Editorial pubs.acs.org/IECR
Enabling Sustainable Development through Creative and Innovative Chemical EngineeringAPCChE 2012 Special Issue on Energy, Water, and Environment
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Membrane technology is vital for sustaining a clean and stable water supply. Drioli and Macedonio6 discussed how membrane engineering contributed to solving the water issue, and gave a vision on the current and future developments of membrane operations in the field of water treatment. For the first time, Li et al.7 explored the potential of using hydrophilic cellulose acetate propionate as microporous substrates for the fabrication of thin-film composite forward osmosis membrane. Biomass is a renewable energy source and may alleviate global environment problems caused by fossil fuels. Using selfheat recuperation technology, Liu et al.8 proposed an energysaving process for drying biomass. Chen and Lin9 presented a systematic methodology for the synthesis of an entire energy system for chemical plants to reduce overall energy consumption and cost. For agricultural waste, Tada et al.10 developed an effective microbial process for xylitol production from corn cobs using Candida magnolia. Wang et al.11 studied the transesterification of triolein to biodiesel, using a metalloaded zeolite catalyst. Abe et al.12 studied the ionic liquid technology for lipase-mediated optical resolution of secondary alcohols. Ng and co-workers13 outlined the roadmap for the next generation of biodiesel, including supply, demand, and production processes, technical barriers as well as research and development efforts. Jin et al.14 discussed a potentially useful technology to convert biomass and CO2 into chemicals and fuels through hydrothermal reactions. Solar energy and fuel cells are clean energy resources with minimum pollution to the environment. Wang et al.15 studied photocatalysts based on cobalt phosphate−ZnO composite, which could convert water to hydrogen and oxygen with solar energy. Through co-sensitization of dual-sized quantum dots, Song et al.16 found that the conversion efficiency of semiconductor sensitized solar cells could be enhanced. Sun and Lu17 proposed a solid-state reaction route to anchor Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide sheets for supercapacitors, which were used for electrical energy storage. Nguyen et al.18 found that, in alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells, the substoichiometric titanium oxide provided a catalyst support for Pd and showed excellent durability. Long et al.19 proposed a method to design and optimize the natural gas liquefaction and recovery process for offshore floating liquefied natural gas plant, so that the process could be space and energy efficient. Almost all of the resources used by man are either grown or mined. Besides the grown biomass, mining has become an essential human activity. However, the tailings of solid and
ith the rapid increase in population and economic development around the world, the demand for energy is surging. According to a recent study conducted by World Energy Council (WEC), if no changes are made in our current practice, the worldwide energy demand in 2020 would be 50%−80% higher than 1990 levels,1 and the ever-increasing demand would pose a significant strain on the current energy infrastructure and the environment. In order to alleviate this burden, the concept of “sustainable development” has been put forth, so that current developments could meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs, according to the Report of the U.N. Brundtland Commission, Our Common Future, 1987. To meet the requirement of sustainable development, the pollutions to the air and water environment (such as CO2 emissions) must be suppressed in the utilization of traditional resources, such as coal, petroleum, and natural gas, while the renewable energy such as solar energy and biomass should be explored as alternative sources of energy. Asia−Pacific regions account for ∼40% of the world’s population and 54% of the world’s gross domestic product;2 thus, the energy demand and sustainable development are more challenging than those in other areas of the world. The 14th Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering (APCChE) Congress was held in Singapore February 21−24, 2012, with the theme “Enabling sustainable development through creative and innovative chemical engineering”. The 14th APCChE Congress was composed of 22 academic symposia with 485 plenary, keynote, oral, and poster presentations by authors from 23 countries and regions, covering not only Asia−Pacific regions but also other parts of the world. The topics of presentations had wide coverage on the subjects of classical and emerging chemical engineering science and technology. Among various papers presented in APCChE 2012, 19 papers have been selected for publication in this special issue as an illustration of contributions to the theme of energy, water, and environment. In order to reduce the emission of CO2 that causes global warming, the technique of carbon capture and storage (CCS) is widely adopted. This technique largely includes both precombustion and post-combustion captures. By using the calcium looping process (CLP) in post-combustion capture method at the Ohio State University,3 the emission of CO2 was greatly suppressed while achieving high carbon monoxide (CO) conversions and hydrogen (H2) purities. Tan et al.4 developed a continuous time optimization model for source-sink matching in CCS system. Based on a molecular simulation study, Huang et al.5 investigated the effect of trace amount of water on CO2 capture in natural gas upgrading process in a diverse collection of 25 metal−organic frameworks. Although water covers ∼70% of the Earth’s surface, only 0.01% of the water is available for the people and ecosystems.6 © 2012 American Chemical Society
Special Issue: APCChE 2012 Received: May 9, 2012 Accepted: May 11, 2012 Published: August 1, 2012 9919
dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie301206p | Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, 51, 9919−9920
Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research
Editorial
(11) Wang, Y.-Y.; Dang, T. H.; Chen, B.-H.; Lee, D. J. Transesterfication of triolein to biodiesel using sodium-loaded catalysts prepared from zeolites. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ ie202782q. (12) Abe, Y.; Yagi, Y.; Hayase, S.; Kawatsura, M.; Itoh, T. Ionic Liquid Engineering for Lipase-Mediated Optical Resolution of Secondary Alcohols: Design of Ionic Liquids Applicable to Ionic Liquid Coated-Lipase Catalyzed Reaction. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202740u. (13) Wang, H. L.; Yan, S. L.; Salley, S. O.; Ng, K. Y. S. Hydrocarbon Fuels Production from Hydrocracking of Soybean Oil Using Transition Metal Carbides and Nitrides Supported on ZSM-5. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie3000776. (14) Jin, F. M.; Zeng, X.; Jing, Z. Z.; Enomot, H. J. A potentially useful technology by mimicking natureRapid conversion of biomass and CO2 into chemicals and fuels under hydrothermal conditions. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202721q. (15) Wang, Y. B.; Wang, Y. S.; Jiang, R. R.; Xu, R. Cobalt Phosphate−ZnO Composite Photocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution from Photocatalytic Water Oxidation. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie2027469. (16) Song, J. G.; Ling, T.; Du, X. W.; Qiao, S. Z. Enhancing the conversion efficiency of semiconductor sensitized solar cells via the cosensitization of dual-sized quantum dots. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie300109u. (17) Sun, Z. P.; Lu, X. M. A solid-state reaction route to anchoring Ni(OH)2 nanoparticles on reduced graphene oxide sheets for supercapacitors. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202706h. (18) Nguyen, S. T.; Lee, J.-M.; Yang, Y.-H.; Wang, X. Excellent durability of substoichiometric titanium oxide as a catalyst support for Pd in alkaline direct ethanol fuel cells. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202696z. (19) Lee, S. Y.; Long, N. V. D.; Lee, M. Y. Design and optimization of natural gas liquefaction and recovery processes for offshore floating liquid natural gas plants. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ ie2029283. (20) Jones, H.; Boger, D. V. Sustainability and waste management in the resource industries. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ ie202963z.
liquid effluents from mineral processing operation pose great threats to the water and the environment. Jones and Boger20 reviewed the sustainability and waste management in the resource industries. Finally, the editors are grateful that the special issue has obtained great support from leading research groups around the world. Through this special issue, we hope that sustainable development in energy, water, and environment continues to be the main concern in the academia and industries, and we should strive to achieve sustainable development through creative and innovative chemical engineering.
Yongpan Cheng Chi-Hwa Wang*
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Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, National University of Singapore, 4 Engineering Drive 4, Singapore 117576
AUTHOR INFORMATION
Corresponding Author
*E-mail:
[email protected].
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
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REFERENCES
C.H.W. would like to acknowledge the support by Professor Rong Xu, Professor Xin Wang (Nanyang Technological University), and Professor Kus Hidajat (National University of Singapore) in 14th Asia Pacific Confederation of Chemical Engineering Congress (APCChE 2012) organization committee. Both editors thank Noel Xu for technical assistance in the preparation of this editorial.
(1) Omer, A. M. Energy, environment and sustainable development. Renew. Sust. Energy Rev. 2008, 12, 2265−2300. (2) See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asia-Pacific_Economic_ Cooperation. (3) Phalak, N.; Ramkumar, S.; Deshpande, N.; Wang, A.; Wang, W.; Statnick, R. M.; Fan, L.-S. Calcium looping process for clean coal conversion: Design and operation of the sub-pilot-scale carbonator. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202725w. (4) Tan, R. R.; Aviso, K. B.; Bandyopadhyay, S.; Ng, D. K. S. Continuous-Time Optimization Model for Source−Sink Matching in Carbon Capture and Storage Systems. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202821r. (5) Huang, H. L.; Zhang, W. J.; Liu, D. H.; Zhong, C. L. Understanding the effect of trace amount of water on CO2 capture in natural gas upgrading in metal-organic frameworks: A molecular simulation study. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202699r. (6) Drioli, E.; Macedonio, F. Membrane engineering for water engineering. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie2028188. (7) Li, X.; Wang, K. Y.; Helmer, B.; Chung, T.-S. Thin-film composite membranes and formation mechanism of thin-film layer on hydrophilic cellulose acetate propionate substrates for forward osmosis processes. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie2027052. (8) Liu, Y. P.; Aziz, M.; Fushimi, C.; Kansha, Y; Mochidzuki, K.; Kaneko, S.; Tsutsumi, A.; Yokohama, K.; Myoyo, K.; Oura, K.; Matsuo, K; Sawa, S.; Shinoda, K. Exergy analysis of biomass drying based on self-heat recuperation technology and its application to industry: A simulation and experimental study. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie2027298. (9) Chen, C.-L.; Lin, C.-Y. Design of entire energy system for chemical plants. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202716q. (10) Tada, K.; Kanno, T.; Horiuchi, J. Enhanced production of bioxylitol from corn cobs by Candida magnoliae. Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 2012, DOI: 10.1021/ie202800h. 9920
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