Sustainable Engineering
/jaargang-17-2/images/17_02_06b04.jpg "Chantal Block")
- Project coordination: Chantal Block, chantal.block@groupt.be
- Partner: K.U.Leuven
In the framework of sustainable development, the environmental score of processes, industrial sites, and regions is of the greatest importance. For specific (environmental) indicators, like global warming, acidification, ecotoxicity, raw material deterioration, etc., measuring methods are being developed that allow drawing up an environmental profile.
Research is carried out for the sustainable processing (incineration) of solid waste. This produces energy as well as secondary raw materials. The environmental impact of the incineration of waste in specialized installations is compared to those of alternative processing forms like co-incineration in other processes, fermentation, and controlled land-filling. Flue gas cleaning and purification of waste water from incineration installations is also studied.
In addition, research is carried out on 'Eco-industrial Parks.' These are sites where several companies work together based on the principal of industrial symbiosis. The aim is to improve the sustainability of the parks via integrated material and energy streams.
