Integration and optimization of resource recovery processes to sustainably produce chemicals and energy from waste(water) flows

为了支持资源效率和循环经济的增长，最近几年在开发和实施从废物（水）流中回收宝贵资源，例如能源、营养物质、金属、纤维的技术方面进行了创新的研究工作。现在的挑战是提高综合资源回收处理系统的运行性能，降低经济成本，并将资源回收为一致的高质量市场产品和/或工业生物基商品。******该项目旨在开发和应用一种高度创新的建模工具，以最终用户为中心，对营养（和能量）回收处理系统进行综合优化、设计和控制。目标是确保始终如一地生产高质量的最终产品，适合用于化学（用于生产化学品的生物基商品）或农业（化肥替代品）工业。******该研究项目将采用创新的“设计质量”（QbD）方法来回收资源。所提出的方法是基于通过（动态）数据收集和高级数学建模对产品/工艺知识和理解的评估，从而主动设计工艺和处理流程，从而持续满足所需的产品质量。该项目将产生第一个资源回收通用知识数据库，包括产品和工艺规范，允许评估定义规范的原始数学模型，以及相关的基于通用模型的优化和集成设计控制策略。该研究项目将培养2名博士、2名硕士和3名本科实习学生，每个学生都有具体的职责。******工业界、研究人员和咨询人员在该领域采用这些模型将使传统的技术开发方法向增强的质量决策方法转变，并因此从可变过程产出向以最终用户为中心的一致产出转变。它将通过降低成本和风险，同时提高效率和质量，为结构化过程思维和持续改进提供机会，从而促进加拿大在促进生物经济增长的科学和技术方面的领导地位。此外，这项研究将提供关于生物基化学品特性的额外知识，这可能为加拿大和国外的新肥料、材料和废物法规奠定基础。******最终，本研究可能有助于减少有限资源的浪费和环境污染，而残留物可能获得经济价值。这将为可持续和更多以生物为基础的经济增长开辟新的机会，从而为加拿大乃至世界的环境、社会和经济创造双赢局面。

In order to support the growth of a resource-efficient and circular economy, innovative research efforts have been set up the latest years on the development and implementation of technologies for recovery of valuable resources, e.g., energy, nutrients, metals, fibers, from waste(water) flows. The challenge is now to improve the operational performance of integrated resource recovery treatment trains, decrease the economic costs and recover the resources as consistent high-quality marketable products and/or bio-based commodities for industry. ******The proposed Discovery Grant project aims to develop and apply a highly innovative modelling tool that allows integrated end-user focused optimization, design and control of nutrient (and energy) recovery treatment trains. The goal is to ensure consistent production of high-quality end-products, fit for use in the chemical (bio-based commodity for the production of chemicals) or agricultural (chemical fertilizer substitutes) industry. ******The research program will apply an innovative «Quality by Design» (QbD) approach adopted to resource recovery. The proposed method is based on the assessment of product/process knowledge and understanding through (dynamic) data collection and advanced mathematical modelling so as to pro-actively design processes and treatment trains that allow to continuously meet the desired product quality. The project will result in the first generic knowledge database for resource recovery including product and process specifications, original mathematical models that allow to evaluate the defined specifications, and an associated generic model-based optimization and integrated design-control strategy. The research program will contribute to the training of 2 PhD, 2 MSc and 3 bachelor internship students, each with specific responsibility. ******The adoption of the models by industry, researchers and consultants in the field will introduce a shift from traditional technology development approaches to enhanced QbD approaches, and as such from variable process outputs to consistent end-user focused outputs. It will provide an opportunity for structured process thinking and continuous improvement, by reducing costs and risks while increasing efficiency and quality, thereby fostering Canadian leadership in science and technology for bio-economic growth. Moreover, this research will provide additional knowledge regarding the characteristics of bio-based chemicals, which may create the basis for new fertilizers, materials and waste regulations in Canada, and abroad. ******Ultimately, this research may help reducing the waste of finite resources and environmental pollution, while residues may acquire economic value. This will open up new opportunities for sustainable and more bio-based economic growth and thus create a win-win situation for both the environment, the society and the economy in Canada, and beyond.