Synthesis and optimisation of total water network via material flow cost accounting (MFCA)-based approach

Material flow cost accounting (MFCA)-based approach which incorporated prioritisation concept of waste recovery to synthesise and optimise a total water network is presented in this work. Based on the proposed approach, an optimal total water network with minimum total operating cost (TOC) which includes the hidden cost of each discharged stream can be synthesised. To illustrate the proposed approach, a case study, integrated sago starch processing plant with wastewater treatment plant, is presented. In this case study, the multiple treatment units with fixed removal efficiency are considered in the waste treatment system.