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 described. The proposed methodology is demonstrated using a conceptual process development case study involving 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. By integrating environmental impact analysis into the standard design heuristics used to develop and screen potential conceptual processes, the design engineer can ensure that the resulting process is not only economically optimized, but also is based on minimizing the potential environmental impact. The application of the 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 is an abstract of a paper presented at the AIChE Annual Meeting (Salt Lake City, UT 11/4-9/2007).