Sustainability Science and Engineering, Volume 1: Defining Principles

513 Pages·2006·31.4 MB·English

by  Martin A. A. Abraham

Sustainability in Science and Engineering:
Defining Principles
Vol. 1 by Martin A. Abraham (Editor)

• ISBN: 044451712X
• Publisher: Elsevier Science & Technology Books
• Pub. Date: January 2006
Preface for Series
In the grand scheme of history the twentieth century will probably be
remembered as the age of unbridled consumption of the planet's natural
resources and devastating pollution of the environment. Attention was first
drawn to the negative side effects of industrial and economic growth on our
natural environment in the 1960s and 1970s with the publication of books such
as Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and The Closing Circle by Barry Commoner.
Nonetheless, it took three decades for the environmental movement to gather
sufficient momentum to have a serious industrial and societal impact. In the
final decade of the century a new paradigm began to emerge, based on the
concepts of Green Chemistry and Sustainable Development. In hindsight, a
turning point was the pubHcation, in 1987, of the report Our Common Future by
the World Commission on Environment and Development. It was recognized in
this report that industrial and societal development must be sustainable over
time. Sustainable development was defined as 'development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the abihty of future generations to
meet their own needs'. A decade later this concept was endorsed and further
elaborated in the report. Our Common Journey by the Board on Sustainable
Development of the US National Research Council.
'Sustainable Development' has subsequently become a catch phrase of the
new millennium and many corporations are keen to show that their operations
are 'sustainable'. Indeed, one could say that it is industry's answer to the
environmental challenge.
Thomas Graedel has defined the two central tenets of sustainabiUty as: (i)
using natural resources at rates that do not unacceptably deplete supphes over
the long term and (ii) generating and dissipating residues at rates no higher than
can be assimilated readily by the natural environment. The core concept is the
analogy between processes in the biosphere and in the technosphere. In the
words of Barry Commoner, "in nature no organic substance is synthesized
unless there is provision for its degradation; recycling is enforced".
For example, the use of fossil resources—oil coal and natural gas—as sources
of energy and chemical feedstocks is clearly unsustainable even over a relatively
short time span of the next 50 years. In the coming decades it needs to be
supplanted by the use of agriculture-based renewable raw materials. A switch to
vi Preface for Series
processing of 'renewables' in biorefineries is also desirable for other reasons,
such as biocompatibiUty, biodegradabiUty and lower toxicity compared to oil-
derived feedstocks and products. As noted above, production of chemicals from
renewable raw materials tends to leave a smaller environmental footprint.
The time is clearly ripe for a series of books addressing the underlying science
and engineering of sustainable development. To this end a series with the
general title, 'Sustainabihty: Science and Engineering' has been commissioned.
The first volume in the series is devoted to defining the principles of sustainable
engineering and illustrating how these principles can be incorporated into the
design of sustainable products and processes. Forthcoming volumes will deal
with other topics of relevance to sustainable development, such as renewable
raw materials and biorefineries, Ufe cycle analysis, water usage and management
and industrial ecology. Hopefully, this will provide a further stimulus for the
development and implementation of sustainable technologies to the benefit of
future generations of inhabitants of 'Spaceship Earth'
Roger A. Sheldon,
Delft, November 2005
Preface
The works collected in this book represent the results of the ECI-sponsored
conference, "Green Engineering: Defining the Principles." Conceived as the first
interdisciplinary conference to discuss the role of green engineering as an over-
arching effort within all of engineering, this four-day workshop brought
together a diverse group of engineers and scientists from industry, academia,
government, and non-governmental organizations, with backgrounds in
chemical, mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering, chemistry, social sciences,
and business.
The development of the conference was led by a large cross-disciplinary
organizing committee. Chaired by myself and Dr. WilHam Sanders III, Director
of the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics of the Environmental
Protection Agency, the organizing committee worked for over 1 year to bring
together this diverse group of contributors. Members of the organizing
committee included David Allen, Department of Chemical Engineering,
University of Texas — Austin; Sharon Austin, OPPT/US EPA; John Carberry,
DuPont Experimental Station; Tim Gutowski, M.I.T. Advanced Composites
Lab; Barbara Karn, US EPA, ORD, NCER; Barry Marten, Siemens
Automotive Corp.; Nhan Nguyen, OPPT/US EPA; Walter Olson, Department
of Mechanical Engineering, University of Toledo; Ron Williams, General
Motors. I am indebted to the organizing committee for their participation in
this effort. Without their help and support, the conference could never have
been completed, and this book would not have been possible. Through a series
of monthly conference calls, and substantial behind-the-scenes work, the
members of the organizing committee worked tirelessly to bring about the
conference.
The current book represents the final result from this conference. The
principles outlined in the Introduction chapter, and expanded in Part II,
describe the collective wisdom of conference attendees. These principles
represent a consensus view of the principles of green engineering as determined
during these deUberations, and should not be construed as the individual
opinions of any of the participants or sponsors. A great deal of appreciation is
provided to all conference participants, both for their efforts during the
conference and their continuing work thereafter to complete the development of
the principles.
Finally, my appreciation to those who have contributed to this book effort. In
addition to the authors of the chapters contained herein, many additional
vi Preface
people worked diligently to bring the book to fruition. The conference
organizing committee promoted the development of the book, and several
members of the committee, particularly Walt Olson and Nhan Nguyen
suggested individuals who could provide valuable contributions. Each chapter
was read by at least one evaluator who offered comments and suggestions.
PubUcation of this book by Elsevier, and the support of their pubUshing staff, is
also gratefully acknowledged.
The current book is intended to be the first book in a new series of books that
further elaborate on "Sustainable Science and Engineering," to be pubUshed by
Elsevier, and to be coordinated by Roger Sheldon (Delft University, Nether-
lands) and I. Additional books on Life Cycle Analysis, Biorefineries, and Water
Use, are currently being developed or contemplated. The expanding disciphne
and growth of this area is due in large part to the contributions of the
conference participants, who were at the forefront of this endeavor.
Conference participants
The conference was attended by a wide range of participants, from a range of
backgrounds including industry, academia, government, and NGOs. All of the
following conference attendees contributed to the principles that form the basis
of this book, and are acknowledged for their participation in the discussion and
development of these principles. The affiUations noted are those from the time
of the conference, and may have changed in the ensuing period.
Martin A. Abraham University of Toledo
Paul T. Anastas White House Office of Science and Tech
T.K. Bandyopadhyay Institute for Steel Development and Growth
Jane Bare US EPA
Brian Blakey GE Global Research
Leirad Carrasco-Martinez University of Texas at El Paso
Rebecca Chamberlin Los Alamos National Laboratory
Alex Chase Baxter Healthcare Corporation
David J.C. Constable SmithKline Beecham
Heather M. Cothron UT-Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Robert M. Counce University of Tennessee
Nadia N. Craig University of South Carolina
Theo Dilaha VPI&SU
Dionysios D. Dionysiou University of Cincinnati
Milorad P. Dudukovic Washington University
Delcie Durham National Science Foundation
Ahmed Elsawy Tennessee Technological University
Preface
Steve Forbes UTEP
Charles Freiman ECI Site Staff
Michael H. Gregg VPI&SU
Arnulf Grubler IIASA
Tim Gutowski M.LT. Advanced Composites
Henry Hatch NAI
Lauren G. Heine Zero Waste AUiance
Robert P. Hesketh Rowan University
Karen High Oklahoma State University
Kathryn Hollar Rowan University
Sukhvinder Kandola University of Leicester
Barbara Karn US EPA, NCER
Sibel Koyluoglu Ford Motor Co.
Donald Liou UNC Charlotte
Heath Lloyd University of South Carolina
Barry Marten Siemens Automotive Corp
Victor Martinez University of Texas at El Paso
Peter Melhus Bay Area AlHance for Sustainable Communities
Tom Merkle University of Toledo
Arup Kumar Misra Assam Engineering College
Kenneth L. Mulholland Kenneth Mulholland & Associates
Nhan Nguyen U.S. EPA, OPPT
Walter Olson University of Toledo
Walter H. Peters University of South CaroUna
Gerhard Piringer Tulane University
Mark Pitterle Virgina Tech
Dmytro Pylypenko CaUfornia State University, Chico
Ferdinand Quella Siemens AG
Anu Ramaswami University of Colorado
Brindaban Ranu Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science
Stephen Ritter Chemical & Engineering News
Joseph Rogers American Institute of Chemical Engineers
James A. Russell University of South CaroHna
Endalkachew Sahle- National Risk Mgmt. Research Lab, US EPA
Demessie
WiUiam Sanders U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Konrad Saur Five Winds International
David Shonnard Michigan Technological University
Michael Silsbee Pennsylvania State University
Raymond Smith U.S. EPA
Laura Steinberg Tulane University
Mayadevi Suseeladevi National Chemical Laboratory
Siret Talve EcolabS Ltd.
Harry Van Den Akker Technische University, Delft
Jorge A. Vanegas Georgia Tech
Preface
p. Aarne Vesilind Bucknell University
Nele Zechel Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus
Julie B. Zimmerman University of Michigan
Acknowledgments
The conference attendees v^ere fortunate to receive substantial financial support
for travel and registration. Funding was received from the National Science
Foundation (Grant number DMI-0303838), the Environmental Protection
Agency (Grant number X8 83076001-0), the Department of Energy (Los
Alamos National Laboratory), and the American Chemical Society's Green
Chemistry Institute. The American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the Society
of Automotive Engineers, and the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
were technical cosponsors for this conference. The support of all sponsors, both
technical and financial, is gratefully acknowledged and appreciated.
Martin Abraham
List of Contributors
p. Aarne Vesilind, R L. Rooke Professor of Engineering, Department of Civil
and Environmental Engineering, Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA 17837,
USA
M.A. Abraham, Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, The
University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
P.T. Anastas, Green Chemistry Institute, American Chemical Society, 1155
Sixteenth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20036, USA
B. Bras, George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia
Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332-0405, USA
N.N. Craig, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South
Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
D.J.C. Constable, GlaxoSmithKline, Corporate Environment, Health and Safety
2200 Renaissance Blvd. Suite 105, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA
H.M. Cothron, Engineering and Infrastructure Business Unit, Science Applica-
tions International Corporation, 151 Lafayette Dr., Oak Ridge, TN 37831
B.C. Coull, School of the Environment, University of South Carolina, 901 Sumter
Street, Room 702G, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
R.M. Counce, Chemical Engineering Department, University of Tennessee, 419
Dougherty Hall, Knoxville, TN 37996-2200, USA
V.L. Cunningham, Glaxo SmithKline, Corporate Environment, Health and Safety
2200 Renaissance Blvd. Suite 105, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA
A.D. Curzons, Southdownview Way, Worthing BN14 8NQ, UK
Concepcion Jimenez-Gonzalez, Five Moore Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC
27709, USA
D.D. Dionysiou, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 765
Baldwin Hall, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0071, USA
M.P. Dudukovic, Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory (CREL), Wa-
shington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
K. Geiser, Lowell Center for Sustainable Production, University of Massachusetts
Lowell
M.H. Gregg, Engineering Education, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
S.A. Hamill, Founder, Sustainable Labs, 5440 SWBuddington St., Portland, OR
97219, USA
xii List of Contributors
R.E. Hannah, GlaxoSmithKline, Corporate Environment, Health and Safety
2200 Renaissance Blvd. Suite 105, King of Prussia, PA 19406, USA
L. Heine, Director of Applied Science, Green Blue Institute, 600 E. Water St.,
Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA
L.G. Heine, Green Blue Institute (GreenBlue), 600 E. Water St. Suite C
Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA
J.R. Hendry, Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Bucknell
University, Lewisburg, PA 17835, USA
R.P. Hesketh, Chemical Engineering, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill Rd,
Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
G.A. Keoleian, Center for Sustainable Systems, School of Natural Resources and
Environment, University of Michigan, 440 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-
1041, USA
S.L. Landes, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI, USA
P. Melhus, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, San Jose State
University, One Washington Square, San Jose, CA 95192, USA
J.J. Michalek, Design Decisions Laboratory, Department of Mechanical
Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburg, PA, USA
L. Moens, National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL), 1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401, USA
W.R. Morrow, Environmental and Sustainable Technologies Laboratory
(EAST), Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Michigan
at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
S.A. Morton III, Chemical Engineering Department, Lafayette College, 266
Acopian Engineering Center, Easton, PA 18042, USA
K.L. MulhoUand, Kenneth Mulholland & Associates, Inc., 27 Harlech Drive,
Wilmington, DE 19807, USA
W.H. Peters, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South
Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
W. Olson, Department of Mechanical, Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering,
The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH 43606, USA
P.A. Ramachandran, Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory (CREL),
Washington University, St. Louis, MO, USA
A. Ramaswami, Urban Sustainable Infrastructure Engineering Project (USIEP),
Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado at Denver & Health
Sciences Center, Denver CO 80217, USA
J.A. Russell, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of South
Carolina, 300 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29208, USA
M. Sibel Bulay Koyluoglu, Ford Motor Co., Dearborn, MI, USA
List of Contributors xi
SJ. Skerlos, Environmental and Sustainable Technologies Laboratory (EAST),
Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Michigan at Ann
Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
D.V. Spitzley, Center for Sustainable Systems, School of Natural Resources and
Environment, University of Michigan, 440 Church St., Ann Arbor, MI 48109-
1041, USA
C. Stewart Slater, Chemical Engineering, Rowan University, 201 Mullica Hill
Rd, Glassboro, NJ 08028, USA
C. Tunca, Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory (CREL), Washington
University, St. Louis, MO, USA
J. A. Vanegas, Department of Architecture, College of Engineering, Texas A&M
University, 3137 TAMU, College Station, TX 77843-3137, USA
M.L. Willard, AXIS Performance Advisors, Inc., 2515 NE 17th Ave Portland,
OR 97212, USA
B.J. Yates, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 765 Baldwin
Hall, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45221-0071, USA
J.B. Zimmerman, National Center for Environmental Research, Office of
Research Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency,
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW (8722F), Washington, DC 20460, USA