Michael R. Overcash
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ProfessorB.S., Chemical Engineering, North Carolina State University (1966) M.S., Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (1967) Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, University of Minnesota (1972) Areas of interest: Email: mrovercash@earthlink.net |
Research |
Publications (2000-current) |
Environmentally conscious manufacturing is achieved through a series of product and process changes, which often results in a cascading effect in supplier and user industries. The goal of this research is to begin the complex task of modeling the entire set of effects, including energy utilization, that results from successful pollution prevention implementation. The question is whether the sum of all changes (within a large, possibly global boundary) is in fact a net reduction or the creation of other wastes in other locations. Thermodynamic analyses is used to focus on areas of greater potential for pollution prevention. This is a new research dimension for life cycle inventory techniques.
Projects are now focused on pharmaceutical development of chiral and biotechnology routes for new drug candidates. Analysis of eight chiral routes, multiple solvent options, and material inputs is underway to determine lower environmental emissions and lower costs. Also in the pharmaceutical field, a project is offered on new unit process design and analysis for life cycle improvement. This is the start of an initiative to add life cycle results to engineering design in a way that should have wide generic impact.
Additional projects utilize life cycle evaluations to understand the full environmental and economic benefit of CO2 utilization in cleaning processes. This is initially focused on perchloroethylene replacement as an example of chlorinated solvent alternatives. Another initiative is in modeling the full environmental impact of beneficial re-use of industrial residues from biotreatment, breweries, and possibly pharmaceutical fermentation residues. In both of these projects, the emphasis is on modeling, integrated engineering and scientific analysis, and economic determinations. This research is meant to mesh with European research which is already advanced in areas of underlying emission calculations. Industrial exchange, visits, and collaboration are thus important elements of this program.
