Process Engineering Renewal 2

Éric Schaer is an engineer at ENSIC (French National School of Chemical Industries) and Professor at the University of Lorraine, France. His research extends to the implementation of homogeneous and heterogeneous chemical reactions. Jean-Claude André is Research Director at CNRS (French National Center for Scientific Research), researcher at the University of Lorraine, France and an ENSIC engineer. He focuses his research on light-matter interactions and associated process engineering.

Foreword ix

Preface xiii

Introduction xxix

Chapter 1. From “Autonomous” Research to Societal Solutions 1

1.1. Positioning of process engineering 3

1.2. A forced transition 9

Chapter 2. Highly “Autonomous” Research 21

2.1. Intensification 23

2.1.1. Reminders on microfluidics 24

2.1.2. Applications 28

2.2. Additive manufacturing 31

2.3. Nanotechnologies 39

Chapter 3. Externally Stimulated Research 43

3.1. Chemistry and process engineering 45

3.2. Biotechnologies – bioprocess engineering 46

3.3. Impacts of digital technology 48

3.4. Product engineering 54

3.5. Materials and process engineering 57

3.6. Biomimicry and process engineering 60

3.6.1. Emergence of biomimetic concepts in PE 63

3.6.2. Applicability of biomimicry 64

3.7. Complexity and process engineering 64

3.7.1. Between complication and complexity 65

3.7.2. Complexity “quite simply” 66

3.7.3. To start the debate 67

Chapter 4. Research in Response to Societal Questions 73

4.1. General framework 76

4.2. Some additional elements 86

4.2.1. Some additions and considerations 87

4.3. Energies 91

4.3.1. Biomass 96

4.3.2. Electrochemistry, photochemistry 99

4.3.3. Storage of electrical energy 100

4.3.4. Processes related to negative greenhouse gas emissions 104

4.3.5. Energy and raw materials 106

4.3.6. Consequences in terms of a low-carbon industry 106

4.4. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) 108

4.4.1. Life Cycle Assessment limitations 109

4.4.2. Life Cycle Assessment methodology 109

4.4.3. Environmental mechanism: cause-and-effect chain (Becaert 2010) 111

Chapter 5. Non-Exhaustive List of Possible Actions in Process Engineering 115

5.1. Process engineering under constraints stimulating upstream research 117

5.2. Methodological development and paradigms 125

5.3. Challenges and innovations 126

5.4. Possible science behind the application 128

Chapter 6. Consequences and Attempting to Reach an Operative Conclusion 131

6.1. A provisional assessment 133

6.1.1. Consolidating knowledge 136

6.1.2. Developing a sense of belonging, creativity and innovation 137

6.2. A possible operational conclusion 140

6.2.1. A little reflection on PE research 144

Appendix 1. Process Engineering in the French National Strategy and in “Horizon Europe” 151

Appendix 2. Reminders on Artificial Intelligence 181

Appendix 3. Between Process and Environmental Engineering 205

References 223

Index 283