Selection and sequencing of hazardous waste treatment processes: A knowledge-based systems approach

A commercially available software package was used to develop a prototype object-oriented knowledge-based modeling system to aid in the determination of hazardous waste treatment process sequence. For the prototype system, 15 waste contaminants were chosen for consideration. Knowledge describing 10 treatment processes was collected and incorporated into separate program modules so only those processes required were considered by the system. The knowledge-based system was established so that the user can specify the treatment objectives that the treatment sequence is intended to satisfy.The prototype system is intended to demonstrate a potential use of knowledge-based systems in both the design and the operational management of hazardous waste treatment facilities. From a design perspective, such a system could be used to determine effective treatment sequences for expected waste types, thus helping to determine which processes should be included in a proposed facility. From an operational management perspective, such a system could be used to determine the treatment sequence required for a waste to meet treatment objective contaminant levels.