The Application Of Detrital Actors In Industrial Systems

Biological systems have evolved to retain and recycle materials via decomposer networks. However, engineered systems are often deficientin the employment of decomposers despite their potential to improve efficiency and sustainability. These systems favor unmitigated growth and exploit natural resources, exporting pollutants to the environment as waste. Reducing this disparity between industrial and natural systems presents the opportunity for greater material and energetic efficiency. This study demonstrates the application of decomposer networks in industrial settings through constructed wetlands and molysis driven biomass upcycling integrated into a steel industry's water network. The results from this study show a 26.64%, 57.87%, and 28.29% reduction of fresh water, effluent, and costs respectively. However, common sustainable design principles at design conception leave these system-level improvements unrealized. As such, this study points to the need for a predictive tool in sustainable engineering design, incorporating time-dependent flow metrics to more effectively leverage the decomposer role. (C) 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.