Rank pollution prevention and control options

Pollution from industrial processes is a direct result of inefficiencies in raw material conversion and energy utilization. Improvements in process efficiency should, therefore, lead to a reduction in pollution. Thus, compliance with statutory emissions requirements can, in many cases, be achieved through conservation measures that improve process yield and reduce energy consumption. An earlier article described how process integration methods could be used to identify options for reducing emissions in a systematic way. Here the authors address a related question--how to evaluate, compare, and rank the options that have been defined. The focus is on airborne NO[sub x] emissions, although similar methods are applicable to other airborne emissions and to emissions in other environmental media. The methodology presented here could be used for several purposes. A company could use it to identify the most cost-effective technical strategy for pollution prevention at its facilities. Businesses could use it as a tool to assist in the commercial trading of emissions offset (or credits). And regulators could use it to establish a basis for setting economically realistic standards of performance.