A systematic synthesis and design methodology to achieve process intensification in (bio) chemical processes

Process intensification (PI) has the potential to improve existing processes or create new process options which are needed in order to produce products using more sustainable methods. PI creates an enormous number of process options. In order to manage the complexity of options in which a feasible and optimal process solution may exist, the application of process synthesis tools results in the development of a systematic methodology to implement PI.

Starting from an analysis of existing processes, this methodology generates a set of feasible process options and reduces their number through a number of screening steps until from the remaining feasible options, the optimal is found. The application of this systematic methodology through a computer-aided framework is presented through a case study, the chemo-enzymatic synthesis of N-acetyl-D-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac).