Teaching Process Design Through inTegraTeD Process synThesis

260 What is the minimum amount of carbon dioxide that a process can produce? This may seem like a trivial question but it is not a question usually asked when processes are being designed. In many cases, there is a lack of a quantitative description of what is the highest efficiency, least amount of energy, or lowest amount of carbon dioxide that can be achieved for a particular process, i.e., what is the theoretical achievable target. Without being able to answer such simple questions it is hard to make good decisions in the design of processes. In this regard, a novel approach to the chemical process design course was recently introduced at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, called Integrated Process Synthesis. The course aimed to introduce students to systematic tools and techniques for setting and evaluating performance targets for processes as well as gaining insight into how these targets can be achieved. The main objectives, in terms of the targets set for the process design, were efficient use of raw materials and energy and improved environmental performance (reducing CO2 emissions).