Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMC

This paper suggested multicriteria based evaluation tool to assess the sustainability of three different reaction routes to dimethyl carbonate: direct synthesis from carbon dioxide and methanol, transesterification of methanol and propylene carbonate, and oxidative carbonylation of methanol. The fir...

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Main Authors: Paula Saavalainen, Satish Kabra, Esa Turpeinen, Kati Oravisjärvi, Ganapati D. Yadav, Riitta L. Keiski, Eva Pongrácz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2015-01-01
Series:Journal of Chemistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/402315
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author Paula Saavalainen
Satish Kabra
Esa Turpeinen
Kati Oravisjärvi
Ganapati D. Yadav
Riitta L. Keiski
Eva Pongrácz
author_facet Paula Saavalainen
Satish Kabra
Esa Turpeinen
Kati Oravisjärvi
Ganapati D. Yadav
Riitta L. Keiski
Eva Pongrácz
author_sort Paula Saavalainen
collection DOAJ
description This paper suggested multicriteria based evaluation tool to assess the sustainability of three different reaction routes to dimethyl carbonate: direct synthesis from carbon dioxide and methanol, transesterification of methanol and propylene carbonate, and oxidative carbonylation of methanol. The first two routes are CO2-based and in a research and development phase, whereas the last one is a commercial process. The set of environmental, social, and economic indicators selected were renewability of feedstock, energy intensity, waste generation, CO2 balance, yield, feedstock price, process costs, health and safety issues of feedstock, process conditions, and innovation potential. The performance in these indicators was evaluated with the normalized scores from 0 to +1; 0 for detrimental and 1 for favorable impacts. The assessment showed that the transesterification route had the best potential toward sustainability, although there is still much development needed to improve yield. Further, the assessment gave clear understanding of the main benefits of each reaction route, as well as the major challenges to sustainability, which can further aid in orienting development efforts to key issues that need improvement. Finally, it was concluded that a multicriteria analysis such as the one presented in this paper was a viable method to be used in the process design stage.
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issn 2090-9063
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spelling doaj-art-7ae3dd7b23dd4b95977052a9e947ca672025-08-20T02:07:02ZengWileyJournal of Chemistry2090-90632090-90712015-01-01201510.1155/2015/402315402315Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMCPaula Saavalainen0Satish Kabra1Esa Turpeinen2Kati Oravisjärvi3Ganapati D. Yadav4Riitta L. Keiski5Eva Pongrácz6Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014 Oulu, FinlandDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Matunga, Mumbai 400019, IndiaEnvironmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014 Oulu, FinlandEnvironmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014 Oulu, FinlandDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Matunga, Mumbai 400019, IndiaEnvironmental and Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Technology, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 4300, 90014 Oulu, FinlandThule Institute, NorTech Oulu, University of Oulu, P.O. Box 7300, 90014 Oulu, FinlandThis paper suggested multicriteria based evaluation tool to assess the sustainability of three different reaction routes to dimethyl carbonate: direct synthesis from carbon dioxide and methanol, transesterification of methanol and propylene carbonate, and oxidative carbonylation of methanol. The first two routes are CO2-based and in a research and development phase, whereas the last one is a commercial process. The set of environmental, social, and economic indicators selected were renewability of feedstock, energy intensity, waste generation, CO2 balance, yield, feedstock price, process costs, health and safety issues of feedstock, process conditions, and innovation potential. The performance in these indicators was evaluated with the normalized scores from 0 to +1; 0 for detrimental and 1 for favorable impacts. The assessment showed that the transesterification route had the best potential toward sustainability, although there is still much development needed to improve yield. Further, the assessment gave clear understanding of the main benefits of each reaction route, as well as the major challenges to sustainability, which can further aid in orienting development efforts to key issues that need improvement. Finally, it was concluded that a multicriteria analysis such as the one presented in this paper was a viable method to be used in the process design stage.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/402315
spellingShingle Paula Saavalainen
Satish Kabra
Esa Turpeinen
Kati Oravisjärvi
Ganapati D. Yadav
Riitta L. Keiski
Eva Pongrácz
Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMC
Journal of Chemistry
title Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMC
title_full Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMC
title_fullStr Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMC
title_full_unstemmed Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMC
title_short Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMC
title_sort sustainability assessment of chemical processes evaluation of three synthesis routes of dmc
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2015/402315
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