title: Optimal synthesis and design of the number of cycles in the leaching process for surimi production.
abstract: Water consumption required during the leaching stage in the surimi manufacturing process strongly depends on the design and the number and size of stages connected in series for the soluble protein extraction target, and it is considered as the main contributor to the operating costs. Therefore, the optimal synthesis and design of the leaching stage is essential to minimize the total annual cost. In this study, a mathematical optimization model for the optimal design of the leaching operation is presented. Precisely, a detailed Mixed Integer Nonlinear Programming (MINLP) model including operating and geometric constraints was developed based on our previous optimization model (NLP model). Aspects about quality, water consumption and main operating parameters were considered. The minimization of total annual costs, which considered a trade-off between investment and operating costs, led to an optimal solution with lesser number of stages (2 instead of 3 stages) and higher volumes of the leaching tanks comparing with previous results. An analysis was performed in order to investigate how the optimal solution was influenced by the variations of the unitary cost of fresh water, waste treatment and capital investment.
authors.affiliation: CAIMI -Centro de Aplicaciones Informáticas y Modelado en Ingeniería, UTN, FRRo - Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Rosario, Zeballos 1346, S2000BQA Rosario, Argentina ; CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M Agustina
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Reinheimer
authors.affiliation: CAIMI -Centro de Aplicaciones Informáticas y Modelado en Ingeniería, UTN, FRRo - Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Rosario, Zeballos 1346, S2000BQA Rosario, Argentina ; CONICET - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Nicolás J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Scenna
authors.affiliation: CAIMI -Centro de Aplicaciones Informáticas y Modelado en Ingeniería, UTN, FRRo - Universidad Tecnológica Nacional, Facultad Regional Rosario, Zeballos 1346, S2000BQA Rosario, Argentina ; INGAR-CONICET -Instituto de Desarrollo y Diseño, Avellaneda 3657, S3002GJC Santa Fe, Argentina.
authors.forename: Sergio F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Mussati
keywords: GAMS; MINLP model; Mathematical programming model; Optimal configuration and design; Surimi manufacturing process