Multistage Optimization for Chemical Process Sustainability Enhancement under Uncertainty

Abstract

Chemical process sustainability is mainly concerned with energy and material efficiency, productivity and product quality, waste reduction, process safety, heath impact, etc. Due to these multiple factors as well as information and data uncertainty, development of optimal strategies and effective action plans for sustainability enhancement becomes a very challenging task. In this paper, we introduce a mathematical framework for optimal process sustainability performance enhancement. In this framework, we describe four types of optimization problems, which are defined based on decision makers’ different objectives for sustainability enhancement. In formulation, various economic, environmental, and social concerns and technical feasibilities are taken into account, where data uncertainty is dealt with by interval parameters. Solution search is performed by a genetic algorithm method and a Monte Carlo simulation technique. The methodological applicability is illustrated by a comprehensive case study on biodiesel manufacturing. The introduced methodology should be useful for decision makers to compare optimization methods and select the most suitable for their applications.

Multiactor multicriteria decision making for life cycle sustainability assessment under uncertainties

“…There are usually various methods for determining the weights of the criteria, and they can be classified into two categories: objective methods and subjective methods . The subjective weighting methods, for example, Delphi method and analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method, can reflect the preferences of the stakeholders/decision‐makers, but neglect the objective importance and impact of every criterion on a system .…”

“…For instance, Liu and Huang proposed a novel technology evaluation and decision‐making method for enhancing the sustainability of industrial systems. Moradi‐Aliabadi and Huang developed a mathematical framework for multistage optimization to achieve chemical process sustainability enhancement by taking into account of economic, environmental and social concerns and technical feasibilities. These methodologies are very helpful for selecting the most sustainable chemical production or reaction routes by developing new indicators or quantifying the sustainability of industrial process routes.…”

Multi-objective Optimization Approach to Meet Water, Energy, and Food Needs in an Arid Region Involving Security Assessment

“…Toward the sustainable development and ensuring the preservation of natural resources for future generations, environmental security is related through links between its participants in a sustainable way involving different areas and processes, where optimization can help to identify proper solutions by creating planning, adaptation, and distribution policies at the macroscopic scale . In the face of the water, energy, and food crises, the security of the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus has never been of more interest .…”

Recent advances on first-principles modeling for the design of materials in CO2 capture technologies

“…In addition, the effect and treatment of industrial discharges are major considerations in terms of maintaining IS [6]. One aspect critical for the deployment of new (clean) technology in consideration of IS is the development, testing and implementation of advanced mathematical frameworks, which play a fundamental role to optimize chemical process sustainability and reduce their footprint on the environment [7], [8].…”