The critical contribution of chemical engineering to a pathway to sustainability

Abstract

The vision of a pathway to a sustainable society is based on the three-pillar conception of sustainability (economic, environmental, and social) that is expected to result in a significant improvement in the reliability, security, and affordability of energy, materials, water, and food. This pathway should include launching a multidisciplinary and least-cost strategy to move from today’s carbon-based economy toward a sustainable economy and, at the same time, to provide the needed energy, water, food, and materials for present and future generations. It is imperative that chemical engineers do not relinquish their leadership role in research and development as global energy systems continue to evolve in a historical cycle from primary reliance on wood to coal and oil, to current reliance on natural gas as a transitional fuel in contributing to a pathway to sustainable global energy systems. Although multidisciplinary research and development is needed to move forward on a pathway to sustainability, in this paper, specific areas of research and development are discussed in which chemical engineers should assume a leadership role or become major contributors in this critical initiative. These areas include, but are not limited to: carbon capture, utilization, and sequestration; process intensification; material recycling; water management and desalination; biofuel; natural gas production and conversion; energy storage; and renewable energy, including concentrated solar energy use in chemical, pharmaceutical, and biological processes, and advanced materials for photovoltaics.