Multi-objective decision making in design for sustainability

In order to achieve long-term sustainability, it is required to look beyond the short-term remedial measures to improve the existing methods of product and plant design. Development of industrial ecosystems is one of the viable approaches being undertaken towards the sustainable development of industries. It is based on the principle that the waste of one industry/sector can be utilized as a resource by another industry/sector. This leads to the development of a complex network of industries/sectors interconnected with mass and energy streams and transforms the traditional linear flow of material in industries to a cyclic flow. The sustainable development of complex, large-scale systems can be modeled as a multi-objective optimization problem. In this work a Hierarchical Pareto Optimization (HPO) methodology has been developed to obtain optimal configuration for such systems.; Some of these systems operate under severe uncertainty. Very often, it may not be possible to calculate a solution using conventional algorithms for optimization under uncertainty. Pareto Optimization under Severe Uncertainty (POSU I & II) methodology has been developed in this work to identify the optimum solution under severe uncertainty.; As an emerging discipline, nanotechnology has the potential to improve environmental sustainability through its application in pollution prevention, treatment, remediation, etc. One challenging issue in the growth of nanotechnology is how to produce purified carbon nanotubes (CNT) in commercial quantities at an affordable price and with low environmental impact. A detailed assessment of such a manufacturing process from both economic and environmental aspects at the design phase will benefit both the industry and the society.; In this work, an LCA type of environmental impact assessment is conducted for the conceptual design of two catalytic, chemical vapor deposition processes (CNT-PFR and CNT-FBR) for continuous large---scale production of CNT. The core of both processes is a high-temperature catalytic reactor. Mineral acids are used in the purification steps, from which liquid and solid wastes are generated and must be treated before discharge. Based on the simulation results, the environmental impacts of each process are calculated. The results provide vital information that can be used during the design phase of these processes for better decision-making.; Biobutanol provides a promising alternative to be used as an additive in gasoline in any proportion. It can be produced by fermentation of biomass like corn, rice straw, sorghum etc. Southeast Texas has a unique advantage of having large amounts of surplus biomass including rice straw. A feasibility study is conducted to assess the possibility of starting a biobutanol production facility in the local Beaumont-Port Arthur Economic region. Furthermore, the economic impact of this new industry on the existing regional economic infrastructure is calculated using a set of modified regional input-output multipliers. The results show that this venture is economically beneficial to other businesses, thereby improving regional economic sustainability. Besides, it will provide large number of jobs, and make a positive impact on the societal sustainability.