Grantee Research Project Results
Nearcritical Water For Environmentally Benign Chemical Processing
EPA Grant Number: R825325Title: Nearcritical Water For Environmentally Benign Chemical Processing
Investigators: Eckert, Charles A. , Liotta, C. L.
Institution: Georgia Institute of Technology
EPA Project Officer: Aja, Hayley
Project Period: October 1, 1996 through September 30, 1999
Project Amount: $180,000
RFA: Technology for a Sustainable Environment (1996) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Sustainable and Healthy Communities , Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development
Description:
Nearcritical water (NCW) is an environmentally-benign solvent that offers tremendous opportunities for pollution prevention for a wide variety of manufacturing processes spanning the chemical, petrochemical, pharmaceutical, and plastics industries. As a solvent in the range of 250-350 C, NCW has a density and dielectric constant similar to that of ambient acetone, which permits the dissolution and reaction of both organic and ionic species, as well as the swelling of polymers.This project is jointly funded by NSF and EPA. The investigation will first gather, evaluate critically, expand, and model the database of thermodynamic data (primarily solubilities) for organics in NCW. Next, kinetic data will be obtained for a variety of important reactions of industrial interest. Such information will facilitate the commercialization of this technology. The studies that will be carried out with EPA funding include: oxidation of alkyl aromatics, hydrolytic depolymerization of condensation polymers, and associated thermodynamic measurements. Other reactions, that will be studied with NSF funds are: Friedel-Crafts alkylation reactions, Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions, and associated thermodynamic measurements.
Preliminary kinetic data demonstrate that one alkylation reaction can be run successfully without any added acid catalyst, and that an acylation reaction can be run with only traces of catalyst in place of the 2-3 fold molar excess of AlCl3 usually used.
As a result of these investigations, new processes will be available using "green chemistry" for sustainable development. NCW will replace many less desirable solvents, such as aromatic hydrocarbons and chlorinated compounds, it will avoid the use of polluting mineral acids and hazardous catalysts, it will permit the minimization or even the elimination of unwanted byproducts, it will provide better control of reactions which can be run homogeneously instead of heterogeneously, and it will facilitate closed processes by reuse of waste materials.
Publications and Presentations:
Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 1 publications for this projectJournal Articles:
Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 1 journal articles for this projectSupplemental Keywords:
solvents, organics, clean technology, waste reduction, environmental conscious manufacturing, environmental chemistry, RFA, Scientific Discipline, Sustainable Industry/Business, cleaner production/pollution prevention, Environmental Chemistry, Sustainable Environment, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Environmental Engineering, in-process changes, cleaner production, environmentally conscious manufacturing, waste minimization, waste reduction, hazardous emissions, petrochemicals, nearcritical water, alternative materials, alkylation reaction, process modification, chemical processing, innovative technology, aromatic hydrocarbons, pollution prevention, source reduction, environmentally-friendly chemical synthesis, green chemistry, solventsProgress and Final Reports:
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.