In recent years the need for sustainable process design and alternative reaction routes to reduce industry?s impact on the environment has gained vital importance. The book begins with a general overview of new trends in designing industrial chemical processes which are environmentally friendly and economically feasible. Specific examples written by experts from industry cover the possibilities of running industrial chemical processes in a sustainable manner and provide an up-to-date insight into the main concerns, e.g., the use of renewable raw materials, the use of alternative energy sources in chemical processes, the design of intrinsically safe processes, microreactor and integrated reaction/ separation technologies, process intensification, waste reduction, new catalytic routes and/or solvent and process optimization.

Approaching sustainability from the perspectives of engineering and multiple scientific disciplines, this book incorporates the concepts of intergenerational equity and ecological capabilities, while promoting scientific rigor for the analysis of sustainability and the use of appropriate metrics to determine the comparative merits of alternatives. The chapters are organized around the key non-technological themes of sustainable industrial chemistry and provide an overview of the managerial principles to enhance sustainability in the chemicals sector. The book strives to provide an intellectual forum and stimulus for defining the roles chemical engineers can play in achieving sustainable development. Suitable for industry and graduate education, this is the one-stop guide to greener, cleaner, economically viable and more efficient chemical industries.

The editors and authors, with backgrounds in academia and industry, tie together recent and established technologies for the upcoming change to sustainable industrial chemistry. The extensive worldwide activities towards that goal are exemplified with a series of green processes. Some of these processes are already commercially applied (squalene to squalane, hydraulic fluids from vegetable oils, biosourced polycarbonates), others are ready for a large scale implementation (glycerol to acrylic acid, biosourced acrylonitrile and levulinic acid, polyamides from fatty nitriles-esters hydrogenation, butadiene from bioethanol) or are being developed (cyclic carbonates from epoxides, selective pyrolysis of biomass). This book is an indispensable source for the researchers and professionals who work for a greener chemical industry. The chapters have been arranged to guide students through the design of new processes for more sustainable chemistry, using case studies as examples.

Horizons in Sustainable Industrial Chemistry and Catalysis, Volume 178, presents a comprehensive picture of recent developments in terms of sustainable industrial processes and the catalytic needs and opportunities to develop these novel routes. Each chapter includes an introduction and state-of-the-art in the field, along with a series of specific aspects and examples. The book identifies new opportunities for research that will help us transition to low carbon and sustainable energy and chemical production. Users will find an integrated view of the new possibilities in this area that unleashes new possibilities in energy and chemistry. Combines an analysis of each scenario, the state-of-the art, and specific examples to help users better understand needs, opportunities, gaps and challenges Offers an integrated view of new catalytic technologies that are needed for future use Presents an interdisciplinary approach that combines broad expertise Brings together experts in the area of sustainable industrial chemistry

This book features in-depth and thorough coverage of Minimum Impact Mill Technologies which can meet the environmental challenges of the pulp and paper industry and also discusses Mills and Fiberlines that encompass “State-of-the-Art” technology and management practices. The minimum impact mill does not mean "zero effluent", nor is it exclusive to one bleaching concept. It is a much bigger concept which means that significant progress must be made in the following areas: Water Management, Internal Chemical Management, Energy Management, Control and Discharge of Non-Process Elements and Removal of Hazardous Pollutants. At the moment, there is no bleached kraft pulp mill operating with zero effluent. With the rise in environmental awareness due to the lobbying by environmental organizations and with increased government regulation there is now a trend towards sustainability in the pulp and paper industry. Sustainable pulp and paper manufacturing requires a holistic view of the manufacturing process. During the last decade, there have been revolutionary technical developments in pulping, bleaching and chemical recovery technology. These developments have made it possible to further reduce loads in effluents and airborne emissions. Thus, there has been a strong progress towards minimum impact mills in the pulp and paper industry. The minimum-impact mill is a holistic manufacturing concept that encompasses environmental management systems, compliance with environmental laws and regulations and manufacturing technologies.

Through innovative design, creation, processing, use, and disposal of substances, the chemical industry plays a major role in advancing applications to support sustainability in a way that will allow humanity to meet current environmental, economic, and societal needs without compromising the progress and success of future generations. Based on a workshop held in February 2005 that brought together a broad cross section of disciplines and organizations in the chemical industry, this report identifies a set of overarching Grand Challenges for Sustainability research in chemistry and chemical engineering to assist the chemical industry in defining a sustainability agenda. These Grand Challenges include life cycle analysis, renewable chemical feedstocks, and education, among others.

Through innovative design, creation, processing, use, and disposal of substances, the chemical industry plays a major role in advancing applications to support sustainability in a way that will allow humanity to meet current environmental, economic, and societal needs without compromising the progress and success of future generations. Based on a workshop held in February 2005 that brought together a broad cross section of disciplines and organizations in the chemical industry, this report identifies a set of overarching Grand Challenges for Sustainability research in chemistry and chemical engineering to assist the chemical industry in defining a sustainability agenda. These Grand Challenges include life cycle analysis, renewable chemical feedstocks, and education, among others.