Optimization in Chemical Engineering

Optimization is an area in constant evolution. The search for robust optimization techniques to deal with the highly non-convex models that represent the systems related to Chemical Engineering has led to important advances in the area. The need for developing economically feasible processes which are simultaneously environmentally friendly, safe, and controllable requires for adequate optimization strategies. Moreover, finding a global optimum is still a challenge for a diversity of cases. Thus, this book presents a compilation of classic and emerging optimization techniques, focusing on their application to systems related to the Chemical Engineering. The book shows the applications of classic mathematical programming, metaheuristic optimization methods and machine learning-based strategies. The analysis of the described techniques allows the reader identifying the advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Moreover, the book will discuss the perspectives for future developments on the area.

Fernando Israel Gómez-Castro

Prof. Gómez-Castro is a full-time professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering of the Universidad de Guanajuato (University of Guanajuato), Mexico. Currently, he has published 66 scientific papers in international indexed journals and 6 books with prestigious editorials. His main research interests are related to the search for alternatives to enhance the energetic efficiency of the industrial processes to obtain a variety of products. To achieve this objective, modelling, simulation and optimization tools are applied. He is former President of the Directive Board of the Mexican Academy of Optimization Applied to Chemical Engineering, and Vice president of the Directive Board of the Mexican Academy of Research and Teaching in Chemical Engineering. He has been the research advisor of 9 Doctoral-degree students, 15 Master-degree students and 19 bachelor-degree students. He has presented the results of his research work in diverse national and international conferences, as the National Meeting of the AMIDIQ, the ESCAPE conference, the Distillation & Absorption conference, among others. He is Young Advisory Editor for the journal Engineering Reports, also having participation as reviewer for various scientific journals. He has received diverse acknowledgements for his reviewer activity. He is recognized as National Researcher Level II by the National System of Researchers (Mexico).

Vicente Rico-Ramírez

Dr. Rico-Ramirez is a professor of the Department of Chemical Engineering at the Celaya Institute of Celaya in Celaya, Mexico. He has been a member of the Mexican National Academy of Researchers (SNI) for 23 years; he is currently categorized at the highest level (level 3). He is also a member of the Mexican Academy of Sciences since 2021. He has been the research advisor of 42 MS students and 7 PhD students. He was appointed as member of the Technical Advisory Committee of the State of Guanajuato, Mexico, from 2007 to 2016. He has been the principal investigator of 25 Research Projects financially supported in Mexico from various scientific agencies such as CONACYT, CoSNET, DGEST and CONCYTEG. He has worked as a scientific advisor in projects for the Mexican state-owned Petroleum Company (PEMEX) and MetMex Peñoles (a mining international company). Dr. Rico-Ramirez has given more than 100 national presentations (in Mexico) including conferences in 20 National Meetings and seminars at universities and schools in the states of San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, Tlaxcala, Guanajuato, Mexico, Puebla, Aguascalientes, Querétaro, Michoacán, Jalisco and Nuevo León. He has also presented his work in more than 35 international conferences (AIChE, INFORMS, ESCAPE). In 2010, he received the Distinguished Citizen Award from the City of Salamanca (his home town), in Guanajuato, Mexico. In the same year, he also received the Distinguished Researcher Award by the Celaya Institute of Technology. In 2006, he was recipient of a Fulbright-García-Robles Award as a visiting researcher at Carnegie Mellon University. As a student, in 1994, he was the recipient of the "Adolfo Lopez Mateos" Presidential Gold Medal (national prize awarded by the National System of Institutes of Technology in Mexico); he also received the J. M. Smith Award at Celaya Institute of Technology, awarded to the Graduate student with the highest GPA in the Department of Chemical Engineering. Finally, he was the Recipient of the "El Diario de Mexico" Medal as one of "The Best Students of Mexico" in 1991, and graduated Cum Laude at the University of Guanajuato in 1992.