Life Cycle–Based Carbon Footprint Assessment of the Mdhilla Industrial Site in the Tunisian Chemical Industry

Life Cycle–Based Carbon Footprint Assessment of the Mdhilla Industrial Site in the Tunisian Chemical Industry | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Life Cycle–Based Carbon Footprint Assessment of the Mdhilla Industrial Site in the Tunisian Chemical Industry Oussama Hajji, Sana Dardouri, Najib Hidouri, jalila Sghaier, Muslum arici This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8622111/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract This research presents a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and triple superphosphate (TSP) production at the Mdhilla site of the Tunisian Chemical Group. Applying a life-cycle assessment methodology based on site-specific operational data and international emission factors, the study evaluates the carbon footprint across the entire value chain, including raw material transport, employee commuting, and waste management. The results identify TSP and phosphoric acid production as the dominant contributors to site-wide emissions, while sulfuric acid plays a secondary role. Phosphoric acid exhibits the highest carbon intensity per unit of output, whereas TSP represents the main emissions hotspot due to its large production scale. Comparative analysis shows that emissions at Mdhilla significantly exceed international benchmarks, primarily due to the accumulation of phosphogypsum waste rather than its valorization. The study encompasses all relevant GHG sources, including raw material transport, employee commuting, waste management, and procurement, ensuring a holistic evaluation. Based on site-specific data, this work provides practical insights and recommendations for improving the energy and environmental performance of the Tunisian chemical industry, contributing to a more sustainable approach to industrial carbon footprint reduction. Greenhouse gas emissions Carbon footprint Sulfuric acid Phosphoric acid TSP production Industrial decarbonization Mitigation strategies Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8622111","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":580830322,"identity":"10fc296a-5777-4a4a-950c-2deff7849de4","order_by":0,"name":"Oussama Hajji","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Monastir","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Oussama","middleName":"","lastName":"Hajji","suffix":""},{"id":580830323,"identity":"9af6cd04-0506-4549-bcbe-568db90fef9b","order_by":1,"name":"Sana Dardouri","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"","institution":"University of Monastir","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sana","middleName":"","lastName":"Dardouri","suffix":""},{"id":580830324,"identity":"be843197-e2ec-4684-9780-17d9bee4e224","order_by":2,"name":"Najib Hidouri","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Gabès University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Najib","middleName":"","lastName":"Hidouri","suffix":""},{"id":580830325,"identity":"409ba57d-59be-4d14-ae40-a4e5027ae35f","order_by":3,"name":"jalila Sghaier","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Monastir","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"jalila","middleName":"","lastName":"Sghaier","suffix":""},{"id":580830327,"identity":"ca2a93c9-1613-4939-88d1-d7de550fae4d","order_by":4,"name":"Muslum arici","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Engineering Faculty, Kocaeli University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Muslum","middleName":"","lastName":"arici","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-16 20:53:14","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8622111/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8622111/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":102422964,"identity":"d9fd2b2a-88f5-40b1-ae97-fa7e8d5ad18e","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-02-11 13:58:41","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":956593,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"ManuscriptCARBONFOOTPRINTASSESSMENTv21.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8622111/v1_covered_45c61695-20c4-4828-acea-8b0c512d31cc.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Life Cycle–Based Carbon Footprint Assessment of the Mdhilla Industrial Site in the Tunisian Chemical Industry","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Greenhouse gas emissions, Carbon footprint, Sulfuric acid, Phosphoric acid, TSP production, Industrial decarbonization, Mitigation strategies","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8622111/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8622111/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThis research presents a comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, and triple superphosphate (TSP) production at the Mdhilla site of the Tunisian Chemical Group. Applying a life-cycle assessment methodology based on site-specific operational data and international emission factors, the study evaluates the carbon footprint across the entire value chain, including raw material transport, employee commuting, and waste management. The results identify TSP and phosphoric acid production as the dominant contributors to site-wide emissions, while sulfuric acid plays a secondary role. Phosphoric acid exhibits the highest carbon intensity per unit of output, whereas TSP represents the main emissions hotspot due to its large production scale. Comparative analysis shows that emissions at Mdhilla significantly exceed international benchmarks, primarily due to the accumulation of phosphogypsum waste rather than its valorization. The study encompasses all relevant GHG sources, including raw material transport, employee commuting, waste management, and procurement, ensuring a holistic evaluation. Based on site-specific data, this work provides practical insights and recommendations for improving the energy and environmental performance of the Tunisian chemical industry, contributing to a more sustainable approach to industrial carbon footprint reduction.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Life Cycle–Based Carbon Footprint Assessment of the Mdhilla Industrial Site in the Tunisian Chemical Industry","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-28 17:31:47","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8622111/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"2990fe73-b783-4310-a72f-1ea816aa7207","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 28th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-02-11T13:57:03+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-28 17:31:47","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8622111","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8622111","identity":"rs-8622111","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}