Prevent pollution in batch processes

Pollution prevention is an increasingly important mission in the chemical process industries (CPI). Some firms are even adopting it as a way of doing business, not only for the environmental benefits it brings, but also because it makes sense economically.

An earlier CEP article, "Follow this Path to Pollution Prevention," by James A. Dyer and Kenneth L. Mulholland, Jan. 1998, pp. 34-42, presented a methodology for identifying and implementing pollution-prevention technologies and practices. A follow-up article, "Prevent Pollution via Better Reactor Design and Operation," Feb. 1998, pp. 6166, discussed one area in more detail and outlined strategies to minimize wastes by improving reactor selectivity.

In this issue, the authors look at two additional areas of technology and practice:

* "Prevent Pollution in Batch Processes," pp. 24-29 (coauthored by Robert A. Keller)

* "Prevent Pollution in Equipment and Parts Cleaning Operations," pp. 30-34.

These authors have addressed in detail other aspects of pollution prevention, including program development, economics, and numerous other technologies and practices applicable throughout the CPI, in a new book published by AIChE, "Pollution Prevention: Methodology, Technologies, and Practices." Information about the book and how to order it is available on the AIChE Web site at http://www.aiche.org/ publication/pollutionprevention.htm, or from the AIChExpress Call Center at 1-800-242-4363 (U.S.) or 1-212-591-8100.