Optimisation and process design tools for cleaner production

Assessments of hotspot analysis and process optimisation followed by improved design are essential to achieve cleaner production. Cleaner production also involves complex interactions with economic and social performance. It plays a substantial role in sustainable development. This contribution presents an overview of cleaner production achievements and selection of relevant recent work dealing with optimisation tools and process design as published in the Special Issue on Process Integration and Intensification for Sustainable Evolution via Resource and Emission Reduction. The cleaner production tools including Pinch Analysis, Process Graph, Artificial Intelligence and computer-aided modelling, are reviewed. The roles of waste streams as secondary resources process design in cleaner production and circular economy is also discussed. The highlights of the recent development contribute to the field of study by drawing out the attention for potential future research. (C) 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.