Selection of Sustainable Chemical Process Design Using Anp: A Biodiesel Case Study

Abstract

The design for sustainability in chemical process design should consider the three pillars of sustainability namely economic feasibility, environmental friendliness and social benefits. In reality however, agreeability among the criteria are not easily obtained because of the dependencies that exist between them. Also conflict of interest between the decision makers makes the decision making becomes more complex and therefore trade off is often needed. To encounter this complex interaction, analytic network process (ANP) is adopted utilizes its capability to account the interdependencies among level of attributes. Using ANP, a hierarchical decision network model using elements that are determinant to engineers and managers is developed that also taken into account the dependencies that exist within the framework. An example of several biodiesel process designs from literature are examined to shows the applicability of the approach. Overall, the approach offers a practical and systematic tool for aiding sustainable decision making in chemical process design specifically those that deal with complex and interacting decision environment.

Site selection for managed aquifer recharge in the city of Kabul, Afghanistan, using a multi-criteria decision analysis and geographic information system

“…AHP is limited to relatively static and unidirectional interactions with little feedback among decision components and Used to represent compromise between the priorities listed above alternatives. While AHP has been very popular, ANP is less prominent in the literature (Othman et al 2011). The basic structure is an influence network of clusters and nodes contained within the clusters.…”

AHP–TOPSIS Methodology for Stock Portfolio Investments

“…Moreover, the application of ANP is complicated and requires much more effort from the participants than AHP. However, AHP is very popular, and ANP is less prominent (Othman et al 2011). Saaty (1990) developed the AHP, a model that allows decision-makers to represent multiple factors' interactions in complex situations.…”