Batch process scheduling optimization of multiproduct plants under simultaneous environmental and economical considerations

Abstract

This work aims at analyzing the significant environmental issues associated to production process scheduling. The implementation of a LCA for a given process or product requires the gathering of data regarding process environmental interventions (e.g. raw material consumption, uncontrolled emissions and waste generation). This set of data is organized in a life cycle inventory (LCI) which is the basis for the environmental impact calculation, as specified in the ISO 1404X series. In this work we aim at generating the required process LCI by means of a mathematical programming model. Multicriteria optimization of a mathematical process model representation is considered to obtain the optimal production schedules from both economical and environmental points of view.