Raw materials and waste minimisation

A waste product itself probably provided the foundation for the modern synthetic organic chemical industry. The Industrial Revolution of the early 19th century saw large volumes of a malodorous, black, sticky waste product generated from the production of coke from coal. The coke fuelled the growing steel industry and town gas was produced to power the urban environments which sprang up around the industrial wealth creation. 

The black, sticky substance - coal tar - contained many organic chemicals which became the feedstocks for new industries. Runge discovered phenol amongst the mixture and Hofmann separated out benzene, which 

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Modem plants are characterised by complicated recycle stmctures due to high valorisation of raw materials and waste minimisation, as well as to energy integration. Conceptual process design must guarantee good inherent controllability characteristics. 

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