(322b) Electrochemical Pathways for Sustainable Manufacturing

The chemical industry represents a key component of economic development and prosperity worldwide. However, they confront technology challenges â?? e.g., reliability of energy supply, lack of energy efficient/transformative manufacturing technologies, waste reduction, and water conservation- that hinder and jeopardize their growth and that could affect their competiveness worldwide. Current chemical industrial production methods have approached their practical performance limits, therefore, new transformational, disruptive, and enabling technologies are needed that will provide solutions to the chemical industry beyond incremental manufacturing improvements. Furthermore, a large and growing number of manufacturers are realizing substantial financial and environmental benefits from sustainable business practices. Sustainable manufacturing is the creation of manufactured products through economically-sound processes that minimize negative environmental impacts while conserving energy and natural resources.

Electrochemistry provides the potential to develop transformational technologies to make more efficient traditional chemical and biological processes. This talk will discuss examples of advanced applications of electrochemical science and technology for the sustainable production of ammonia (chemical), graphene (advanced material), and water remediation.