyde 99.9 wt%	gate-to-gate · none	No factors
Acetic acid by low-water iridium methanol carbonylation (60 t/h glacial acid, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 8 data gaps	1 kg Glacial acetic acid	cradle-to-gate · none	No factors
Acetylene by partial oxidation of natural gas with NMP recovery (6.25 t/h, synthesis-gas co-product) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Acetylene	cradle-to-gate · energy	Published factors
Alumina by the Bayer process (3000 t/d smelter-grade alumina, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Smelter-grade alumina	cradle-to-gate · none	Published factors
Ammonia from natural gas (1500 t/d, steam reforming with air-fed secondary reformer, Haber-Bosch loop) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	1.465 kg CO2-eq partial, 5 data gaps	1 kg Liquid ammonia product (refrigerated)	gate-to-gate · exergy	Published factors
Cryogenic air separation unit (500 t/d GOX) Screening · level Balanced · not reviewed	Climate change	66.72 kg CO2-eq partial, 18 data gaps	1 t GOX	cradle-to-gate · exergy	Partly assumed factors
Bromine from bromide brine by chlorine oxidation and steaming-out (Smackover-type brine) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 10 data gaps	1 kg Bromine, dry (99.96 wt-% Br2)	gate-to-gate · none	No factors
Chlor-alkali by membrane-cell electrolysis (100 kt/a Cl2, 50 wt-% caustic soda, hydrogen) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Dry chlorine gas	gate-to-gate · shares	Published factors
N,N-Dimethylformamide by carbonylation of dimethylamine (50 kt/a, sodium methoxide in methanol) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg DMF product	gate-to-gate · none	No factors
Ethanol by direct hydration of ethylene (100 000 t/a anhydrous, phosphoric acid catalyst) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 16 data gaps	1 kg Anhydrous ethanol	cradle-to-gate · none	No factors
Ethylene and propylene by ethane steam cracking (1000 kt/a ethylene, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	0.4335 kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 12 data gaps	1 kg Polymer-grade ethylene	gate-to-gate · none	Published factors
Ethylene glycol by ethylene oxide hydration (glycols-only EO/EG plant, 1200 t/d MEG) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	0.2636 kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 11 data gaps	1 kg Monoethylene glycol	cradle-to-gate · none	Published factors
Formaldehyde by methanol oxidation over iron molybdate (Formox type, 20 t/h formalin 50 wt%) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	0.05116 kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 9 data gaps	1 kg Formalin 50 wt%	gate-to-gate · none	Published factors
Formic acid 85 wt% by methanol carbonylation and methyl formate hydrolysis (50 kt/a) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Formic acid 85 wt%	cradle-to-gate · none	Published factors
Refined glycerol (USP) from biodiesel crude glycerol (10 000 t/a, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 15 data gaps	1 kg Refined glycerol USP 99.7 wt%	cradle-to-gate · shares	No factors
Hydrogen by natural-gas steam methane reforming with PSA (100 000 Nm3/h, steam export) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	9.138 kg CO2-eq partial, 6 data gaps	1 kg Hydrogen product 99.9 mol%	gate-to-gate · exergy	Published factors
Hydrogen bromide synthesis burner with catalytic finishing and absorption (48 wt-% hydrobromic acid) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 6 data gaps	1 kg Hydrobromic acid 48 wt-%	gate-to-gate · none	No factors
Hydrogen chloride synthesis burner and absorption (33 wt-% hydrochloric acid, steam recovery) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq partial, 5 data gaps	1 kg Hydrochloric acid 33 wt-%	gate-to-gate · shares	No factors
Hydrogen peroxide by the anthraquinone autoxidation process (50 kt/a H2O2, 50 wt%) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Hydrogen peroxide 50 wt%	gate-to-gate · none	No factors
Hydroxylammonium sulfate by catalytic NO hydrogenation (30 kt/a NH2OH, 25 wt% solution) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Hydroxylammonium sulfate solution 25.4 wt%	gate-to-gate · shares	Published factors
Bleached softwood kraft pulp with chemical recovery (1000 ADt/d market pulp, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Bleached softwood kraft market pulp, 90 % dry (bales)	cradle-to-gate · shares	Published factors
Methanol synthesis loop and purification (2500 t/d Grade AA, natural-gas syngas) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 5 data gaps	1 kg Methanol Grade AA	gate-to-gate · exergy	No factors
Methylamines (MMA, DMA, TMA) from methanol and ammonia Concept · level Balanced · not reviewedEvidence outdated	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Anhydrous dimethylamine	cradle-to-gate · mass	No factors
N-Bromosuccinimide by semi-batch bromination of succinimide in aqueous NaOH (500 t/a) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 11 data gaps	1 kg N-Bromosuccinimide crystals	cradle-to-gate · none	No factors
Natural gas processing (amine CO2 removal, TEG dehydration, turbo-expander NGL recovery) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	0.01048 kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 14 data gaps	1 kg Sales gas	gate-to-gate · energy	Published factors
Weak nitric acid by dual-pressure ammonia oxidation (1000 t/d HNO3 as 60 wt% acid) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Weak nitric acid 60 wt%	cradle-to-gate · shares	Published factors
Phosgene from CO and chlorine over activated carbon (17.3 t/h liquid phosgene, captive) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Liquid phosgene	cradle-to-gate · none	Published factors
Phosphorus oxychloride from white phosphorus, chlorine and oxygen via PCl3 (4.0 t/h) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 11 data gaps	1 kg Phosphorus oxychloride (distilled)	cradle-to-gate · none	No factors
Potassium permanganate from MnO2 ore by KOH roasting and electrolysis (1250 kg/h, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	– kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 10 data gaps	1 kg Potassium permanganate (technical grade)	cradle-to-gate · none	No factors
Silicon carbide by the Acheson process (5000 kg/h crude SiC, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	2.029 kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 5 data gaps	1 kg Crushed crude crystalline SiC (98 wt%)	cradle-to-gate · shares	Published factors
Soda ash by the Solvay ammonia-soda process (1000 t/d light ash, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	0.3062 kg CO2-eq partial, 10 data gaps	1 kg Light soda ash	cradle-to-gate · none	Published factors
Sodium nitrite from ammonia oxidation and soda absorption (with sodium nitrate by inversion) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Sodium nitrite, dried, 99.0 wt-%	gate-to-gate · shares	Published factors
Sulfuric acid from sulfur burning, double contact / double absorption (1000 t/d, 98.5 wt%) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Sulfuric acid 98.5 wt%	cradle-to-gate · shares	No factors
Thionyl chloride from sulfur, chlorine and SO2 over activated carbon (3.75 t/h) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	withheld	1 kg Thionyl chloride	cradle-to-gate · none	No factors
Urea by CO2 stripping, total recycle, prilling (2000 t/d, concept) Concept · not reviewed	Climate change	0.00009 kg CO2-eq Preliminarypartial, 5 data gaps	1 kg Prilled urea	cradle-to-gate · none	Published factors

Contributions of a process

Process

Climate change (GWP100) per 1 kg Liquid ammonia product (refrigerated), baseline. Each flow of the inventory into its phase, the phases into the functional unit; band widths are impacts. Hatched: a credit. This process's LCA

Published factors All factors come from published datasets or EPDs.