Scope for the application of mathematical programming techniques in the synthesis and planning of sustainable processes

Ignacio E Grossmann,Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez

doi:10.1016/j.compchemeng.2009.11.012

Abstract

Sustainability has recently emerged as a key issue in process systems engineering (PSE). Mathematical programming techniques offer a general modeling framework for including environmental concerns in the synthesis and planning of chemical processes. In this paper, we review major contributions in process synthesis and supply chain management, highlighting the main optimization approaches that are available, including the handling of uncertainty and the multi-objective optimization of economic and environmental objectives. Finally, we discuss challenges and opportunities identified in the area.

Highlights

Sustainability in process systems engineering (PSE)In the past, the methods devised in PSE to assist in the optimization of chemical processes have traditionally concentrated on maximizing an economic criterion
We review the two major proactive methods that account for uncertainty considerations in the decision-making process, focusing on their applications in process synthesis and supply chain management (SCM)/Enterprise-wide optimization (EWO)
This article has provided an overview of the scope of mathematical programming in the synthesis and planning of sustainable chemical processes

Summary

Introduction

The methods devised in PSE to assist in the optimization of chemical processes have traditionally concentrated on maximizing an economic criterion. Including environmental issues in the synthesis and planning of chemical processes poses significant challenges that have not yet been fully solved, and merit further attention. There is a clear need to develop sophisticated optimization and decision-support tools to help in exploring and analyzing diverse process alternatives under uncertainty, and so as to yield optimal trade-offs between environmental performance and profit maximization. These methods should be employed to improve the environmental performance at different hierarchical levels, covering both single-site and multi-site industrial applications

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Conclusion