Frontiers in Chemical Engineering. Research Needs and Opportunities. INSTITUTION National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Washington, DC
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DOCUMENT RESUME ED 295 813 SE 049 194 TITLE Frontiers in Chemical Engineering. Research Needs and Opportunities. INSTITUTION National Academy of Sciences - National Research Council, Washington, DC. Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources. SPONS AGENCY Department of Energy, Washington, D.C.; National Bureau of Standards (DOC), Washington, D.C.; National Science Foundation, Washington, D.C. REPORT NO ISBN-0-309-03793-E PUB DATE 88 GRANT 50SBNB5C23; CBT-8419184; DE-FG01-852260847 NOTE 232p.; Drawings and colored pages may not reproduce well. AVAILABLE FROMNational Academy Press, 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20418 ($19.95). PUB TYPE Reports - Descriptive (141) -- Reports - Research /Technical (143) EDRS PRICE MF01 Plus Postage. PC Not Available from EDRS. DESCRIPTORS *Chemical Engineering; *Chemical Industry; College Science; Higher Education; *Manufacturing Industry; Petroleum Industry; Power Technology; Research Needs; *Research Opportunities; Science Education; *Scientific Research; *Technological Advancement ABSTRACT Chemical engineers play a key role in industries such as petroleum, food, artificial fibers, petrochemicals, plastics and many others. They are needed to tailor manufacturing technology to the requirements of products and to integrate product and process design. This report discusses how chemical engineers are continuing to address technological problems that are important to manufacturing interests in the United States. The research frontiers discussed in this report are grouped into four themes including: (1) starting new technologies; (2) maintaining leadership in established technologies; (3) protecting and improving the environment; and (4) developing s3stematic knowledge and generic tools. High priority areas c9nsidered include biotechnology and biomedicine; electronic, platonic, and recording materials and devices; polymers, ceramics, and composites; processing of energy and natural resources; environmental ptatection, process safety, and hazardous waste management; computer-assisted process and control engineering; and surfaces, interfaces, and microstructures. Appendices include detailed recommendations for funding, contributors, and the chemical processing industries. (CW) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************g************* FRONTIERS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING RESEARCH NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES Committee on Chemical Engineering Frontiers: Research Needs and Opportunities Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology Commission on Physical Sciences, Mathematics, and Resources National Research Council NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS Washington, D.C. 1988 3 NATIONAL ACADEMY PRESS 2101 Constitution Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20418 NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance. This report has been reviewed by a group other than the authors according to procedures approved by a Report Review Committee consisting of members of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The National Academy of Sciences is a private, nonprofit, self-perpetuating society of distinguished scholars engaged in scientific and engineering research, dedicated to the furtherance of science and technology and to their use for the general welfare. Upon the authority of the charter granted to it by the Congress in 1863, the Academy has a mandate that require.. it to advise the federal government on scientific and technical matters. Dr. Frank Press is president of the National Academy of Sciences. The National Academy of Engineering was established in 1964, under the charter of the National Academy of Sciences, as a parallel organization of outstanding engineers. It is autonomous in its administration and in the selection of its members, sharing with the National Academy of Sciences the responsibility for advising the federal government. The National Academy of Engineering also sponsors engineering programs aimed at meeting national needs, encourages education and research, and recognizes the superior achievements of engineers. Dr. Robert M. White is president of the National Academy of Engineering. The Institute of Medicine was established in 1970 by the National Academy of Sciences to secure the services of eminent members of appropriate professions in the examination of policy matters pertaining to the health of the public. The Institute acts under the responsibility given to the National Academy of Sciences by its congressional charter to be an adviser to the federal government and, upon its own initiative, to identify issues of medical care, research, and education. Dr. Sanwel 0. Thier is president of the Insiitute of Medicine. The National Research Council was organized by the Nationai Acadcmy of Sciences in 1916 to associate the broad community of science and technology with the Academy's purposes of furthering knowledge and advising the federal government. Functioning in accordance with general policies determined by the Academy, the Council has Lome the principal operating agency of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineering in providing services to the government, the public, and the scientific and engineering communities. The Council is administered jointly by both Academies and the Institute of Medicine. D.. Frank Press and Dr. Robert M. White are chairman and vice-chairman, respectively, of the National Research Council. Support for this project was provided by the Amencan Chemical Society, the American Institute of Chem:cal Engineers, the Council for Chemical Research, Inc., the U.S. Department of Energy under Grant No. DE-FG01-85FE60847, the National Bureau of Standards under Grant No. 50SBNB5C23, the National Science Foundation under Grant No. CBT- 8419184, and the Whitaker Foundation. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Chemical Engineering Frontiers: Research Needs and Opportunities. Frontiers in chemical engineering : research needs and opportunities/Committee on Chemical Engineering Frontiers Research Needs and Opportunities, Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology, Commission on Physical Sciences, Mr.thematics, and Resources, National Research Council. p. cm. Bibliography: p. Includes index. ISBN 0-309-03793-X (paper); ISBN 0-309-03836-7 (cloth) 1. Chemical engineering -ResearchUnited States. I. Title. TPI71.N37 1988 88-4120 620' .0072dc19 CIP (Rev.) No part of this book may be reproduced by any mechanical, photographic, or electronic process, or in the form of a phonographic recording, nor may it be stored in a retrieval system, transmitted, or otherwise copied f . public or private use without written permission from the publisher, except for the purposes of official use by the U.S. government. Printed in the United States of America 4 I Committee on Chemical Engineering Frontiers: Research Needs and Opportunities NEAL R. AMUNDSON (Chairman), University JOHN A. QUINN, University of Pennsylvania of Houston KENNETH J. RICHARDS, Kerr-McGee EDWARD A MASON (Vice-Chairman), Corporation Amoco Corporation JOHN P. SACHS, Horsehead Industries, Inc. JAMES WEI (Vice-Chairman), Massac..asetts ADEL F. SAROFIM, Massachusetts Institute Institute of Technology of Technology MICHAEL L. BARRY, Vitelic Corporation ROBERT S. SCHECHTER, University of ALEXIS T. BELL, University of California, Texas, Austin Berkeley WILLIAM R. SCHOWALTER, Princeton KENNETH B. BISCHOFF, University of University Delaware L. E. SCRIVEN, University of Minnesota HERBERT D. DOAN, Doan Associates JOHN H. SEINFELD, California Institute of ELISABETH M. DRAKE, Arthur D. Little, Technology Inc. JOHN H. SINFELT, Exxon Research and SERGE GRATCH, Ford Motor Company Engineering Company (retired) LARRY F. THOMPSON, AT&T Bell HUGH D. GUTHRIE, Morgantown Energy Laboratories Technology Center, DOE KLAUS D. TIMMERHAUS, University of ARTHUR E. HUMPHREY, Lehigh University Colorado SHELDON E. ISAKOFF, E.I. du Pont de ALFRED E. WECHSLER, Arthur D. Little, Nemours and Company, Inc. Inc. JAMES LAGO, Merck and Company (retired) ARTHUR W. WESTERBERG, Carnegie-Mellon KEITH W. MCHENRY, JR., Amoco Oil University Company SEYMOUR L. MEISEL, Mobil Research and ROBERT M. SIMON, Project Director Development Company (retired) ROBERT M. JOYCE, Editorial Consultant ARTHUR B. METZNER, University of NANCY WINCHESTER, Editor Delaware ROSEANNE PRICE, Editor ALAN S. MICHAELS, North Carolina State LYNN E. DUFF, Financial Assistant University MONALISA R. BRUCE, Administrative JOHN P. MULRONEY, Rohm and Haas Secretary Company LEIGH E. NELSON, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co., Inc. iii r 1111 U Panels of the Committee Panel on Biochemical andBiomedical Engineering ARTHUR E. HUMPHREY (Chairman), Lehigh ROBERT L. DEDRICK, National Institutes of University Health KENNETH B. BISCHOFF, University of MITCHELL LITT, University of Pennsylvania Delaware ALAN S. MICHAELS, North Carolina State CHARLES BOTTOMLEY, E.I. du Pont de University Nemours and Company, Inc. FRED PALENSKY. Minnesota