Grantee Research Project Results
Pollution Prevention through Functionality Tracking and Property Integration
EPA Grant Number: R831276C006Subproject: this is subproject number 006 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant CR831276
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Organotypic Culture Models For Predictive Toxicology Center
Center Director: Rusyn, Ivan
Title: Pollution Prevention through Functionality Tracking and Property Integration
Investigators: El-Halwagi, Mahmoud
Institution: Texas A & M University
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: December 1, 2003 through November 30, 2004
Project Amount: Refer to main center abstract for funding details.
RFA: Gulf Coast Hazardous Substance Research Center (Lamar University) (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation , Targeted Research
Objective:
Standard design techniques for pollution prevention "P2" in the process industries are based on tracking individual chemical species. Nonetheless, many of the overarching issues dictating P2 strategies are not component dependent, but are driven by properties and functionalities. The problem to be addressed by this project can be described as follows: "Given a process with certain sources (process and waste streams) and sinks (units) along with their properties and constraints, it is desired to develop P2 design techniques and viable applications that identify optimum strategies for: (1) Material substitution, (2) Source reduction, and (3) Recycle/reuse while satisfying the various objectives and constraints (including properties) for the process".
The objective of the project is to address this problem through the new paradigm of property integration. We define property integration as a functionality-based, holistic approach to the allocation and manipulation of streams and processing units which is based on tracking, adjustment, assignment, and matching of functionalities throughout the process. Our objective is to develop a systematic, generally-applicable, and property-based design methodology to prevent pollution from processing facilities through a combination of process modification, recycle/reuse, and material substitution. The proposed research will provide new P2 design rules and tools for the identification of optimal profiling of properties throughout the plant, mixing of streams and their allocation to units, recycle/reuse of waste streams, and modification of process configuration. Furthermore, the devised process design methodology will be integrated with molecular design techniques so as to guide the selection of alternate chemicals and reaction pathways.
Approach:
The concept of clustering will be employed for the conserved tracking of properties. Clusters are surrogate properties that are tailored to be conserved. Therefore, mixing and transformation rules that apply to chemical components are equally applicable to the property-based clusters. As a result, the wealth of environmentally-benign process-design and mass-integration techniques can be adapted and evolved into property-integration methodology for P2. Several new graphical, algebraic, and mathematical P2 techniques will be developed.
To insure industrial relevance and applicability of the project, an Advisory Committee has been formed with renowned experts from the EPA and industry. Furthermore, an Industrial Residency Program "IRP" will be formed to expand the project resources and to provide valuable feedback and training opportunities. This is a three-year project with an annual budget of $73,113 ($49,618/year from the GCHSRC and $23,495/year from Texas A&M University). Additional matching funds will be obtained through the IRP.
Expected Results:
In addition to refereed publications and conference presentations, the research findings will be documented through an educational monograph (published in print and posted on the web). Finally, a computer-aided P2 software will be developed and disseminated to the process industries to help transfer this new design paradigm.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this subproject: View all 9 publications for this subproject | View all 64 publications for this centerJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this subproject: View all 3 journal articles for this subproject | View all 18 journal articles for this centerSupplemental Keywords:
Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Sustainable Industry/Business, POLLUTION PREVENTION, cleaner production/pollution prevention, waste reduction, Environmental Chemistry, Economics and Business, Environmental Engineering, in-process changes, in-process recycling, in-process waste minimization, chemical tracking, cleaner production, environmentally conscious manufacturing, environmentally friendly technology, green design, recyclable design, clean technology, pollution prevention assessment, alternative materials, integrated process design, environmental simulation and design tools, industry pollution prevention research, materials utilization assessment, pollution prevention design, production processes, environmentally benign alternative, information transfer, reuse, property integration, Design for Environment, source reduction, clean manufacturing designs, environmentally conscious design, green technologyProgress and Final Reports:
Main Center Abstract and Reports:
CR831276 Organotypic Culture Models For Predictive Toxicology Center Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R831276C001 DNAPL Source Control by Reductive Dechlorination with Fe(II)
R831276C002 Arsenic Removal and Stabilization with Synthesized Pyrite
R831276C003 A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination
R831276C004 Visible-Light-Responsive Titania Modified with Aerogel/Ferroelectric Optical Materials for VOC Oxidation
R831276C005 Development of a Microwave-Induced On-Site Regeneration Technology for Advancing the Control of Mercury and VOC Emissions Employing Activated Carbon
R831276C006 Pollution Prevention through Functionality Tracking and Property Integration
R831276C007 Compact Nephelometer System for On-Line Monitoring of Particulate Matter Emissions
R831276C008 Effect of Pitting Corrosion Promoters on the Treatment of Waters Contaminated with a Nitroaromatic Compounds Using Integrated Reductive/Oxidative Processes
R831276C009 Linear Polymer Chain and Bioengineered Chelators for Metals Remediation
R831276C010 Treatment of Perchlorate Contaminated Water Using a Combined Biotic/Abiotic Process
R831276C011 Rapid Determination of Microbial Pathways for Pollutant Degradation
R831276C012 Simulations of the Emission, Transport, Chemistry and Deposition of Atmospheric Mercury in the Upper Gulf Coast Region
R831276C013 Reduction of Environmental Impact and Improvement of Intrinsic Security in Unsteady-state
R831276C014 Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions
R831276C015 Improved Combustion Catalysts for NOx Emission Reduction
R831276C016 A Large-Scale Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Ethanol on Groundwater Contamination
R831276C017 Minimization of Hazardous Ion-Exchange Brine Waste by Biological Treatment of Perchlorate and Nitrate to Allow Brine Recycle
R831276C018 Integrated Chemical Complex and Cogeneration Analysis System: Greenhouse Gas Management and Pollution Prevention Solutions
The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.
Project Research Results
3 journal articles for this subproject
Main Center: CR831276
64 publications for this center
18 journal articles for this center