Purdue University SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING GRADUATE SEMINAR SERIES Dr. Porter R. Peoples Director, Green Chemistry Institute (GCI) American Chemical Society "Our Chemical Enterprise in the 21st Century" February 22, 2011 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. FRNY G140 ABSTRACT: The foundation of our modern chemical infrastructure is rooted in a rapid development in understating the rules of chemistry in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Coupled with a cheap and plentiful supply of both energy and chemical building blocks derived from petroleum, the modern chemical enterprise blossomed. While there were many isolated incidents over the decades, it was not until 1962 with the publication of "Silent Spring," by Rachael Carson, that a real awareness of the impact of mankind on our environment entered our collective consciousness. Modern analytical chemistry is now revealing just how widespread, persistent and bioaccumulative many of these synthetic materials have become. Coupled with growing awareness of the demands of an expanding population, rising standards of living and the scale of resources and energy required to meet those demands, the new rules of sustainable design are sweeping across the plant like a tsunami. Green chemistry and engineering will play a central role in the transformation of chemistry from a petroleum based enterprise, take and make waste society, to one driven by the 12 principles of green chemistry and engineering. This talk will review global perspectives driving these changes, examples of the successful implementation of green chemistry and engineering and the powerful return on investment if offers. A short career learning will also be provided for students. BIO: Robert Peoples, Ph.D., is Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute(r). In this capacity, he drives the implementation of the principles of green chemistry across the global chemical enterprise. Dr. Peoples has been a member of American Chemical Society (ACS) for 35 years, giving him valuable experience and insight into the chemical industry. Immediately prior to becoming Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute(r), he served as Sustainability Director for the Carpet & Rug Institute, Executive Director of The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE), and President of the Environmental Impact Group. Preceding this position, Bob was Director of Carpet Sustainability and Market Development at Solutia, Inc., where he was actively involved in carpet recycling and negotiations that led to the formation of CARE and carpet-related health and indoor air quality issues. He is a founding member of the CARE Board of Directors where he still serves. Bob was a member of the team that developed Monsanto's patented, revolutionary stain blocker and fluorochemistry for the carpet industry. Following this development, he led the technical team for the commercialization of Flectron(r), a new business for Monsanto in St. Louis where he spent three years in Advanced Performance Materials. In 1992, he was appointed head of Carpet New Products in Pensacola, FL, and held several positions of increasing responsibility including Director of Nylon Technology. In these various roles, Bob served to integrate a wide variety of initiatives that deal with sustainability on a national level. His efforts spanned new business development, new product and technology development, technology licensing, and the implementation of a unified national sustainable carpet standard. In 2003, Bob was the first recipient of the Carpet America Recovery Effort "Person of the Year" award. Bob is a member of California's prestigious Green Ribbon Science Panel, which is comprised of experts who provide advice on scientific matters, chemical policy recommendations, and implementation strategies. The panel is part of the state's Green Chemistry Initiative being implemented by the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). An internationally recognized speaker in the areas of sustainability, standards, innovation, and carpet reclamation, Dr. Peoples holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics and chemistry from Montclair State University in New Jersey and a Ph.D. in physical organic chemistry from Purdue University. He serves on several local and national boards including the Carpet America Recovery Effort, California's Green Ribbon Science Panel, the Chemical Sciences Roundtable of the National Academies of Science, the International Advisory Board for the 2010 IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry, the University of Maryland's Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship Program, NSF International Joint Committee for the Sustainable Green Carpet Standard (NSF-140) and the Green Standard.org. He is a member of several organizations including the National Recycling Coalition, Society of Plastics Engineers, and the American Chemical Society.