ORCID

0009-0005-4335-8592

Degree

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Major(s)

Chemical Engineering

Document Type

Immediate Open Access

Abstract

The EPA has implemented and increased environmental regulations and safeguards for carbon dioxide (CO2) and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions for the past 70 years. These regulations have affected the technology and methodology used in industrial chemical production processes. As newly graduated engineers enter the work field, they will encounter current and future EPA regulations, and they will have to adjust their production units to meet these safeguards. This report loosely follows the structure of the Plant Design Course (CHE 4233) to show the process of designing a conventional cumene production plant. The conventional process is compared to a new technology, reactive distillation, which is an environmentally friendly process. Environmental analyses are run comparing the two processes' emissions releases. After the two processes were designed and analyzed, the results were shown to the students of CHE 4233 where they provided feedback regarding if they are prepared environmentally to face the future challenges that await. This study shows the need to connect environmental solutions/awareness to academic courses to prepare students for real-life environmental industrial applications.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.54718/EPDT7686

Date Defended

4-28-2025

Funding Source

NA

Thesis Director

Dr. Larry Pearson

Second Committee Member

Dr. Julie Jessop

Third Committee Member

George Dunn

Comments

NA

Rights Statement

NA

Download

Share

COinS