Pollution prevention targets through integrated design and operation

Pollution prevention is one of most pressing objectives for the process ind ustries. In order to set realistic targets for reducing industrial wastes, it is necessary to establish targets for most achievable extent of pollutio n prevention. In this paper we present a mass-integrated systematic procedu re for identifying pollution prevention targets of a process. These targets account for the plant data and anticipated disturbances. A combination of design and operational degrees of freedom are employed to prevent pollution . Species propagation and process performance are tracked via path equation s. Mass integration tools along with inclusion isotonicity of interval arit hmetic are employed to establish the targets. Several classes of problems a re addressed. These include instantaneous and averaged targets for pollutio n prevention with sink/generator manipulation and targets for material util ities and feedstocks with recycle and interception. The identified targets are global regardless of the non-linearity and non-convexity characteristic s of the system. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.