Systematic decision-support methodology for identifying promising platform technologies towards circular economy

This work presents a systematic computer-aided decision-support framework to tackle challenges faced when attempting to identify and develop resource recovery projects. The framework is hierarchical and has been developed to facilitate the industries’ transition towards more sustainable production, providing users with the opportunity to evaluate and support decisions on not only a financial basis, but also from a comprehensive techno-economic and sustainability angle.

To this end, the framework collects relevant aspects within the sustainability field and addresses concepts such as circular economy, waste management and ‘legacy’ compounds to name some of the more pertinent topics. The proposed methodology is generic and can be applied to a wide variety of potential resource recovery projects.

The application of the framework is highlighted through two case studies, phosphorus recovery from a phosphate-based wastewater stream; and monosaccharide recovery from wheat straw liquor.