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Indicators and Metrics for Evaluating the Sustainability of Chemical Processes
Citation:
SMITH, R. L., J. Ruiz-Mercado, AND M. GONZALEZ. Indicators and Metrics for Evaluating the Sustainability of Chemical Processes. Presented at 14th Conference on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction (PRES), Florence, ITALY, May 08, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform EPA
Description:
A metric-based method, called GREENSCOPE, has been developed for evaluating process sustainability. Using lab-scale information and engineering assumptions the method evaluates full-scale epresentations of processes in environmental, efficiency, energy and economic areas. The method presents an early feedback mechanism that allows process development to iterate towards sustainable chemistries and technologies. Recent work has developed a taxonomy of indicators that establish sustainability metrics on an absolute scale. An example is presented for biodiesel production, focusing on the information needed to evaluate the process sustainability.