A prototype knowledge-based decision support system for industrial waste management: part II. Application to a Trinidadian industrial estate case study

A knowledge-based decision support system (KBDSS) has been developed to examine the potentials for reuse, co-treatment, recycling and disposal of wastes from different industrial facilities. Four plants on the Point Lisas Industrial Estate in Trinidad were selected to test this KBDSS; a gas processing plant, methanol plant, a fertilizer ammonia plant and a steel processing plant. A total of 77 wastes were produced by the plants (51,481,500 t year-1) with the majority being released into the ocean or emitted into the air. Seventeen wastes were already being recycled off-site so were not included in the database. Using a knowledge base of 25 possible treatment processes, the KBDSS generated over 4600 treatment train options for managing the plant wastes. The developed system was able to determine treatment options for the wastes which would minimize the number of treatments and the amount of secondary wastes produced and maximize the potential for reuse, recycling and co-treatment of wastes.