dc.description.abstract |
The concept of Industrial Symbiosis (IS) has obtained world concern as a new
initiative for achieving collaborative benefits through exchange of resources between
industries including water. Even though, these initiatives became prominent as
successful projects in the early stages, many of them have resulted in failures in the
long term without achieving the expected results due to deficiencies in IS planning. In
the current process, no prior evaluation and optimisation are taking place before
implementing the identified water synergies. There is therefore a need to have a
standardised method to assess the optimum water flow of IS. Accordingly, the current
study aimed to develop a model to assess the optimum water flow of IS. In order to
achieve the aim, the research stands within the pragmatism philosophical stance. The
abductive approach was applied as the appropriate research approach. Sequential
exploratory research design was adopted consisting three phases: Phase I: Desk study;
Phase II: Interviews with industry experts; and Phase III: Case study. Phase I - Desk
study was conducted to collect and review the data from reliable published sources to
identify water inputs and outputs of industrial entities. Based on the key literature
reviewed, the conceptual model was developed by integrating mathematical formulae.
In Phase II, sixteen interviews were conducted with industry experts in Sri Lanka to
collect the data. The collected data were analysed using the code-based content
analysis technique with the application of QSR International’s NVivo. 12. As key
findings derived from analysis, current methods & issues of industrial water
management and enablers & barriers for initiating water exchange networks in Sri
Lanka were identified. Furthermore, the conceptual model and mathematical formulae
were also refined to the selected context. The applicability and feasibility of the model
were evaluated during Phase III. An IS network in an export processing zone (EPZ) in
Sri Lanka, comprising three geographically co-located industrial entities, was selected
as a suitable case study. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted with
professionals within the selected case to collect the data, which were analysed using
the mixed integer linear programming (MILP) approach. The assessment model was
developed and tested using SageMath software. Finally, environmental, economic and
social feasibility of the developed model were also determined. The developed model
forms a unique foundation for assessing the optimum water flow of IS, applying in any
context subject to context-specific enhancements. The novelty of the current research
is its objective of reducing freshwater consumption of the IS network through
maximum wastewater recovery in assessing the optimum water flow of IS. Thus, the
research outcomes provide a role model for all developed and developing countries for
reducing the environmental impact of industrialisation through optimum water sharing
between industrial entities. |
en_US |