Integration of sustainability and environmental impact assessment into computer aided process engineering

A simple methodology for integrating environmental impact analysis into computer aided process engineering is proposed. The proposed methodology is illustrated using a conceptual process development case study example. The case study selected is the development of potential conceptual processes for manufacturing economically viable industrial chemical products from the catalytic dehydration of the glycerol produced as a byproduct of the manufacture of biodiesel. A simple flowchart is presented that illustrates where the inclusion of environmental impact assessment fits into the conceptual design process. This flowchart serves as the basis for the proposed methodology. The methodology is be based on using process simulation tools to quickly generate mass and energy balances for potential conceptual processes. The application of this proposed methodology holds potential for significant contributions to economic and environmental sustainability by the development of novel conceptual processes which are based on cost effective, renewable raw materials. This methodology can be used to ensure that conceptual processes developed using a hierarchical approach based on standard design heuristics will be optimized based on not only economic potential, but also the minimization of the potential environmental impact. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 2007 AIChE Annual Meeting (Salt Lake City, UT 11/4-9/2007).