Sustainability Assessment of Chemical Processes: Evaluation of Three Synthesis Routes of DMC

Table 9

Summary of sustainability assessment, benefits, and challenges to sustainability.

	Benefits driving sustainability	Challenges to sustainability
Route A	(i) CO2 used as feedstock; (ii) High volume of academic papers; (iii) Lowest total cost per produced DMC; (iv) Safest chemicals	(i) Low yield, low conversion; (ii) Methylformate as waste; (iii) High energy consumption; (iv) High pressure process
Route B	(i) CO2 is a feedstock in the first step; (ii) Valuable by-product; (iii) Energy win; (iv) Intensified academic research; (v) Consuming all CO2	(i) Oil refinery product used as feedstock; (ii) Low yield; (iii) Propylene oxide use is an inherent risk; (iv) Highest total cost per produced DMC; (v) High process temperature and pressure
Route C	(i) Highest yield; (ii) No waste	(i) Use of CO as reactant is an inherent risk; (ii) High feedstock and process costs; (iii) High temperature process; (iv) Health and safety risks