Tools and concepts for environmental sustainability in the food‐energy‐water nexus: Chemical engineering perspective

Abstract

This work primarily deals with environmental sustainability and/or sustainable development, and with methodologies to design or redesign sustainable chemical and allied processes and products using sustainability concepts and LCA thinking. The overall approach is illustrated with two case studies involve: (1) an eco‐sugar complex producing sugar, ethanol, and paper using water and energy as inputs to the process, and (2) the leather industry in Tamil Nadu, India which requires substantial amounts of water and energy to process leather from cattle—a food source. Also, this work focuses on what chemists, chemical engineers, and other disciplines can further contribute to fully visualize, establish and implement environmental sustainability and sustainable development. Sustainability has traditionally had three underlying bases: (1) economic viability—cost and business aspects; (2) social concern—human health and social welfare; and (3) natural or ecological issues—depletion of natural capital and environment. Sustainable development has become a major driving initiative in engineering throughout the world today. Here, our focus is on various aspects of sustainability or sustainable development including environmental, industrial, business, economical, ethical, and social sustainability. The work concludes with some summary thoughts on available tools and the nature of sustainability. © 2017 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 37: 73–81, 2018

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