Re: (All) Waste Prevention Technology

[d39958@ccmail.pnl.gov (Robert S Butner)]

     RE: Bob Pojasek's quest for true P2 technology:
     
     > Can anyone provide me with some examples of marketable technology 
     > that is being used to PREVENT waste? 
     
     Bob -
     
     As I seem to be forver cursed with the inability to provide a simple 
     answer when a rambling treatise is at hand, I'll refer you to an 
     article I wrote some time back:
     
     http://www.seattle.battelle.org/p2online/p2design.htm
     
     The article covers integrating pollution prevention in chemical 
     process design, and includes several examples of "technologies" which 
     are true source reduction approaches.  Interestingly, many of these 
     are really simply more appropriate application and/or adaptation of 
     conventional technologies and are not sold as "P2" technologies per 
     se.  For instance:
     
     - scraped surface heat exchange can reduce fouling/tar formation in 
     some process heating applications (e.g., reboilers), particularly with 
     thermally labile, viscous materials.
     
     - susbtitution of in-line, real-time process instrumentation 
     (viscometers, refractive index, and more sophisticated analytic 
     equipment) can eliminate waste produced by sampling and monitoring 
     requirements.
     
     - even something as simple as pre-cooling volatile materials prior to 
     interim storage in day tanks, etc can significantly reduce losses.
     
     Note that none of these require change in chemistry or overall 
     process, and for the most part can be retrofit fairly easily. Are 
     these "marketable prevention technologies?"  Hard to say -- they all 
     require common-sense modification of routine equipment that we 
     normally don't think of as high tech.  They also accomplish your "true 
     prevention/source reduction" goal.  
     
     I suggest these largely to underscore the point that it is often the 
     appropriate application of engineering principles, not dramatic 
     technological innovation, that drives P2.  Technology exists largely 
     in the head and on the blueprints, not in the physical realization 
     (artifacts) that make up a manufacturing process.  THAT kind of waste 
     prevention technology is imminently marketable.
     
     Hope this helps.
     
     Scott Butner
     ______________________________________________________
     
     Scott Butner (rs_butner@pnl.gov)
     Pacific NW National Laboratory/Seattle Research Center 
     4000 NE 41st Street
     Seattle, WA  98105
     206-528-3290 voice/206-528-3552 fax
     http://www.seattle.battelle.org/P2Online/ 
     ______________________________________________________
     

     


______________________________ Reply Separator
_________________________________
Subject: (All) Waste Prevention Technology
Author:  rpojasek@sprynet.com at -SMTPLink
Date:    1/9/98 6:52 AM


Can anyone provide me with some examples of marketable technology that is
being 
used to PREVENT waste?  I am looking for examples that do not simply shift
the 
waste to another medium (e.g., closed loop systems that eliminate
wastewater but
     
have an evaporate that is a hazardous waste or ultrasonic cleaners that
replace 
solvent but create a new wastewater stream).  I am also looking for examples 
that do not significantly increase energy use or create a safety problem
(e.g., 
critical fluid carbon dioxide).  Are there any references that examine this 
topic?  I will provide a summary to this list of any responses I receive to
this
     
query.  Thank you.
     
Bob Pojasek
Cambridge Environmental Inc.
58 Charles St.
Cambridge, MA 02141
(617) 225-0812
(617) 225-0813 FAX
rpojasek@sprynet.com
http://www.CambridgeEnvironmental.com