Carbon–Hydrogen–Oxygen Symbiosis Networks Show How Industrial Waste Can Become a Valuable Resource
Industrial emissions have long been treated as an unavoidable cost of doing business, especially in sectors that rely heavily on hydrocarbon processing. But a growing body of research suggests that what industries call “waste” may actually be a largely untapped resource. A recent study from researchers at Texas A&M University explores exactly this idea through a framework known as Carbon–Hydrogen–Oxygen Symbiosis Networks, or CHOSYN, and it offers a detailed look at how industrial facilities could work together to turn emissions into value-added products.
At its core, the CHOSYN concept is about integration and collaboration. Instead of individual plants operating in isolation, each handling its emissions separately, CHOSYN proposes a network where facilities exchange carbon-, hydrogen-, and oxygen-based streams to meet internal demands while significantly reducing waste. The result is a system that aims to maximize carbon utilization, cut emissions, and lower costs, all while improving the resilience of industrial supply chains.
The latest research on this approach was carried out by Dr. Mahmoud M. El-Halwagi, a professor in the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University, along with graduate student Meshal Aldawsari. Their work, titled “Resilience Assessment and Sustainability Enhancement of Gas and CO₂ Utilization via Carbon–Hydrogen–Oxygen Symbiosis Networks,” was recently recognized as an editors’ choice in a special issue of the journal Sustainability. The recognition highlights both the technical depth of the study and its relevance to real-world industrial challenges.
What Is a Carbon–Hydrogen–Oxygen Symbiosis Network?
The CHOSYN framework is built around a simple but powerful idea: many industrial processes rely on the same basic elements—carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen—yet they often discard these elements in forms that are inconvenient or unwanted, such as carbon dioxide emissions. CHOSYN connects industrial units through shared infrastructure that allows these elements to be exchanged, transformed, and reused across facilities.
In practical terms, this means one plant’s waste stream could become another plant’s feedstock. Carbon dioxide from a hydrocarbon processing facility, for example, might be routed to another unit where it is converted into chemicals, fuels, or other value-added products. Hydrogen-rich streams could be redirected to processes that require hydrogen input, while oxygen-containing streams could be utilized in oxidation reactions or even water production.
The network relies on interceptor units, which act as bridges between facilities, enabling the transfer and transformation of materials. By coordinating these exchanges, CHOSYN seeks to reduce the need for fresh raw materials and limit the amount of emissions released into the environment.
Turning Environmental Problems Into Opportunities
One of the key motivations behind this research is a shift in mindset. Dr. El-Halwagi’s work consistently treats environmental challenges as opportunities for innovation, rather than obstacles. From this perspective, emissions are not just pollutants; they are resources waiting to be better managed.
The CHOSYN concept itself was co-introduced about a decade ago by Dr. Mohamed Noureldin, a former student of El-Halwagi. Since then, the framework has evolved into a more structured and quantitative approach to industrial integration. The latest study builds on that foundation by focusing not only on sustainability and efficiency, but also on resilience—a factor that has become increasingly important in today’s interconnected industrial systems.
Noureldin has emphasized that many of society’s most pressing challenges are deeply connected through basic atomic relationships. Carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen play roles in energy production, emissions, water scarcity, and chemical manufacturing. Understanding how these elements move through industrial systems can reveal new ways to balance supply and demand more intelligently.
Why Resilience Matters in Industrial Networks
As industrial facilities become more interconnected, they also become more interdependent. While this interconnectedness can unlock efficiency gains, it also introduces new risks. A disruption in one part of the network—whether due to equipment failure, supply shortages, or external events—can ripple through the entire system.
To address this concern, the research team introduced a flow dependency measure that quantifies how disruptions spread across a CHOSYN network. This metric helps identify the most critical nodes in the system and assesses how failures in those nodes affect overall performance.
The findings reveal an important tradeoff. On one hand, increased integration improves sustainability and resource efficiency. On the other hand, it can make the system more vulnerable if resilience is not carefully considered during the design phase. According to Aldawsari, industrial plant design traditionally focuses on profitability, environmental responsibility, and safety, but resilience must also be part of the conversation.
Encouragingly, the study shows that even under worst-case disruption scenarios, CHOSYN designs can still deliver substantial benefits. Carbon reuse remains significantly higher than in conventional setups, and the need for new raw materials is reduced. This suggests that with proper safeguards, symbiotic networks can be both efficient and robust.
Economic Growth and Job Creation
Beyond environmental benefits, the CHOSYN framework also carries clear economic implications. By converting waste streams into valuable products, industrial facilities can create new revenue streams from materials that were previously considered liabilities.
El-Halwagi points out that while individual facilities may see waste as a burden, intelligent integration across multiple plants can transform that waste into feedstock for entirely new processes. This approach not only reduces disposal costs but also opens the door to new industries, technologies, and jobs centered around waste utilization and process integration.
In this sense, CHOSYN aligns closely with broader goals related to the circular economy, where materials are kept in use for as long as possible and value is extracted at every stage of the lifecycle.
How CHOSYN Fits Into Global Sustainability Efforts
The ideas behind CHOSYN are highly relevant to global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and move toward net-zero targets. Industrial sectors are among the largest contributors to carbon emissions, and incremental efficiency improvements alone are unlikely to be enough.
By rethinking how industries interact with one another, CHOSYN offers a systems-level solution that complements other decarbonization strategies such as renewable energy adoption and carbon capture technologies. Instead of focusing solely on capturing and storing carbon dioxide, CHOSYN emphasizes using carbon productively within the industrial ecosystem.
This approach also supports several broader sustainability goals, including responsible consumption and production, climate action, and resilient infrastructure. It demonstrates how advanced chemical engineering and systems integration can play a central role in addressing environmental challenges.
Looking Ahead
While CHOSYN is still largely a research-driven framework, its implications are practical and far-reaching. The study highlights both the opportunities and the challenges of industrial symbiosis, making it clear that thoughtful design, collaboration, and resilience planning are essential.
As industries face increasing pressure to reduce emissions while maintaining economic competitiveness, frameworks like CHOSYN provide a glimpse into what a more integrated and sustainable industrial future could look like. By viewing waste as a resource and collaboration as a strength, this research points toward a model where environmental responsibility and economic growth go hand in hand.
Research paper: https://doi.org/10.3390/su17198622
