Article: Assessment of industrial by-product synergies from process engineering and sustainability principles Journal: Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal (PIE) 2013 Vol.8 No.3 pp.156 - 165 Abstract: Industrial synergy has long been one of the applications of industrial ecology; popularised in the 1980's. Industrial synergy increases the interaction between industries through the utilisation of wastes/by-products, thereby offering a closed-loop system. A target application for industrial synergy is Primary industry which generates a huge amount of waste. Historically however, most existing synergies have been unplanned and were established by interested industries. To date, new symbiotic relations have not been considered in any depth due to a lack of systematic analysis and implementation procedures. This research aims to bridge this gap by developing a framework for the evaluation and implementation of new synergies, incorporating both process engineering concepts and sustainability principles. The framework will use the Kwinana Industrial Area (KIA) of Western Australia as a case study, whereby four by-products will be identified and pre-evaluated for their potential synergies. The sustainability benefits of these synergies will then be assessed from a social, economic and environmental perspective. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: Assessment of industrial by-product synergies from process engineering and sustainability principles

Authors: Feisal Ali Mohammed; Wahidul K. Biswas; Hong Mei Yao; Moses Oludayo Tadé

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia ' Faculty of Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia ' Faculty of Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia ' Faculty of Engineering, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia

Abstract: Industrial synergy has long been one of the applications of industrial ecology; popularised in the 1980's. Industrial synergy increases the interaction between industries through the utilisation of wastes/by-products, thereby offering a closed-loop system. A target application for industrial synergy is Primary industry which generates a huge amount of waste. Historically however, most existing synergies have been unplanned and were established by interested industries. To date, new symbiotic relations have not been considered in any depth due to a lack of systematic analysis and implementation procedures. This research aims to bridge this gap by developing a framework for the evaluation and implementation of new synergies, incorporating both process engineering concepts and sustainability principles. The framework will use the Kwinana Industrial Area (KIA) of Western Australia as a case study, whereby four by-products will be identified and pre-evaluated for their potential synergies. The sustainability benefits of these synergies will then be assessed from a social, economic and environmental perspective.

Keywords: industrial symbiosis; sustainability; KIA; Kwinana Industrial Area; sustainable development; industrial by-products; process engineering; industrial ecology; industrial synergy; waste by-products; industrial waste; symbiotic relationships; Australia; case study.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2013.060663

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2013 Vol.8 No.3, pp.156 - 165

Received: 23 Oct 2012
Accepted: 06 Sep 2013
Published online: 24 Apr 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article

Title: Assessment of industrial by-product synergies from process engineering and sustainability principles

Keep up-to-date