CWRT initiates inherent safety and pollution prevention project

AIChE's Center for Waste Reduction Technologies (CWRT) and Center for Chemical Process Safety (CCPS), in tandem with some of the most innovative thinkers in industry and consulting, has launched the Inherent Safety and Pollution Prevention Project.

This project will be of keen interest not only to the pollution-prevention specialist but also anyone involved in manufacturing processes, conceptual process design, and plant management. It will help create a framework to bolster the skills of chemical engineers in the field of pollution prevention and designing of environmentally sound process systems. Its main purpose is to develop a methodology for evaluating manufacturing processes that can reconcile conflicts between pollution prevention and greater production. The project's first goal is to put together a concept book that will help chemical engineers reduce the pollution in their processes. Every aspect of plant design will be discussed.

The applicability of this project reaches far beyond those who specialize in pollution prevention; anyone who is interested in operating a "greener" and more economical process can learn from it. Some of the private firms that are participating include Novartis, Merck, 3M, General Electric, SmithKline Beecham, DuPont, and Rohm and Haas. If you would like additional information, please contact Jo Rogers of CWRT at 212/591-7727; email jorogers@aiche.org; or Gregory Keeports of Rohm and Haas at 215/785-7517.

Field Assessment of Biological Reactor Monitors Begins

CWRT has also embarked upon a collaboration with SmithKline Beecham and Rohm and Haas to lead the field assessment of two commercially available instruments for the monitoring of oxygen uptake in aerobic biological reactors. This effort is extremely important, as oxygen uptake is an excellent indicator of the operating health of a biological reactor. Operators have been searching for a means to track the wellbeing of their units. In the worst-case scenario, catastrophic failures can occur when assessment of the health of biological reactors is inaccurate.

AIChE is enthusiastic about supporting this project, which will be launched early in 1999 and will take approximately six months. Companies who are interested in more information about this project are encouraged to contact Katherine Romano at 212/591-7424; e-mail kathr@aiche.org.