Process Optimization – Decision–Making Tools for Chemical Engineers

The theory and practice of optimization as a tool for successful decision-making when designing new products and processes: While the focus is on the formulation of optimization problems, also attention is given to solution methods, software implementation, and analysis and interpretation of solutions.The book helps the chemical engineer in formulation, solving and analyzing different classes of optimization problems (LP’s, NLP’s MIP’s) at different scales (from individual equipment and product up to plant and supply chain). This book is an excellent guide and companion for undergraduate, graduate students as well as professional practitioners.

After finishing his bachelor with a specialization in process automation in Leeuwarden Edwin continued in Groningen with a M.Sc. in chemical engineering. Then he moved to Enschede and pursued a Ph.D. on modeling, optimization and control of dead-end membrane filtration of surface water. He defended his doctorate at Groningen in 2007.

From 2007 to 2015 he worked as an assistant professor at Eindhoven University of Technology; first joining the PSE group of Prof. Andre de Haan and later collaborating with the polymer reaction engineering group and the product design group of the late prof. Peter Bongers.

During this period he has worked also as associate researcher at the laboratories of Technical University of Catalonia, Carnegie Mellon University, Denmark Technical University and Imperial College .

Besides research Edwin has been very active in the educational area where he trained many generations of students in process design, process control and numerical methods at BA/MA/PDEng and Ph.D. Level. For the latter one Edwin published a textbook that was released in 2014: “A numerical primer for the chemical engineer”. In 2019 a second edition was published and beginning of 2020 a new textbook on product-driven process design was released!

From 2015 till 2020 Edwin chaired a new research group on PSE at Bremen University in Germany. Within the excellence initiative he setup a new line of research and education in the energy transition; which resulted in the Advanced Energy Systems Institute of Bremen (AES). In Bremen Edwin was working especially on a large BMWi project on green aviation fuels and he played an important role in the development of an internationalization strategy of Bremen University. He renewed the chemical engineering curriculum in Bremen and designed elementary courses on product and process design, control, dynamics and optimization.

For a short period of time Edwin was active as a senior lecturer on engineering mathematics at Fontys University of applied sciences.

He currently acts as vice-chair of the CAPE WP and holds a delegate role to the QbD and Energy WP's of the EFCE. He also is a reservist at the Dutch military, acting as lieutenant and functional expert on water- and energy.

Recently Edwin joined the sustainable process technology group of Twente university (the Netherlands) and holds the new chair on process systems engineering! With this return he will revive PSE as educational and research discipline in the Netherlands!

Besides research (he published over 100 articles, chapters and patents) Edwin Zondervan has been very active in the educational gremials where he trained many generations of students in process design, process control and numerical methods. Edwin published several books and is the Editor-in-Chief of Physical Sciences Reviews.