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The International System of Quantities has to be used by scientific and engineering journals as well as by authors of their articles, conference papers, and corresponding books, especially textbooks. This paper describes the historical development and the state of the art of international communications in science, engineering, technology, production, and sustainable development. The International System of Quantities (ISQ) which systematically elaborated on the standards of the International Organization for Standardization and International Electrotechnical Commission on quantities and units (ISO/IEC 80000) still needs to be generally accepted and used. The list of standardized base and derived quantities with their symbols, and rules for terminology of other quantities are presented. In addition, names and symbols of base, derived, and “compound” units for these quantities are given. The most frequent mistakes and some recommendations about the use of quantities, units, prefixes, quantity value expressions, numbers, and symbols of chemical elements are shown, too. The standards shall be available in open access. The lack of standardized quantities regarding science, engineering, and economics is drawn to attention. Further development of the international systems of quantities and units could bring substantial synergies worldwide.

In the last decades, logistics has become an important industry sector, with significant impacts on the environment generated through several internal and external logistic processes. We analysed and elaborated on integrating sustainability topics within logistics-oriented programmes at universities across Europe, based on a framework of systemising and classifying sustainability terms. We also analysed pedagogical approaches within the identified courses. In our study, we perceived a moderate diversity of courses from the system and horizontal sustainability perspectives. Courses mostly focus on “principle” and “approach” levels, denoting specialised courses, with less environmental and social topics. Such coverage and distribution might imply a limitation to develop complex, multi-dimensional, and inter-disciplinary understanding, thinking, and problem-solving required for real-world challenges, comprehending all the dimensions. We also perceived a scarcity by using pedagogical approaches, where the majority of the courses emphasise traditional ones. This paper’s novelty lies in providing the first empirical evaluation and elaboration of logistics-oriented programmes at European universities from a sustainability perspective. Thus, our study enriches current knowledge and research on sustainability integration into curricula at the university level, enabling new insights and better correlations between various study fields and pedagogical approaches used.

This paper describes the state of the art and future opportunities for process design and sustainable development. In the Introduction, the main global megatrends and the European Union’s response to two of them, the European Green Deal, are presented. The organization of professionals in the field, their conferences, and their publications support the two topics. A brief analysis of the published documents in the two most popular databases shows that the environmental dimension predominates, followed by the economic one, while the social pillar of sustainable development is undervalued. The main design tools for sustainability are described. As an important practical case, the European chemical and process industries are analyzed, and their achievements in sustainable development are highlighted; in particular, their strategies are presented in more detail. The conclusions cover the most urgent future development areas of (i) process industries and carbon capture with utilization or storage; (ii) process analysis, simulation, synthesis, and optimization tools, and (iii) zero waste, circular economy, and resource efficiency. While these developments are essential, more profound changes will be needed in the coming decades, such as shifting away from growth with changes in habits, lifestyles, and business models. Lifelong education for sustainable development will play a very important role in the growth of democracy and happiness instead of consumerism and neoliberalism.

This review paper describes some historical facts, the state of the art of process design and sustainable development. In the Introduction the most important global megatrends are presented and the European Union response to them, the European Green Deal. Process design and sustainable development are dealt with separately and holistically. Organization of professionals from the area, their conferences and publication are supporting the two topics. A short analysis of the published documents in two most popular databases shows that environmental dimension is prevailing, followed by economic one while social pillar of sustainable development is undervalued. The most important design tools for sustainability are described. An important practical case, the European chemical and process industries are analyzed and their achievements in sustainable development are shown; in particular their strategies are presented in more detail. The conclusions are embracing the most urgent future development areas of process industries, carbon capture with utilization or storage, the process analysis, simulation, synthesis and optimization tools; zero waste, circular economy and resource efficiency are already playing an important role. But deeper changes are needed in the future decades including de-growth with changes of habits, lifestyles, and business models. Lifelong education for sustainable development will play a very important role in the growth of democracy and happiness instead of the consumerism and neoliberalism.

This paper elaborates and presents key issues established for a course on Education for Sustainable Development (ESD). ESD is supported by the United Nations (UN) organization and its agency, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Quality education is also one of the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The evolution of sustainable development and ESD is overviewed first in order to define the most important content of ESD in future teaching. Because of the fast development of humankind in all the SD pillars (economic, social and environmental), the climate crises as well as the new technologies and knowledge emerging, education leaders and teachers are lacking modern and effective content for ESD. Therefore, twelve key issues of ESD are identified and elaborated in the present article. The issues are organized into four groups (approach, contents, teaching, and organization) with three items each. The approach is including ESD scope, policy, and cooperation, the contents part deals with the three ESD pillars &mdash, environmental, social and economic, the third group, teaching, regards ESD methodologies, transformative teaching and learning, and capacity building, the organization group presents ESD metrics, documents, and institutions. The twelve issues have been synthesized after reviewing the available literature, enhanced by the participation in several international projects on education. In addition, they were further elaborated from feedback obtained from three international conferences focused on education for sustainable development, social responsibility, and sustainable consumption and production. The key goals suggested by the audience of the international conference in Vienna were holistic education, stakeholders&rsquo, awareness, participation and cooperation, and building capacity of stakeholders, while the challenge was found to be the timely evolution of human society towards the deep transformation. This paper is an informed perspective proposing content for an Education for Sustainable Development course.

Despite the progress made toward incorporating sustainability concerns into the curricula and management of higher education institutions around the world during the Decade of Education for Sustainable Development 2005–2014, progress has been sluggish in the former socialist states of Central Europe. A question has been raised in this article about the specifics of this region where the situation in six of these countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia) was explored. To characterize sustainability changes in higher education institutions and develop a comparative overview of leading concepts, the ‘conceptual framework analysis’ qualitative method was used. A review and critical reflection of the current situation in the countries in question provided insight into commonalities or differences at national level and overall trends in the region; this information was structured, categorized, interpreted and embedded in a theoretically underpinned framework. On this basis, ‘critical transition factors’ were identified which helped to understand sustainable development policies at the higher education level, the driving forces behind institutional changes, and ongoing processes and their outcomes in the observed countries. These factors show a temporal hierarchy representing various stages of transition from environmental awareness to an understanding of the ambiguous term ‘education for sustainable development’, and more pragmatic approach where education is closely linked to green campus initiatives. The explored countries have mostly reached the lower transition stages. Constructivist, transdisciplinary approaches that underpin a focus on competences as a practical pre-requisite of democratic, sustainability oriented teaching, is greatly lacking in the region. The transition factors can be treated as concepts in the authors' explanatory framework which is adjusted to each national context; its relevance for ESD transition processes can be generalized beyond the countries described in this article.

The Erasmus+ project Education for Zero Waste and Circular Economy started in 2018 to fill a gap in Vocational Education and Training, create a new training course and develop interdisciplinary skills needed for new jobs. The consortium of ten partners from nine European countries intends to produce an interactive platform, comprising a Knowledge Hub, an Online Course and a Diagnosis Tool. One of the first activities of the consortium was to analyse the stateof-the-art in zero waste and circular economy in partner countries. The employment situation was considered, along with experience, qualifications and skills needed for trainees. An overview of the existing training was carried out, including educational methods, types of training organizations, duration of activities, and teachers’ and trainers’ qualifications. Basic information on the existing curricula and certification processes was reviewed. A special section was devoted to good practices. Links and references have been collected for each partner state. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

This review paper examines the past, present, and future of sustainable consumption and production (SCP). The history of the Sustainable Development Goal No. 12 (i.e., to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns) is presented and analyzed. A definition of the sustainable consumption is given and the role of education is explained. The present status and existing trends of SCP are introduced by analyzing unsustainable behavior and the existing dilemma, namely sustainable growth or degrowth. A very broad range of methods is used for measuring and evaluating SCP within sustainable development. To forecast the future of SCP, important trends are presented. The future development of SCP will follow several megatrends and it will require reduced personal and collective consumption (degrowth). Energy usage in buildings, renewable energy sources, and energy storage will be important in that respect. Transportation emissions will continue to be lowered. Waste, especially food waste, shall be reduced, and consumer products shall become more durable. All waste must be collected and separated to be reused. SPC is elaborated in view of the two approaches—Industry 4.0 (smart factory), and the “Sixth Wave” evolution. Net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, resource efficiency, and zero waste will be at the forefront of future activities. A circular economy requires extension of product lifetimes, and the reuse and recycling of products. Reducing emissions, pollution and specific energy, water, and raw material usage (especially critical raw materials), as well as the role of digitalization, will be important.

Throughout industrial practice, the problem is that of identifying a suitable holistic approach connecting Cleaner Production, Total Site Integration, and Energy Efficiency Optimization. The combination of all the before mentioned concepts is believed to be crucial for comprehensive assessment of the energy and environmental issues within a company. Various case studies are included within this paper regarding the implementations of cleaner production principles, energy audit performance, pinch analysis and various optimisation techniques' calculations. Several energy audits of industrial processes within the dairy, ceramic, metal processing and meat processing industries, services such as laundries and of public buildings were carried out in order to find possibilities for increasing the overall energy efficiencies of industrial processes, buildings and energy systems. On the bases of the results and the knowledge obtained from the projects mentioned in the paper, a Total Site – Cleaner Production – Energy Efficiency – Optimisation approach is proposed which enables gradual research, development and integration of Cleaner production, Energy Auditing and Optimisation combined within novel optimisation methods and its concepts. The main objective of the research was the use of analysis regarding industrial practices when developing a holistic Total Site – Cleaner Production – Energy Efficiency – Optimisation approach for supporting industrial needs during the optimisation of energy demand. This novel approach consists of three phases that include within each one the traditional Total Site Integration, Cleaner Production and Energy Efficiency – Optimization methods with a proposed novel structure for addressing the energy and environmental categories within industry. This novel approach could generate greater efficiency due to combining the different methods and consequently having a higher more positive impact on the environment. The scientific added value is demonstrated through the combination of Total Site, Cleaner Production and Energy Efficiency Optimization approaches as a comprehensive unit and by the proposal of this novel procedure for the implementation of Total Site – Cleaner Production – Energy Efficiency – Optimisation approach.

Since the publication of the Brundtland Report, production processes and consumption patterns towards sustainability have improved. This Special Volume Section of the Journal of Cleaner Production focuses on sustainable consumption and production (SCP), and identifies further challenges and provides solutions related to resource efficiency (ReE), sustainable water systems, sustainable management, cleaner production (CP), and sustainable urban development. In order to better understand the state of the SCP issues globally, existing policy directions have been explored within this paper, as well as six newly emerged sustainability terms, which have been integrated into the existing terminology classification to better describe and understand sustainable development concepts. In this Special Volume Section, the authors have demonstrated many valuable theoretical and practical contributions to the aspects of SCP, including a number of practical examples of achieving sustainability in companies, such as using bottom-up and a top-down approaches or by implementing theoretical models. There are also examples of achieving eco-efficiency in water systems (including urban), further requiring economic incentives and governmental support, and practical experiences, providing in-situ data and evidence of impacts of measures on processes and systems regarding resource efficiency, cleaner production, and also considering life cycle assessment (LCA). A model on how to achieve a sustainable urban development, based on small communities and neighbourhoods is also provided. The examples of SCP research and development in the fields of ReE presented in this section of the SV indicate that existing production and service processes in companies and social (urban) environment could be more sustainable, using a holistic approach to the SCP and achieving global policy recommendations.

The paper discusses definitions and history of Process Systems Engineering (PSE) as a discipline, starting from General Systems Theory and Systems Engineering. The past, present and future of PSE are presented. Eleven International symposia on PSE are analysed together with the content and importance of the first one organized in Kyoto thirty years ago. Other PSE conferences: European Symposia on Computer Aided Process Engineering (ESCAPE), International Conferences on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimization for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction (PRES), Foundations of Computer Aided Process Design (FOCAPD), Foundations of Computer Aided Process Operations (FOCAPO), Chemical Process Control (CPC), and Process Systems Engineering Asia (PSE Asia) were analysed. The topical overview of the most important PSE conferences and plenary lectures presented there, enabled identification of the PSE research agenda in the present. On the basis of the recent PSE conferences in Europe, United States of America and Asia, future trends in PSE have been forecast.

The 17th European Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ERSCP 2014) is being built upon successful previous ERSCP conferences, such as the ones in Istanbul (Turkey), Bregenz (Austria), and Delft (Netherlands). The objective of the 17th ERSCP is to provide a platform to stimulate, develop, and disseminate information about new initiatives aimed at fostering the implementation of sustainable consumption and productionwithin local and regional sustainable development initiatives. The Roundtable will have a special focus upon the urgency for developing serious efforts to speed up the transition to post fossil carbon societies in light of numerous climate change challenges.

This paper introduces a model, which is enabling a comparison between universities regarding research, educational and environmental performances; the mission of university fits the sustainability idea. The purpose of the paper is to improve the methodology and indicators of the existing ranking tables. The three dimensional index, which provides simplified information about the quality of universities, has been developed. It enables quick detection of the weaknesses, strengths and opportunities for universities. Weights of indicators were determined using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP). Results of the AHP have shown that the most important are research oriented indicators, followed by social and environmental ones. The proposed model has been tested on a sample of 35 top universities from the ARWU (Academic Ranking of World Universities) and Times ranking tables and a new ranking table – the Three dimensional University Ranking (TUR) has been developed. In addition, correlations between indicators and ranking tables have been carried out. There is only a medium correlation between the ARWU and TUR. Regarding the indicators, a high correlation with Hirsch indices and Highly Cited Researchers exists, while there is an insignificant correlation between the low student to staff ratio and the graduation rate. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

This paper presents practical applications of mathematical programming for energy integration in a large beverage plant. The opportunities of heat integration between batch operations were analysed by a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) model, which was slightly modified by considering specific industrial circumstances. The feasibility of combined electricity, heating and cooling production was studied using a simplified MILP model, developed for the selection of an optimal polygeneration system. The superstructure includes cogeneration systems with different prime movers (steam turbine and gas turbine), and a trigeneration system with a back-pressure steam turbine. The proposed heat integration scheme and the selected cogeneration system may improve a company’s economic performance and reduce its environmental impact.

Changes in the EU sugar regime have intensified investigations into alternative usages for sugar beet. The production of bioethanol from sugar beet seems to be one of the more attractive options due to dwindling fossil fuel sources. The purpose of this study was to examine the contribution that mathematical modeling with mixed integer non-linear programming can offer to any decision-making about different co-production strategies for sugar and bioethanol, according to changing market situations. An optimization-based conceptual process design that relies on superstructure optimization was used to simultaneously search for an economically and environmentally optimal strategy for co-producing sugar and bioethanol. Two scenarios were considered, the first assuming that a facility for sugar production already exists and serves as a possible candidate pertaining to bioethanol production, whilst the second assumed a non-existing capacity for sugar and bioethanol production. Superstructure optimization for the first scenario revealed that, under current market conditions, the best solution is to keep focusing on sugar production by using a two-stage crystallization scheme and divert raw sugar run-off syrup into ethanol production. The results for the second scenario optimization showed that diverting thick sugar juice directly to bioethanol production gained the best economic results. Sensitivity analysis was applied to both scenarios, in order to identify the effect of changing selected economic parameters to an optimal strategy.

This paper presents the current position and role of the University of Maribor (UM) in linking stakeholders, in order to achieve sustainable regional development. A strategic approach is proposed for facilitating collaboration of the UM with regional development agencies, the local community and industry, based on collaborative learning and development. Furthermore, elements contributing to a successful learning partnership are identified together with the barriers. The results show that regional stakeholders (university, municipality, NGOs, and companies) are commonly engaged in a sustainable regional development, but their activities are not sufficiently linked. The strategic approach, and collaborative learning have led to many on-going SD projects within the University of Maribor. Room for improvement exists, regarding external university collaboration, especially in the fields of research, knowledge transfer, technological development, dissemination of information, education, and innovations.

Problem statement: The idea of the application of biological material as mineral feed additives could constitute an innovative practice that would encourage environmental sustainability. The main idea of this study was to present the advantages of macroalgae enriched with microelements when compared to inorganic salts. Approach: In order to evaluate the potential participation of macroalgae in sustainable animal feeding, it was necessary to consider several concepts, such as: Waste Minimization (WM), Cleaner Production (CP) and Pollution Prevention (PP), which were closely related to sustainable production. Special attention was also paid to the prevention of waste generation during production process of mineral feed additives from macroalgae. Results: This kind of feed additives could contribute to the minimization of nutrient excretion by animals, by optimizing nutrient availability and proportion in the animal diet. Conclusion: The application of macroalgae in animal feeding could be considered as preventive environmental strategy, which would reduce the risks of the excess of microelements in the environment and in the animal diet.

Opportunities for additional profit in retrofits depend very much on the existing plant structure, its parameters and energy system. Combined production of heat flow rate, power and chemical products can improve process efficiency. This paper presents an application of the nonlinear programming (NLP) optimization techniques, including increased chemical product output, heat integration and electricity cogeneration by changing amount flow ratios of raw material, and modifying the separation and reaction systems. The existing NLP model has been extended with basic chemical kinetics, including the effects of changing raw material flow rate ratios on product yield. A case studied methanol plant was optimized using the NLP model developed earlier by including an additional flow rate of hydrogen (H 2 ), decreasing flow rate of high-pressure steam in crude methanol recycling, and increasing methanol production by 2.5%. The potential additional profit from the cogeneration and additional methanol production was estimated to be 2.51 MEUR/a.

Over recent years, universities have been incorporating sustainable development (SD) into their systems, including their curricula. This article analyses the incorporation of SD into the curricula of chemical and environmental engineering or technology bachelor degrees at universities in the European Union (EU) and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) states. Available textbooks of some courses were analysed regarding their content and pedagogical-didactical perspectives based on a revised Bloom's taxonomy of cognitive domains. The research showed that both the universities and textbooks reviewed have room for improvement regarding SD incorporation into their curricula.

In 2014 the European Commission published a list of 20 critical raw-materials (CRMs). Therefore, it is important to apply circular economy together with the zero-waste strategy. Waste coming from Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) contains significant amounts of Critical Raw Material (CRMs). It is one of the most important waste categories that needs to be treated properly due to its important content in valuable materials including CRMs, and high content of hazardous materials. Therefore, WEEE equipment dismantling, requires correct procedures and specialized personnel, ensuring safe and efficient processing of waste. Project RECDEV – Innovative 3D Training Platform for recycling of WEEE ( www.recdev.eu ) is developing an innovative 3D training platform, Information Computer Technology (ICT)-based, self-and distance learning, familiarizing learners/users with the disassembly of Electrical and Electronic Devices and the identification of types and qualities of materials embodied. The platform is developed based on a methodology that uses a 3D software application and integrates 50 selected Electric and Electronic Devices. Each scenario has been depicted in such a way that extensive information about the materials contained is displayed. Based on the “learning by doing” methodology, trainees will be able to interact with 3D WEEE by “digitally” disassembling devices and have access to information for each part such as included materials: toxicity, recycling, potential reuse and up-scaling. 12 months will be devoted to pilot testing in Recycling Centers in 5 countries. The participation of real users/technicians as well as management personnel to the pilot implementation phase, will ensure real, practical results and conclusions, that are going to be used in order to cover actual users’ needs in practice.

The Total Site – Cleaner Production – Energy Efficiency – Optimisation (TS-CP-EEO) approach proposed by Petek et al. enables gradual research, development and integration of Cleaner Production (CP), Energy Auditing and Optimisation methodologies, and concepts such as Pinch Analysis and Mixed Integer (Non) Linear Programming (MINLP). This approach is suitable for optimisation of the environmental impacts and energy costs within the companies, especially in process industries. On the other hand, this approach does not cover in total all the three dimensions of sustainability: economic (specific cash flow, relative R&D expenditure, specific exploration cost, environmental and safety penalties cost), environmental (oil products used, greenhouse gas emissions, specific hazardous waste, and specific spills), and societal (employees, relative societal and community investments, relative fatalities and injuries for employees and contractors). The sustainability of the industrial plants can be further improved by including resource efficiency (of energy, material and human resources), industrial ecology or industrial symbiosis (in case that there are more industrial plants included in the site), energy symbiosis (in case that there is public sector available as a sink of the waste heat from industrial plants), circular economy and zero waste approaches. Production plants are voluntarily approached to adopt and maintain total Quality Management Systems (ISO 9000), Environmental Management Systems (ISO14000, EMAS), Energy Management Systems (ISO 50001), Corporate Social Responsibility Systems (ISO 26000), and a model for designing a Composite Sustainable Development Index (Krajnc and Glavic, 2005) depicting company performance along all the sustainability dimensions. Therefore, they have all been integrated into a unique management system which is included into the novel Total Site Resource Efficiency System. The public relation is maintained within the Sustainability Reporting in order to show to the customers and public the right approach and gradual improvements of all the three pillars of sustainability and prove that the sustainability enables companies to decrease costs and make additional, “sustainable” profit. As the case study the industrial laundry within coalmine is presented where into the analyses of the plant are included all three dimensions: economic, social and environmental ones.

This paper deals with the problem of performance benchmarking of traditional beet sugar plants, by considering Best Available Techniques (BAT) for beet sugar production, as determined by the Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) Directive. A Fuzzy Logic Model, based on fuzzy set theory, was constructed for this purpose, in order to compare the performances of sugar plants within the sector's best standards, as expressed in the Reference Document on BAT. The effectiveness of the model was tested in the case study, in which three sugar plants were benchmarked against the BAT regarding the consumption of energy, water, raw materials and the production of wastes, wastewater, by-products and the main product. The model was recognized as helpful for the benchmarking needs of sugar plants. In addition, by integrating BAT Reference Document analysis into the model, it provides IPPC permitting authorities with an objective method and uniform BAT benchmarks to manage permitting process.

Terminology in the field of sustainable development is becoming increasingly important because the number of terms continues to increase along with the rapid increase in awareness of the importance of sustainability. Various definitions of terms are used by different authors and organizations, for example, green chemistry, cleaner production, pollution prevention, etc. The importance of this topic has stimulated research into the problems of clarifying ambiguity and classifying terms used in the sustainability field. This paper provides results of the literature survey and summarizes the definitions of the terms, focusing on the environmental engineering field. In some cases, it proposes an improved definition. A hierarchical classification of the terms and their relationships has been based on a layer format that is presented graphically.

The concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has to be stabilized, requiring a reduction in current emission rates in existing plants. This will be done by reducing the environmental burden imposed in such areas as materials input and CO2 emission reduction and using cleaner production, resources, and energy recycling. Any opportunities for emission reduction and CO2 reuse largely depend on existing plant and energy systems. CO2 can be separated from the outlet stream (purge gas) and from flue gas by a membrane or absorption system (absorber and regenerator) or adsorption system and reused as a reactant in a reactor system. Therefore, product yield can be increased and CO2 emissions reduced, simultaneously. CO2 emissions can be reduced at the source. The authors of this paper studied CO2 reuse in a methanol process, in which electricity can be generated using an open gas turbine, followed by a separator. Simultaneous optimization of a process structure and its parameters using simplified nonlinear programmi...

This paper investigates the possibilities of attaining zero-waste emissions in the case of sugar production. The case-studied sugar plant located in Slovenia reflected a typical plant, using traditional sugar production from beet. An investigation of the possible use of waste and by-products from sugar processing was carried out, in order to approach zero-waste from beet sugar processing. The sugar production process was simulated and optimization was carried out concerning energy utilization. Consumption of energy in the chosen sugar plant was lowered by simultaneous optimization of the evaporation and crystallization process. Changing the fuel type used in the case-studied sugar plant (replacement of heavy fuel oil with natural gas) produced a significant decrease in air emission. Opportunities in the sugar industry have been discovered for adapting to new market conditions through the optimization of combined sugar–ethanol production. The two proposed options have been economically and environmentally evaluated and compared.

Fuel-cell efficiencies yield substantial reductions in the emissions of climate-change gases and promise an end to exclusive reliance on carbon fuels for energy. Fuel cells, CO2 reuse, process heat integration, and open gas turbine electricity cogeneration can be optimized simultaneously, using a nonlinear programming (NLP) algorithm. The simplified NLP model contains equations of structural and parametric optimization. This NLP model is used to optimize complex and energy-intensive continuous processes. This procedure does not guarantee a global cost optimum, but it does lead to good, perhaps near-optimum, designs. The plant, which produces methanol, has a surplus of hydrogen (H2) and CO2 flow rates in purge gas. H2 is separated from the purge gas by an existing pressure swing adsorption (PSA) column. Pure H2 can be used as fuel in fuel cells. CO2 can be separated from the outlet stream (purge gas) by a membrane or absorption system (absorber and regenerator) or an adsorption system and reused as a react...

This paper presents a methodology for determining the microbial growth kinetics of an ideal anaerobic process in a non-ideal laboratory anaerobic digester (Armfield). Some laboratory experiments were performed, to confirm the proposed methodology. Having the same zero biomass concentration, some process parameters were changed and their influence on substrate outlet concentration was monitored. The specific growth rate of the biomass, the saturation constant of the substrate, and the yield coefficient were calculated, on the basis of the measured values. These parameters enabled us to perform a dynamic simulation of an anaerobic process in ideal continuously-stirred tank reactors (CSTR). The results represented the mass concentration profiles for substrate and biomass, from which the time required for reaching the steady state (60 d), where the operation is optimal, could be determined. The laboratory anaerobic digester provided operational process data, which are applicable for wastewater treatment plant design purposes.

Nowadays, the principles of sustainable development are becoming increasingly important and universities are acting as agents in promoting these principles within society. In the future, universities will inevitably play crucial role in propagating these principles. This paper highlights important documents and discusses definitions of the term education for sustainable development. Elements, based on continuous feedback loop (Deming spiral) are discussed, in order to incorporate sustainability principles into university activities. The University of Maribor has been used as a case study to test the effectiveness of the proposed integration of sustainable development principles.

Hydrogen is a very important industrial gas in chemical processes. It is very volatile; therefore, it can escape from the process units and its mass balance is not always correct. In many industrial processes where hydrogen is reacted, kinetics are often related to hydrogen pressure. The right thermodynamic properties of hydrogen can be found for a process simulation and optimization; they can be estimated by the Grayson-Streed model. In the case studied, a methanol plant with a capacity of 150,000 tons/year, the flow rate of hydrogen (H2) can be optimized using nonlinear programming, but good estimates of thermodynamic properties of hydrogen had to be found. In the case study, the model is in relatively good agreement with experimental measurements in the existing methanol production plant. An additional flow rate of hydrogen can increase the methanol production by 1.2%. Total potential profit increase of the additional methanol production was estimated to be 30 kEUR/a (or 103 euros/year).

The essence of effective process designing is to use methods which are efficient to engineers in practice and not only to scientists. The proposed design procedure is composed of two steps: conceptual one and optimization one. At the conceptual step, pinch design analysis is used. In the optimization step pinch analysis and mixed-integer nonlinear programming method are applied. In the case study analysed, a speciality product is to be produced in continuous chemical process with a capacity which causes smaller heat flow rates and needs smaller heat exchanger areas than usual. Therefore, an equation for cost estimation of heat exchangers with areas smaller than 7 m 2 was developed and used in the optimization procedure. Using thermodynamic pinch analysis and mathematical programming method, the heat integrated structures were synthesized and compared with the base process flowsheet. Finally, the optimal structure was determined.

Site expansions or changes in production capacities are usually related with changes of utilities demands and/or utility system design. Despite several available and well established techniques for process synthesis and integration, very often, changes in process designs are made on the basis of intuition and experiences of engineers. In this paper possibilities of rational energy consumption and energy integration in an existing site for production of specialty chemicals were studied. On the basis of real process parameters and computer simulation results energy integration was re-examined. Total site analysis using modified Site Sink Source Profiles, which gives a profound insight into the site utility system configuration, heating-cooling demands and cogeneration design was performed. The existing site was found to be very well designed. With only few modifications additional 9% of hot utilities and 5% of cold utilities savings are possible.

University sustainability education programmes in several European countries and the US have been compared to find common characteristics of the curricula in environmental science and engineering programmes. In particular, chemical engineering and applied chemistry departments have been focused here. Small, innovative European countries (Austria, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden, and Switzerland) have been in forefront. In bigger countries (France, Great Britain, Spain, and the US) programmes from some of the top 100 universities in Europe and the Americas have been considered, three from each country and seven from the US. The frequency of the courses in various groups and typical course titles are shown within each group. Evolution from pollution prevention courses to sustainability subjects is observed. The most employed textbooks are also provided.

Dozens of frameworks of sustainability assessment that focus on the performance of companies have been suggested by now. They propose using numerous sustainability indicators, which are generally measured in very different units. While it is important to assess sustainability with several indicators, it may sometimes be difficult to make comparisons among companies based on a large number of performance measurements. This paper presents a model for designing a composite sustainable development index that depicts performance of companies along all the three dimensions of sustainability—economic, environmental, and societal. In the first part of the paper, the procedure of calculating the index that would enable comparisons of companies in specific sector regarding sustainability performance is presented. However, the emphasis of the paper is on the second part, where the effectiveness of the proposed model is illustrated with a case study in which two companies from specific sector are compared regarding their sustainability performance.

The previous method of integration [Kovac Kralj, A., Glavic, P., & Krajnc, M. (2002). Waste heat integration between processes. Applied Thermal Engineering, 22, 1259–1269] was extended to heat integration between processes using three possible steps: 1. internal integration of individual processes; 2. analysis of possible heat transfer between internally nonintegrated and integrated processes; 3. simultaneous external heat integration between the internally nonintegrated and the best internally integrated processes using the mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP). The method is based on energy saving. Simultaneous integration between processes can be performed using MINLP algorithm (step 3), in which alternatives suggested by pinch analysis of the heat transfer between several internally nonintegrated and integrated processes can be included (step 2). The fraction of the maximum integration between processes can be calculated. The integration between the processes can be carried out using all the three steps, or by the first and the third step or by the last step only, depending on the complexity of the problems. The method is very general, it can be used in new designs and in existing processes integration. The approach has been illustrated by integrating four existing complex processes using pinch analysis and MINLP. The objective was to maximize the annual profit of integration between processes and retrofits. The simultaneous MINLP integration of the four processes has selected only two retrofitted ones yielding total additional profit of 1.94 MUSD/a.

In this article, an extended and combined systematic approach for water minimization in process industries is presented. Environmental, organizational and economic aspects of water minimization were taken into consideration. Systematic approach was developed and tested with the water minimization project in a sugar plant. A detailed survey of water and wastewater streams was carried out and several options for water minimization were proposed using the heuristic approach and considering the selection criteria like costs, technical ability, reliability, complexity, impact on process/product quality, secondary waste generation etc. The implementation of water minimization options could lower the fresh water consumption by 54.23 m3/h, reducing the total volume of water used by 69 % with the payback period of 5 days. At the end, some general directions and suggestions for water minimization in process industries are introduced.

The paper presents a systematic approach to the problem of sustainable process synthesis of large-scale chemical processes with respect to the resource usage and other environmental considerations. The process design is composed of three main steps, i.e. simulation step, conceptual design step (extended Pinch design method, determination of promising modifications, their assessment regarding sustainability, selection of the most promising modification) and rigorous design step (structural and parameter optimization). The ecological considerations are combined with the economic assessment of process design using indicators of process sustainability. Environmental impact of process design is quantified by a set of sustainable process indicators (specific energy and water consumption, global warming potential, acidification potential, etc.). With suitable weightings, a composite index of process sustainability is defined and served as an objective function for the assessment of process modifications. A simplified ammonia production is presented to demonstrate the potential of the approach assisting in arriving at environmentally friendly and economically favorable process design.

The main cause of environmental damage is unsustainable production and con­sumption, especially in industrialized countries. Achieving sustainable develop­ment will require changes in industrial processes, in the type and quantity of re­sources used, in the treatment of waste, in the control of emissions, and in the products produced. One of the difficulties in measuring the company’s level of sustainability is to determine which directions of change are leading towards sus­tainability. Hence, it is necessary to apply appropriate metrics that will enable these assessments. This paper presents indicators for assessing and promoting business sustainability — indicators of sustainable production. It first introduces the main concepts of such production and a set of necessary conditions that firms must fulfill in order to be sustainable. It identifies major functions of indicators and it proceeds to presenting the role of indicators.

Cogeneration consists of combined production of electricity and heat using fuel which allows remarkable energy savings in comparison with a system producing electricity and heat separately. The possibilities for integrating a cogeneration system with chemical processes has been studied in this paper. Improvement in the systems where high temperature process streams exist can be achieved by direct integration of steam turbine with them. A hot reactor stream was used instead of fuel to produce electricity and steam for further process heat requirements. A thermodynamics oriented approach to identify a cogeneration plant that completely satisfies process heat and power demand is highlighted. Pinch analysis with extended grand composite curve enables rational choice of utilities. The acrylic acid process was used to illustrate the procedure proposed. Economic attractiveness based on payback time and net present worth indicated that the steam turbine based cogeneration system would yield a return period of less than 3 months, showing that the investment in cogeneration could be of interest for this plant.

In the present paper, product yield in the Van de Vusse reaction scheme with multicomponent feed has been studied. The optimal reactor structures have been found by investigating optimality conditions. The optimum product yield and criteria for selecting an appropriate reaction system have been obtained as functions of kinetic parameters. On the basis of optimization results the parameter space has been classified into regions indicating optimum reactor structure.

Thermodynamic approach to heat integration of processes involving separation of multicomponent mixtures is described. An integrability criterion based on geometrical presentation of distillation columns in temperature–enthalpy flow rate diagram was tested by rigorous simulation of distillation columns. The integrability criterion for distillation columns sequence was defined as the minimum sum of products of intracolumn temperatures and their heat flow rates (Min-criterion). Distillation columns sequences were studied according to their profitability in heat integration. Energy-pinch analysis was used for the synthesis of the best heat integrated distillation system. The representation using extended grand composite curve was demonstrated to be a very convenient one for understanding and evaluating the heat integration. The selection of possible distillation columns sequences using rising values of the integrability criterion gave a very good approximation towards the best sequence of heat integrated distillation columns when compared to their total annual cost. Their estimation using rigorous models of distillation columns was shown to be better than using short cut models. The method allows alternative distillation sequences to be evaluated using rigorous calculations, prior to column design. The method is demonstrated with three five- and six-components example problems.

This paper presents an application of a combined conceptual–rigorous approach by improving the energy performance of a large-scale chemical process. Conceptual design comprises the analysis of energy availability of the existing heat exchanger network (HEN) and its utility system by means of pinch analysis. A detailed synthesis of a modified HEN system is performed in the rigorous step by applying a mixed integer nonlinear programming (MINLP) optimization technique. A case study was treated by means of this methodology. Based on the results of the conceptual step some structural modifications of the process flowsheet have been suggested, from which the most important is to burn the exhausting purge gas and recover the energy of the flue gas back to the process through the HEN system. The final design has been obtained by simultaneous optimization of the HEN structure and parameters by mathematical programming. Improvement of the economic objective function of about 47% compared with the base flowsheet was achieved.

Energy integration between several processes has been applied giving more economical and profitable operation. The method for waste heat integration of several processes was analysed to reduce energy usage in three possible steps: 1. retrofit of the individual processes, 2. analysis of efficient transfer of waste heat between: ◦ existing non-retrofitted processes ◦ existing non-retrofitted and efficiently retrofitted processes ◦ efficient retrofits and 3. simultaneous integration between some non-retrofitted and some retrofitted existing processes using mixed integer non-linear programming (MINLP). The integration between the processes can be carried out by all the steps, or by the first and the third steps or only by the last step depending on the complexity of the problems. All the steps can be carried out simultaneously and the MINLP algorithm applied with or without the first and the second step. The approach has been illustrated by four complex processes using pinch analysis and MINLP. The optimal solution of pinch analysis and MINLP yields the same additional savings of 526 000 USD/a and selects the same structure and parameters as the MINLP one.

Pinch analysis is nowadays a practical tool for designing heat exchanger networks in chemical and process industries. Rules for integrating process units have also been worked out in the last decade or two. Process units can be described as different types of energy unit operations, donors and acceptors. Yet, heat integration alone is not sufficient for process integration. The largest savings are achieved when simultaneously optimizing enthalpy and mass flows — energy and material recycling is required to save the natural resources and protect the nature. Mathematical programming is increasingly used to optimize the problems both in continuous and batch operations. Task integration is spreading out: multifunctional units lower the capital investment, thus, the total annual cost Recent development of the complex integration with examples and reasonable forecast of the future development is presented in the paper. L'analyse du pincement est aujourd'hui un outil pratique pour concevoir des reseaux d'echangeurs de chaleur dans l'industrie chimique et de procedes. Des regies pour integrer les unites de procedes ont egalement ete denies ces dix ou vingt dernieres annees. Les unites de procedes peuvent ětre decrites comme etant differents types d'operations d'unites d'energie, donneurs et receveurs. Pourtant, l'integration de la chaleur seule n'est pas suffisante pour l'integration des procedes. Les plus grandes economies sont realisees lorsqu'il y a optimisation simultanee de l'enthalpie et des debits massiques, le recyclage de l'energie et des materiaux etant necessaire pour sauvegarder les ressources naturelles et proteger la nature. La programmation mathematique est de plus en plus utilisee pour l'optimisation des problemes en fonctionnement continu ou discontinu. L'integration des tǎches se repand; les unites multifonctionnelles abaissent l'investissement en capital et donc le coǔt total annuel. Les derniers developpements en integration complexe sont presentes dans cet article avec des exemples et des previsions raisonnables de developpement futur.

Analysis of technological wastewater streams in a refinery and petrochemical complex was carried out. Wastewater flowrates, temperatures, pH and pollutant contents were measured. Regarding the characteristics of the individual waters, possible connections between water outflows from the processes or process units and potential water consumers were determined. Possibilities to reduce the flowrate of technological wastewater with wastewater reuse or preliminary regeneration and reuse were found. The consumption of fresh water could be lowered by 11.2 m 3 /h, reducing the treatment system load and prolonging its residence time by 7%. The payback period for the changes proposed in the petrochemical plants is 6 months with annual savings of US$27 630. The payback period for the changes proposed in the refinery is 11 days with annual savings of US$15 500.

In this paper an improved method for studying processes for separation of multicomponent mixtures is presented. A thermodynamically oriented procedure was developed for the analysis and synthesis of the best heat-integrated distillation system. Systematic ranking of possible schemes was used in order to verify the best structure of a heat-integrated distillation system. An integrability criterion was introduced for the selection of the most promising heat-integrated sequences. Distillation columns were studied according to their ability for heat integration. The proposed selection of possible distillation columns sequences using rising integrability criteria gave a good approximation of the best heat-integrated distillation column sequences according to their total annual cost. Computational simulation of the process and pinch analysis were used for thermodynamic optimization of energy consumption. The method is illustrated with five- and six-component example problems. On presente dans cet article une methode amelioree destinee a etudier les procedes de separation de melanges de composants multiples. Une methode thermodynamique a ete elaboree en vue de l'analyse et de la synthese du meilleur systeme de distillation thermointegree. On a procede a un classement systematique afin de verifier la meilleure structure d'un tel systeme. Un critere d'integrabilite a ete introduit pour la selection des sequences d'integration thermique les plus prometteuses. Des colonnes de distillation ont ete etudiees en fonction de leur capacite d'integration thermique. Le choix propose pour les sequences de colonnes de distillation possibles utilisant des criteres d'integrabilite ascendants donne une bonne approximation des meilleures colonnes de distillation thermointegree si l'on considere leur cout total annuel. On a eu recours a la simulation par ordinateur et a l'analyse du pincement pour l'optimisation thermodynamique de la consommation d'energie. La methode est illustree a l'aide de problemes a cinq et six composants.

A simultaneous structural and parameter optimization model of a total process was used to approach the global optimum solution of the retrofit. Simultaneous nonlinear programming (NLP) optimization can be applied to a complex industrial process giving more economical and profitable operation. The NLP model with variable flow rates of all the streams in different structures has been chosen. The problem has been how to handle the additional effect of nonconvexities, which prevent the problem being converged. The NLP algorithm, which was included as the additional technique using a possibility of minimum variable-error with a lower upper bound in mass and energy balances, was easier to solve. The NLP model of an existing methanol plant has been extended with the process separation section. The additional profit for all the process was 5.262 MUSD/a, while for the process without purification it was 5.173 MUSD/a.

The sustainability of cleaner production programs requires long-term co-operation between governments, both local and at State level, the university and industry. The presented approach to sustaining cleaner production activities in a region consists of three phases: the initiation, the basic capacity level and the sustainability phase. The initiation phase demands initial funds from donors, experts from universities and case studies in industry. The basic capacity level for further popularization and dissemination of cleaner production principles is achieved by establishing and operating a cleaner production center and/or spin-off company. The former operates primarily in a promotional and research environment, while the latter is typical of the business and development environment. Besides establishing long-term co-operation with stakeholders, a local cleaner production program should be started in the sustainability phase and only on the basis of its results can regional programs be set up to ensure the sustaining of cleaner production activities in the region. The first cleaner production project in Slovenia was initiated by the Graz University of Technology and the University of Maribor. The project was supported by the Austrian and Slovene Governments. Later on proposals were made to found a national cleaner production center. UNIDO was willing to support it but the Slovene side did not show interest in time and the project was thus not realized. When the Slovene Government eventually was willing to support it, UNIDO would not be ready to provide the financial means any more. Consequently, the local government and the Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering joined forces and a new cleaner production project in the textile industry was launched. The project was then expanded to include a consulting company, which resulted in the emerging of a spin-off company now located in the Styrian Technological Park. This spin-off company has already initiated and carried out numerous projects in the fields of cleaner production and rational energy consumption. Alongside the university, consulting companies and industry, it also works in collaboration with international companies.