FIRST SUCCESSES IN PROCESS INTENSIFICATION

Hydrogen membrane separation, Reverse-flow reactors, Dividing-wall Column Distillation and Reactive distillation all had their first implementations between 1977 and 1987. There are two reasons for this: First, between 1920 and 1970 the focus of the petrochemicals business was on bringing new products to market. Then it changed to globalisation and increasing the markets for these products [1]. This required more plants and more efficient plants. Second, two oil crises and environmental concerns, such as about acid rain, global warming and limited resources began to be raised in the 1970's, as highlighted by “Limits to Growth", the report of the Club of Rome,