ChEE 455/555
Spring 2003
University of Arizona
Instructor: Dr. Paul Blowers Office Hours: Friday 11 am - noon, 105E Harshbarger
105E Harshbarger, 626-5319, blowers@engr.arizona.edu
Lecture: 304 ECON, MWF, 1000 - 1050 am
Course Description:
This course will introduce you to the fundamental principles surrounding environmentally benign design of chemical processes. It will expose you to the social, economic, environmental and physical principles that must be balanced to create sustainable processes for manufacturing chemicals and products. Specifically, students will use green chemistry approached combined with life cycle assessment techniques to evaluate, improve, and redesign chemical engineering processes.
Prerequisites:Undergraduate students should have completed ChEE 442
Graduate students should be in the chemical, environmental, biomedical, or mechanical engineering graduate programs.Text: Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice by P. T. Anastas and J. C. Warner, Oxford University Press, New York (1998). Additional materials will be available as a coursepack online at http://www.che.arizona.edu/Directory/Faculty/Blowers.htm
Course Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, students should:
1) Be able to discuss the implications of green design in the context of environmental and economic costs.
2) Be able to implement life cycle assessment on individual chemical engineering process flowsheets.
3) Be able to discuss the limitations, strengths, and uses of lifecycle assessment methods applied to chemical engineering problems.
4) Be able to evaluate current chemical processes to identify environmental and economic impacts.
5) Be able to identify methods for improving the environmental and economic performances of chemical processes.
6) Be able to explain to other engineers the reasoning behind green chemistry and life cycle assessment methodologies.
7) Be able to read and critique published life cycle assessments for their individual strengths and weaknesses.
8) Be able to search for and use highly specific information in the published literature and to evaluate the relevance of the materials. Be able to effectively use library resources.
Other meta-objectives to be learned in this course:
1) Be able to communicate effectively in short written reports
2) Be able to present material orally to peers
3) Be able to perform literature searches for specific information that is needed
4) Be able to work effectively in teams to achieve multi-goal objectives
Course Policy:
Homework is due at the beginning of the class on the day it is due.
Late homework will not be accepted.
| Assignment type to be Assessed | Percentage of final grade |
| Homework | 30% |
| First Group Project | 15% |
| Second Group Project | 15% |
| First Exam | 20% |
| Group Final Exam | 20% |
Make-up exams: A make up exam may be arranged if you notify the instructor before the regularly scheduled exam. A makeup exam will be scheduled only if the student has a valid reason for missing the regularly scheduled exam. Verifiable illness with notification from the emergency dean or family emergencies are valid reasons for missing an exam.
Final exam: Comprehensive final on Tuesday 5/14, 8am-10 am. A comprehensive final will be given during the scheduled period during finals.
Course Grading Policies:
This course will be graded on a straight scale with the following grade thresholds:
| Total percentage of points earned | Final Grade |
| 85 -100 % | A |
| 75 - 85 % | B |
| 65 - 75 % | C |
| 50 - 65 % | D |
| < 50% | F |