A retrospective on design and process synthesis

We discuss the impact over the past 40 years of process systems thinking on the design of chemical processes. We first explore the rich set of issues related to process design, only some of which are technical. We then briefly examine simulation, optimization and more extensively process synthesis ideas as they relate to design. Throughout we note that this progress is inextricably linked with the development of computer technology. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.