Session Co-Chairs
- David Weaver, URS Corporation
- Mohammad Bazargani, SLR International
Session Description
Chemical engineers are driven to develop new processes that would help meet new regulatory and public requirements to protect the environment. In this session, we hear from speakers that talk about their experience with the evolution of environmental process development and current revolutionary processes that are being developed to address current and future environmental requirements.
Schedule:
| PRESENTATION | SPEAKER |
| Evolution of Remediation on Plastic Perchlorate | Larry Joffe, SLR International |
| URS Process Technologies – Developing Technology for the Energy Industry: Vision to Commercialization | Bryan Petrinec, URS Corporation |
|
Alternative Chemical Methods of CO2 Mitigation |
Greg H. Rau, University of California, Santa Cruz, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory |
Evolution of Remediation on Plastic Perchlorate
Larry Joffe, SLR International
This presentation covers the evolution of the remediation activities at a plastics manufacturing site from initial discovery of perchlorate in the groundwater at the site through remediation design, technology evaluation and initial groundwater treatment process design. As a result of remediation activities, significant changes to both the groundwater flow rate and perchlorate concentration occurred requiring an increase in the flow rate of groundwater requiring treatment. A re-evaluation of the treatment system was undertaken to determine the most cost effective way to increase treatment while maintaining stringent discharge conditions. Based on this evaluation it was determined that the original fluidized bed reactor (FBR) system should be replaced by an ion exchange system. This required integrating the existing collection and treatment system discharge with the new treatment and insitu remediation system while maintaining groundwater treatment. The overall process for this evaluation, design and results will be described.
URS Process Technologies – Developing Technology for the Energy Industry: Vision to Commercialization
Bryan Petrinec, URS Corporation
This presentation focuses on the challenges in commercializing new technologies and the role of engineering firms to enable technology deployment in a conservative marketplace. Technology provides a differentiator in the highly competitive field of engineering services, but managing risk and reputation become key drivers during the early stages of commercialization. A proven approach used by URS’ Process Technologies business will be discussed using CrystaSulf®, an H2S removal process, as a case study.
Alternative Chemical Methods of CO2 Mitigation
Greg H. Rau, University of California, Santa Cruz, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
To avoid significant alteration of Earth's climate, sea level, and ocean chemistry, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations must be stabilized if not reduced. To date such efforts have proven inadequate, requiring a broader and deeper consideration of potential technologies (and policies) that can be brought to bear on this problem. Mineral weathering plays a central role in removing excess planetary CO2 on geologic timescales, and potential ways of (re)engineering and accelerating this natural CO2 mitigation will be discussed in the context of consuming CO2 from both point- and non-point sources. Possible synergies with artificial photosynthesis, algae biofuels, and carbon-negative H2 production will also be explored.