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Series Preface
Green Chemistry and ChemiCal enGineerinG
A Book SerieS By CrC PreSS/TAylor & FrAnCiS
The subject and discipline of chemistry and chemical engineering have encountered
a new landmark in the way of thinking about, developing, and designing chemical
products and processes. The revolutionary philosophy, termed “green chemistry and
chemical engineering,” focuses on the design of products and processes that are conducive to reducing or eliminating the use and/or generation of hazardous substances.
In dealing with hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, there may be some
overlaps and interrelationships between environmental chemistry and green chemistry. While environmental chemistry is the chemistry of the natural environment
and the pollutant chemicals in nature, green chemistry proactively aims to reduce
and prevent pollution at its very source. In essence, the philosophies of green chemistry and chemical engineering tend to focus more on industrial applications and
practice rather than academic principles and phenomenological science. However,
similar to the chemistry and chemical engineering philosophy, the green chemistry
and chemical engineering derives from and builds on organic chemistry, inorganic
chemistry, polymer chemistry, fuel chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry,
physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, thermodynamics, chemical reaction
engineering, transport phenomena, chemical process design, separation technology,
automatic process control, and so on. In sum, green chemistry and chemical engineering is the rigorous use of chemistry and chemical engineering for pollution prevention and environmental protection.
The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 in the United States established a national
policy to prevent or reduce pollution at its source whenever feasible. Adhering to the
spirit of this policy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its Green
Chemistry Program to promote innovative chemical technologies that reduce or
eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture,
and use of chemical products. The global efforts in green chemistry and chemical
engineering have recently gained a substantial amount of support from the international communities of science, engineering, academia, industry, and government in
all phases and aspects.
Some of the successful examples and key technological developments include
the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as a green solvent in separation technologies;
application of supercritical water oxidation for destruction of harmful substances;
process integration with carbon dioxide sequestration steps; solvent-free synthesis of
chemicals and polymeric materials; exploitation of biologically degradable materials;
use of aqueous hydrogen peroxide for efficient oxidation; development of hydrogen
proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for a variety of power generation needs;
Series Preface
Green Chemistry and ChemiCal enGineerinG
A Book SerieS By CrC PreSS/TAylor & FrAnCiS
The subject and discipline of chemistry and chemical engineering have encountered
a new landmark in the way of thinking about, developing, and designing chemical
products and processes. The revolutionary philosophy, termed “green chemistry and
chemical engineering,” focuses on the design of products and processes that are conducive to reducing or eliminating the use and/or generation of hazardous substances.
In dealing with hazardous or potentially hazardous substances, there may be some
overlaps and interrelationships between environmental chemistry and green chemistry. While environmental chemistry is the chemistry of the natural environment
and the pollutant chemicals in nature, green chemistry proactively aims to reduce
and prevent pollution at its very source. In essence, the philosophies of green chemistry and chemical engineering tend to focus more on industrial applications and
practice rather than academic principles and phenomenological science. However,
similar to the chemistry and chemical engineering philosophy, the green chemistry
and chemical engineering derives from and builds on organic chemistry, inorganic
chemistry, polymer chemistry, fuel chemistry, biochemistry, analytical chemistry,
physical chemistry, environmental chemistry, thermodynamics, chemical reaction
engineering, transport phenomena, chemical process design, separation technology,
automatic process control, and so on. In sum, green chemistry and chemical engineering is the rigorous use of chemistry and chemical engineering for pollution prevention and environmental protection.
The Pollution Prevention Act of 1990 in the United States established a national
policy to prevent or reduce pollution at its source whenever feasible. Adhering to the
spirit of this policy, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched its Green
Chemistry Program to promote innovative chemical technologies that reduce or
eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture,
and use of chemical products. The global efforts in green chemistry and chemical
engineering have recently gained a substantial amount of support from the international communities of science, engineering, academia, industry, and government in
all phases and aspects.
Some of the successful examples and key technological developments include
the use of supercritical carbon dioxide as a green solvent in separation technologies;
application of supercritical water oxidation for destruction of harmful substances;
process integration with carbon dioxide sequestration steps; solvent-free synthesis of
chemicals and polymeric materials; exploitation of biologically degradable materials;
use of aqueous hydrogen peroxide for efficient oxidation; development of hydrogen
proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cells for a variety of power generation needs;