‘Chemistry of natural resources’ focus of plenaries at American Chemical Society meeting

Problems producing biofuels, the role of gas hydrates in energy production and how to supply clean, safe water are the topics of three plenary talks at the 249th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), the world's largest scientific society, taking place March 22-26 in Denver.

The presentations touch on the meeting's theme, "Chemistry of Natural Resources." The talks are among the more than 10,000 scheduled to take place at the meeting and will be held on Sunday, March 22, from 3 to 6:30 p.m., Bellco Theater, Colorado Convention Center.

Despite the passage of federal legislation designed to encourage development of advanced biofuels and substantial government funding for development of related technology, the amount of this energy that has been produced lags far behind what was specified. One speaker will explain the reasons. Another will discuss the role of crystalline inclusion compounds called gas hydrates in energy production. A third speaker will outline the right mix of science, policy and financial incentives to ensure that people and nature get a most valuable commodity: clean and abundant water.

The American Chemical Society is a nonprofit organization chartered by the U.S. Congress. With more than 158,000 members, ACS is the world's largest scientific society and a global leader in providing access to chemistry-related research through its multiple databases, peer-reviewed journals and scientific conferences. Its main offices are in Washington, D.C., and Columbus, Ohio.

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Bryan:

Title The four horsemen of the advanced biofuels apocalypse: Sustainability, technology, profitability and politics

Abstract Despite legislation designed to encourage development of Advanced Biofuels (ABF) and significant government funding of technology development and demonstration, commercial volumes remain insignificant and lag far behind the "requirements" of the Energy Independence & Security Act of 2007 (EISA), aka "RFS-2." A few plants have been built and started up, but no company has yet built or even announced a second commercial facility in the United States. DOE Deputy Undersecretary Michael Knotek said that the nation needs: "1,000 refineries like this by 2040," at the recent opening of a cellulosic ethanol plant. At the current pace, 1,000 refineries would not be completed until a year only familiar to Star Trek fans; in any case, decades too late to have a meaningful impact on carbon emissions, dependence on imported crude oil, or the U.S. economy for anyone alive today. This presentation will highlight four major impediments to meaningful progress in commercial production of ABF, and discuss ways in which they might be addressed through actions of the technical, business, and government sectors, and of citizens at large.

Koh:

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'Chemistry of natural resources' focus of plenaries at American Chemical Society meeting