Incorporating environmental impact assessment into conceptual process design

A case study illustrating how environmental impact assessment using the EPA Waste Reduction Algorithm has been incorporated into conceptual process design is presented. This is achieved via the introduction of a simple methodology for integrating environmental impact assessment into the standard heuristics of conceptual process design to ensure that environmental and sustainability goals are met while maintaining economic viability. The case study is based on a process to manufacture C₃ compounds from the dehydration of bio-based glycerol. The selected case study is important from the perspective of sustainability since glycerol is produced as a byproduct of the manufacture of biodiesel from vegetable oils. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 2009 AIChE Spring National Meeting and 5th Global Congress on Process Safety (Tampa, FL 4/26-30/2009).