AIChE Credential for Sustainability Professionals The AIChE Institute for Sustainability (IfS) program offers engineers and other qualified professionals a specialized Credential in Sustainability. The IfS with its many equals established a baseline definition of what Sustainability entails, a Body of Knowledge (BOK) in the field of sustainability.
Institute for Sustainability (IfS) IfS is an umbrella organization encompassing a broad spectrum of activities related to sustainability. It has three sub-entities: the Sustainable Engineering Forum (SEF), the Center for Sustainable Technology Practices (CSTP), and the Youth Council on Sustainability Science and Technology (YCOSST). It also provides oversight to the AIChE Sustainability Index (sm).
Environmental Division (ENV) The ENV division provides relevant programs on current environmental topics and non-confidential information concerning all aspects of environmental activity. The division promotes publication of papers of interest to chemical engineers in environmental activities as well as coordinates the Institute’s activities with other related societies.
Process Optimization towards Sustainability Using Modified Particle Swarm Algorithm for a Multitude of Objectives Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 17, 2011Extreme purpose of finding the most cost effective design solution with the least waste generation possible, considering environmental and social...
Critical Conditions for High Efficiency Flocculation of Freshwater Algae with Ferric Chloride Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 17, 2011Algae have recently received much attention due to their potential as a source of clean biofuel. One of the key economic hurdles in the production of...
Pennycress-Derived Jet Fuel and Diesel LCA: Sustainable Advanced Biofuels Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 17, 2011Pennycress-derived jet fuel and diesel show promise as emerging biofuels that can help reduce dependence on petroleum imports, lower the trade...
Coupled Optimization and Simulation for Multi-Biomass Source-to-Biorefinery Supply Chain Modeling and Analysis Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 17, 2011As cost associated with fossil fuels rise due to various environmental, social, and economic factors, it has become prudent to examine the...
An Osmotic Membrane Dehumidifier Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 17, 2011OSMOTIC MEMBRANE DEHUMIDIFIER It has long been known that relying on a vapor compression system to cool air down to the dew point in order to...
Development of Fuzzy Based - Inherent Safety Performance Indices Integrated with Process Simulators Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 17, 2011A milestone in process safety was the 1974 Flixborough explosion in the United Kingdom the caused twenty-eight deaths. Following, the accident...
An Integrated Framework for Design of Sustainable Chemical Process Based On Life Cycle Assessment Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 17, 2011In this work, we propose a supporting framework for the design of chemical process integrating computer-aided process engineering (CAPE) and life...
Rules of Thumb for Reactor Design and Process Conditions for Thermochemical Treatment of Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) Treated Wood Waste Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 16, 2011Lab-scale pyrolysis experiments have been performed to gain insight in the mechanisms influencing the metal behavior during carbonization of...
Thermochemical Hydrogen Production by Alkali Metal Oxides Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 16, 2011In this work, we have focused a thermo chemical hydrogen production from water by using alkali metal oxides. This system consists of three step...
Rule of Thumb for Reactor Design and Process Condition for Biodiesel Production Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 16, 2011The rule of thumb for reactor design and process condition for biodiesel production is introduced. The important aspect includes type of feedstock...
Forward Osmosis: Potential Use In Desalination and Water Reuse Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 16, 2011Abstract There has been a recurring interest in using Forward Osmosis (FO) process in water treatment and desalination. The recent advance in...
Optimal Synthesis of Fuel Gas Networks for Energy Sustainability Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 16, 2011The world is facing two critical and inseparable issues in energy and climate change. The fossil fuels (oil, coal, and natural gas) that supply over...
Wastewater Treatment for Refineries Using Canadian Tar Sands SAGD Crude as Feed Stock Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 15, 2011Refineries using Canadian Crude as feed stock are experiencing high emulsion wastewater from Desalter mud wash operation. This waste is high in COD /...
Real Time CO2 and Energy Cost Reductions: Field Experiences In Petrochemical Plants Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 14, 2011Over a period of more than 10 years of deploying industrial projects related to energy systems real time optimization and cost reduction in...
Agency - Friend or Foe? Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 14, 2011Permitting a new plant, process, or modification can be daunting task. Early presentation and meetings with the Agency can help you climb the paperwork hill. In this session, a brief description of the various Bureaus and how they interact will be presented. Further information will be provided on the Bureau of Air which has the most complex rules and regulations.
Chemical Engineering Careers (focus on environmental consulting) Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 14, 2011The profession of chemical engineering offers multiple, distinct career paths. Although many young professionals entering the professional world will...
The Destruction of Dioxins In Fly Ash by Using Gliding Arc In Tornado Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 14, 2011The characteristic of gliding arc in tornado was investigated under different experimental conditions and the destruction of PCDD/Fs (polychlorinated...
The Energy Challenge: Providing Sustainable Supplies to Meet Growing Demand Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 13, 2011As economies grow and living standards improve, the world faces a dual energy challenge: meeting the growing demand for energy while mitigating...
Fuels & Petrochemicals Division Chair Welcome and Introductory Remarks Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 13, 2011Welcome Intro from the outgoing and incoming Fuels & Petrochemicals Division Chair. Please Note: Members of the Fuels & Petrochemicals...
Design Enhancements of a High Temperature, Ceramic Micro-Channel Heat Exchanger Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 9, 2010The recent developments in the energy and process industries have lead to more efficient, higher-temperature processes and compact equipment. By...
A Compact Integrated Warm Syngas Overall Cleanup System Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 8, 2010Gasification of coal or biomass to syngas followed by catalytic synthesis of ammonia, hydrocarbons or oxygenates provides a feasible strategy to meet...
Microreactor for Industrial Application: Technical and Economical Benefits Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 8, 2010A glass based high throughput microreactor technology is presented illustrating the basic design window, technical data and configuration. An...
Toward Low-Cost Fabrication of Microchannel Process Technologies – Cost Modeling for Manufacturing Development Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 8, 2010Chemical and energy conversion systems based on microchannel process technology (MPT) demonstrate high performance in applications in which rates are...
Fouling Monitoring Techniques for Water Treatment Membrane Processes Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 7, 2010Membrane fouling and flux decline are undesirable, albeit inevitable, problems in membrane filtration processes for water treatment. The development...
Chemical Engineering Outside the Pipe: Industrial Ecology and Sustainability Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 7, 2010The 2010 Danckwerts lecture is concerned with explaining the emerging field of Industrial Ecology (IE) and why it represents a new and important area...
Characterization of Thin Film Composite (TFC) and Dense Membranes Based On Disulfonated Random Poly (arylene ether sulfone) Copolymers for Water Purification Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 7, 2010Thin film composite and dense membranes were produced by casting a blend of BPS-20 (20% disulfonated poly(arylene ether sulfone)) or BPS-32 (32%...
Transitioning to Low Carbon Power Generation by Integrating Renewables with Fossil Energy Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 7, 2010It is expected that environmental regulations will be enacted to restrict the amount of carbon emissions from today's power plants. As such, it is...
Creating Chemistry for a Sustainable Supply Chain Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 7, 2010BASF, the world's leading chemical company, has a strong history of programs to foster sustainable development, including our eco-efficiency life...
Treatment of Produced Water Using Microbial Fuel Cells Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 7, 2010Sustainable utilization of natural energy sources in the future will require development of technologies with minimal impact on the environment...
Hybrid Membrane Absorption Process for Post Combustion CO2 Capture Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 23, 2010Gas Technology Institute (GTI) and PoroGen Corporation are jointly developing a novel hybrid membrane – absorption process for pre- and post-...
Stripper Configurations for CO2 Capture by Aqueous Amines Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 23, 2010A monumental task for improving the feasibility of carbon capture from the flue gas of coal-fired power plants is reducing the total energy cost. A...
Theoretical Screening Good Sorbents for CO2 Separation Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 23, 2010Carbon dioxide is the major product from coal combustion and is released into the air and causes global climate warming which we are facing today...
Deployment of ZeaChem's Sustainable Biorefinery Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 22, 2010Increased emphasis is being placed on renewable, sustainable, domestic forms of energy, including transportation fuels, at national, state and local...
An Integrated Framework for Enterprise Management—A Synergistic Approach Towards Sustainable Biorefineries Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 22, 2010In recent years, there has been a marked surge in the search for alternative sources of energy that wean the world off of dependence on fossil fuels...
Development of Freeze Granulated Oxygen Carriers for Chemical Looping Combustion of Solid Fuels Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 22, 2010
Moving Engineering Forward: EPA's Priorities and Practical Industrial Applications Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 21, 2010This keynote addresses an update of EPA objectives and ways to engage the industry in further discussion.
Qualitative Prediction of Sorbent Performance for Mercury Capture by Lab-Scale Tests Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 21, 2010It would be desirable to have a simple and inexpensive test for predicting sorbent performance for mercury capture in coal-burning power plants and...
On-Line Studies of Pd Based Sorbents for the Removal of Gaseous Metal Contaminants: Capture and Regeneration Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 21, 2010The Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) is a promising technology for the future use of coal to provide clean energy in a more efficient...
On the Solubility of Mercury in Liquid Hydrocarbons Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 21, 2010The solubility of Hgo was determined in 34 pure hydrocarbons, hydrocarbon mixtures, crude oils, and water from -65oC to +65oC (where each solvent...
Real Time Detection of Gaseous Metal Contaminants in Coal Flue and Fuel Gas Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 21, 2010The Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) is a promising technology for the future use of coal to provide energy. During this process, many...
Modeling Mercury Chemistry in Coal-Fired Air Preheaters: Effects of Sulfur Trioxide and Surface Area Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 21, 2010Mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants are a concern to both the state and federal governments in the U.S. US EPA had proposed to regulate...
Recent Advances in the High Temperature Capture of Elemental Mercury by Inorganic Sorbents: Packed Bed and Flow Reactor Studies Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 21, 2010This paper reports on recent results relating to high temperature sorption of metallic mercury on MinPlus sorbent, an inorganic substrate derived...
Mercury Control with Regenerative Activated Coke Technology Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyMarch 21, 2010Many issues face coal fired utilities with respect to environmental demands, some based on regulations and others based on local pressures. These...
Water Sustainability Plenary Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyApril 29, 2009This special plenary session will feature invited speakers to provide a summary of water law and policy that will provide attendees with a better...
Hydrogen Production, Storage and Utilization Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyApril 28, 2009Papers on challenges and opportunities in hydrogen from renewable resources. The U.S. Dept of Energy Hydrogen Program: Status and Performance Gaps of...
A Century of Separations: CO2 Recovery: Myth and Legend Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 20, 2008Carbon dioxide recovery will be the major challenge for the separations community for the foreseeable future. Various separations technologies are...
A Century of Reactor Design and Kinetics: From Ethanol and Butanol Fermentations to Cell and Tissue Culture . . . and Back to Biofuels, 100 Years of Bioreactor Design, Operation, and Challenges Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 18, 2008Ethanol fermentations were established industrial process in late 19th and early 20th century prior to the formal genesis of chemical engineering...
The Catalytic Conversion of Bioproducts to Fuels Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 17, 2008
EP&SE Journal Article on Bio-Jet Fuel Tops Altmetrics Charts November 29, 2017Read this Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy (EP&SE) article for a limited time for free.
Industry Executives Discuss How They Address Sustainability November 1, 2017Top execs from BASF, Cargill, Dow, and Owens Corning discuss sustainability's important role in their businesses.
Program Chair Invites You to Meet the Executives October 11, 2017I recently caught up with Sipho Ndlela, senior process engineer at Owens Corning, and program chair of the upcoming
New Solar Cell Design Inspired by Insect Compound Eye September 1, 2017Inspired by insects’ compound eyes, researchers at Stanford University have developed a new solar cell that could open the doors to a new generation of advanced photovoltaics.
Technical Entity Trends: The Ocean Holds Solutions to Water Sustainability Challenges September2017Technical Entity TrendsLauren BartelsWater is one of the world’s most abundant resources, covering more than 70% of the Earth’s surface. However, not all of the water is suitable or available for direct use. High-salinity ocean water accounts for 97% of total water reserves, and of the...
Nanotube Tech Could Revolutionize Water Desalination August 30, 2017Researchers at Northeastern University have discovered a way to use carbon nanotubes to desalinate water.
Europe's Largest Wind Developer Ready to Build Off the US Coast August 25, 2017The North Sea is the most prolific location in the world for building offshore windfarms.
August 2017 CEP Preview August 21, 2017Meet the 35 ChemEs honored in the AIChE 35 Under 35, brush up on adsorption, learn about condition monitoring, and much more.
Help AIChE Craft Its Climate Policy August 7, 2017Help AIChE update its climate policy by following the upcoming series of blog posts, Engage discussions, and CEP articles on the topic.
Trends in Corporate Sustainability August2017Critical IssuesMary Ellen TernesMotivated by legal and regulatory requirements, as well as by financial incentives for taking voluntary actions, many companies are embracing more proactive risk-management methods and building sustainability practices into their business models.
New Solar Cell Harnesses Nearly Entire Solar Spectrum July 14, 2017A newly developed solar cell prototype is capable of capturing nearly all energy from the solar spectrum and could potentially be the world’s most solar cell, operating at 44.5% efficiency.
Oil-absorbing Cellulose Developed for Oil-spill Cleanup July 10, 2017A new technology collects the oil in a cellulose matrix and then turns the oil into a rigid gel that can easily be removed from water.
July 2017 CEP Preview July 10, 2017This month features a special section on solar energy, with a look at concentrating solar thermal (CST), solar thermochemical energy storage (CSP), and more.
World's Largest Carbon Capture Project Launches in Texas January 31, 2017Without the existence of carbon pricing, any company bold enough to develop carbon sequestration technology has to find a creative business model as a workaround.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis of Old Corrugated Cardboard (OCC) Fines from Recycled Linerboard Mill Waste Rejects Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingNovember 6, 2013During the manufacture of linerboard from recycled OCC (old corrugated cartons) , a significant fraction of the fibers are broken into small fine...
Future Fuels and Chemicals: Grand Challenges and Opportunities Conference PresentationAIChE Spring Meeting and Global Congress on Process SafetyApril 2, 2012To insure a Sustainable Future, CO 2 emissions must be reduced despite strong future growth in demand. “Easy oil” from conventional production will...
New Catalytic Technology for Converting Heavy Oils Derived From Alberta Oil Sands Into Petrochemical Feedstock Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 18, 2011Oil sands operations in Alberta are poised to experience significant growth over the next number of years. Production of 1.31 million bbl/day of...
Modelling Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Microcrystalline Cellulose Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 16, 2011Cellulose found in almost all plant cell wall, making it one of the most abundant renewable and sustainable natural resource on the Earth’s surface...
Nationwide Energy Supply Chain Analysis for Transportation Fuels Conference PresentationAIChE Annual MeetingOctober 16, 2011Hybrid energy processes are an attractive avenue towards a more sustainable energy future due to their flexibility in converting multiple types of...
Estimating Air Emission Rates July2017Environmental ManagementMarc Karell, P. E.Stack testing, material balances, emission factors, and engineering equations are the most common methods that can be used to estimate air emissions.
Catalyzing Commercialization: A Graphene-Based Sensor Monitors Water Quality in Real Time July2017Catalyzing CommercializationThe devastating water crisis in Flint, MI, brought into focus the widespread issues plaguing U.S. water supply systems. As the water infrastructure continues to age, distribution pipes are deteriorating, potentially leaching toxic heavy metals and other contaminants into drinking water. Upgrading U.S. water systems will take years and trillions of dollars. In the meantime, to safeguard public health, it is crucial to monitor heavy metals and other contaminants throughout the water supply — particularly at the point of use.
Enzyme Destroys Biofilm of Multiple Organisms June 26, 2017Instead of targeting individual microbes, researchers went after the biofilm that protects them and found great success.
New Biodiesel Fully Compatible with Conventional Engines June 20, 2017Until now, biodiesel could not be used undiluted in a conventional diesel engine since its boiling point is higher than that of petroleum diesel.
AIChE and the Paris Climate Agreement June 2, 2017Many AIChE member engineers and their companies have supported US participation in the Paris Agreement, from which the US is now withdrawing.
Technical Entity Trends: Reuse Carbon Dioxide Emissions via Accelerated Carbonation May 10, 2017Imagine a technology that could capture atmospheric carbon dioxide, reduce carbon dioxide emissions, reduce the alkalinity of industrial waste, and generate useful materials — all in one proc
Technical Entity Trends: Engineering a Sustainable World June2017Technical Entity TrendsLucy AlexanderThe United Nations (UN) led a global effort to develop 17 ambitious sustainable development goals (SDGs) that tackle some of the greatest challenges facing people and the planet. These goals (see box) were adopted by a majority of countries around the world in 2015, including the U.S.
Engineers Use Nanotube Tech to Recover Fresh Water from Waste Brine May 30, 2017Engineers at the University of California, Riverside have developed a novel technique to recover nearly all water from brine waste.
First Battery-Powered Container Ship in Water by 2020 May 25, 2017Still dominating home electronics, lithium batteries are constantly pushing into new markets.
Microbial Conversion of Methane to Electricity May 22, 2017Researchers at Penn State have engineered a strain of bacteria that is the key to converting methane to electricity.
Novel Technique Selectively Removes Water Contaminants May 12, 2017Electrochemical process can remove low-level contaminants such as chemical waste and pharmaceuticals.
Tesla's Solar-Plus-Storage Moves Island of Kauai Toward 100% Renewables May 11, 2017Battery storage is starting to replace traditional gas peaker plants by replacing diesel powered generation on small islands.