Table 3.
Previous studies on solvent recovery with features and limitations
| Reference | Features | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Lau and Koenig (2001) | Evaluated the economic feasibility of the solvent recycling process. Presented some industrial activities from which solvent usage can be minimized | No comparison of alternate technologies for the recycling process. Analysis based on mass balance, no energy balance |
| Capello et al. (2005) | Presented a statistical analysis of estimating life cycle data inventory associated with the separation of waste solvents via distillation. | No sensitivity analysis using the estimated parameters for the LCI |
| Raymond et al. (2010) | Demonstrated the need to perform a life cycle assessment on pharmaceutical solvents. They further applied solvent recovery to API manufacturing by considering the entire supply chain of the process. | Case-specific studies. No process design of the solvent recovery options and alternatives |
| Slater et al., (2012a) | Coupled distillation with pervaporation and demonstrated that over 92% of emissions associated with the solvent recovery and incineration can be reduced when recovering isopropyl alcohol (IPA) from water | Process and solvent specific. Only binary mixture was considered; no multi-component analysis |
| Slater et al., (2012b) | Coupled a constant volume distillation with pervaporation and demonstrated the recovery of tetrahydrofuran (THF) from water, as compared to azeotropic distillation. | Alternate technologies should have been considered aside from pervaporation and distillation |
| Cavanagh et al. (2014) | Developed a software toolbox to assess binary solvent recoverability from both the economic and environmental perspectives | Only distillation and pervaporation technologies were considered. Only binary solvents were considered; no multi-component solvents |
| Chaniago et al. (2015) | Implemented the box and quadratic programming approach to minimize the energy required for the distillation-based solvent recovery process in the semiconductor industry. About 40% of energy savings can be made based on the developed energy-efficient distillation system as compared to conventional sequences | No comparison with other distillation configurations and not alternate technologies. Distillation is an energy-intensive process. No LCA analysis |
| Wang and Lakerveld (2018) | Proposed a methodology for solvent selection and recycling for crystallization. This was achieved by transforming an MINLP problem into an NLP using PC-SAFT methodology | No economic and sustainability assessment of the process |
| Ooi et al. (2019) | Proposes a CAMD approach for the selection of solvents with higher recoverability properties. Focus on the Safety, Health, and Environmental (SHE) impact of the solvent generated | Only energy balance is incorporated in the CAMD approach. |
| Chea et al. (2020) | Generated a generic superstructure for solvent recovery and implemented an MINLP approach to minimize the cost associated with the process. | Case studies were specific. No LCA or sustainability assessment |