Engineering the path to net-zero chemical manufacturing
Electrification of chemical processes + LCA
The idea. Replacing fossil-fired heat and utilities with clean electricity is one of the biggest levers for decarbonizing chemical plants — but only if the carbon and cost actually pay off.
What we do. We simulate electrified process alternatives (Aspen Plus / Aspen Plus Dynamics), pinpoint energy and emission hotspots, and quantify the trade-offs with life cycle assessment.
What partners get. Process modeling and scale-up insight, electrification scenario analysis, and defensible carbon-and-cost comparisons for investment decisions.
Related current work: reactive-distillation sustainability assessment; CO₂-conversion process evaluation.
CCTS supply-chain optimization
The idea. Reaching net zero needs more than a capture unit — it needs the whole CO₂ supply chain, from emission sources through transport to geological storage, designed and optimized together.
What we do. We build mixed-integer optimization (MILP) models for source–sink matching and pipeline-network design, coupled with network-level life cycle assessment.
What partners get. System-level CCTS planning, least-cost network configurations under real geological and capacity constraints, and the environmental footprint of the resulting network.
Related current work: Taiwan CCTS MILP optimization; CCUS network LCA.
An LLM pipeline for automated process LCA
The idea. Life cycle assessment is slow because building the inventory is manual. Large language models can change that.
What we do. We develop LLM-driven pipelines that turn process documents into structured, auditable life-cycle inventories, supported by knowledge graphs and quality checks.
What partners get. Faster LCA turnaround, traceable and auditable inventory data, and a path to embedding sustainability analysis into routine process design.
Related current work: LLM-agent LCA; AutoLCI automated inventory extraction.
The toolbox behind the three directions