(137b) Implementation of the Greenscope Design Tool to Develop Sustainable Processes

This contribution describes and demonstrates the implementation of the GREENSCOPE design tool, for the assessment and modeling of process sustainability. GREENSCOPE (Gauging Reaction Effectiveness for the Environmental Sustainability of Chemistries with a multi-Objective Process Evaluator) provides an evaluation and diagnostic of process performance sustainability in the areas of environment, efficiency, energy, and economics (i.e., four Es).

GREENSCOPE is constituted of a set of sustainability indicators categorized according to each of the four E bases. This design/evaluation tool provides individual indicator scores on a practical and dimensionless sustainability measurement scale. The setting of best and worst-case scenarios, as reference states for each indicator allows the user to recognize the sustainability performance status of the process under study in relation to feasible and realistic boundary values.  Thus, existing or in-development new processes can be evaluated according to their relative indicator scores, and process modifications can strive towards achievable targets.

In addition, this evaluation/design for sustainability tool clearly identifies and guides the designer on data requirements when calculating the process performance assessment. The user can visualize data-indicator relationships on the way to choosing selected indicators for evaluation.

In this presentation GREENSCOPE is applied to a practical case study for the production of biodiesel, thus aiding the designer in localizing the most relevant process design aspects that can be manipulated for improving the overall process performance sustainability. These performance improvements will be reflected in reducing the quantity of goods and services needed, and preventing and minimizing releases, while increasing the overall economic and social benefits.