Abstract
Demand for chemicals is growing. In fact, the chemical industry’s global output is expected to nearly double its 2010 volume by 2020. Lessening the collateral environmental burden of such growth requires sustainable alternative technologies. Fortunately, green chemistry and engineering research has made remarkable progress, laying the foundation for developing efficient processes that conserve feedstock and energy. Life cycle assessment (LCA) also plays a key role by identifying environmental hotspots along the supply chain, either within the manufacturing plant (catalysts, solvents, reactors, separators) or upstream during raw material extraction or during the generation of fossil-based energy at any stage. We present several examples that illustrate how important it is to incorporate LCA with techno-economic analysis—especially during the early stages of process development. This approach is not just useful, it is an essential tool for the rational development of sustainable chemical processes.
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