Artificial intelligence for waste minimization in the process industry

Abstract One of the most effective means of minimizing the generation of wastes in the process industry is through process design/modification and process control. It is very difficult to resort to conventional algorithmic methods to design and control a process with waste minimization in mind when the available information pertaining to a process is imprecise, incomplete, and uncertain, and the accessible knowledge is in symbolic form. In contrast, artificial intelligence (AI) techniques are viable alternatives for dealing with the information and knowledge of these types. In the present work, the basic characteristics of waste minimization are described, and the applicability of AI techniques to waste minimization is delineated. Three AI-based design and control systems developed specifically for waste minimization are described.