Process intensification for circular economy

Elsevier, Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, Volume 208, February 2025
Authors: 
Muster-Slawitsch B.

The rise of complexity of secondary raw materials makes it essential to focus on the most targeted process driving forces in order to recover valuables from these resources. In this way the application of processing engineering technologies that follow the principles of process intensification are key in circular economy concepts. Oscillatory flow reactors for continuous slurry processing at high mass transfer rates, membrane contactors for (selective) separation of valuables and direct photochemical solar reactors where solar light is harvested and directly transported to photoactive sites with minimal diffusion limitations are examples of such key enabling technologies, that can help to realize targeted processes for valuable recovery under the framework of green chemistry and energy efficient processing.