Systematic methods and tools for design of sustainable chemical processes for CO₂ utilization

A systematic computer-aided framework for sustainable process design is presented together with its application to the synthesis and generation of processing networks for dimethyl carbonate (DMC) production with CO₂ utilization. The framework integrated with various methods, tools, algorithms and databases is based on a combined process synthesis-design-intensification method. The method consists of three stages. The synthesis-stage involves superstructure based optimization to identify promising networks that convert a given set of raw materials to a desired set of products. The design-stage involves selection and analysis of the identified networks as a base case design in terms of operational feasibility, economics, life cycle assessment factors and sustainability measures, which are employed to establish targets for improvement in the next-stage. The innovation-stage involves generation and screening of the more sustainable alternatives through a phenomena-based process intensification method. Applications of the framework are highlighted for the DMC production process.