Computer-aided design for environment in the process industries

A variety of mathematical programming or heuristic techniques are available for process synthesis and optimization to date. The question of process plants performance with regard to their environmental impact and safety characteristics is usually treated after plant design, synthesis and optimization has been completed. This situation is constantly challenged by increasingly stricter environmental regulations and public awareness about the adverse effects of industrial production. This work delineates the framework within which environmental objectives and constraints are internalized into industrial organizations and operations. The analysis includes product and process design, to material and technology choice, to product takeback and re-processing. This multi-step analytical methodology can be readily coupled with existing computer codes to provide a comprehensive tool for environmentally conscious process design and synthesis. Examples of the application of this approach to selected novel processes are also given herein and its effectiveness demonstrated.