Glossary
Reversibility of industrial and agro-industrial processes: principles, diagnostics and applications

Material Reversibility

The ability of a material or flow to re-enter a functional cycle without irreversible degradation of its properties.

Dissipation

Permanent loss of material due to dispersion or degradation.

Separability

The technical ease of isolating a material from its byproducts.

Recoverable purity

The level of quality a material can achieve after separation.

CHNOPS flux

Fluxes of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and sulfur, which are capable of nearly complete cycling under natural conditions.

Kinetic reversibility index (τ_rev)

The ratio of the time required for a material to revert (return to a functional state) to its useful life. Reversibility is kinetically feasible if τ_rev < 1.