Apr 2004: ACCN, the Canadian Chemical News

canadienne April � Avril

2004Vol. 56, No./no 4

L’Actualité chimiqueChemical NewsCanadian

Advances in Green Chemistry and EngineeringPulp and Paper

Pollution Prevention Success Stories … and more!

• Guest Column/Chroniqueur invité 2Green Chemistry and Engineering ForumP. Sundararajan, FCIC

• Personals/Personalités 3

• News Briefs/Nouvelles en bref 4

• Chemputing 7Out-of-this-world ChemistryMarvin D. Silbert, FCIC

• Chemfusion 8Writing the Book—on PaperJoe Schwarcz, MCIC

• Chemical Shifts 9

• CIC Bulletin ICC 32

• CSC Bulletin SCC 34

• CSChE Bulletin SCGCh 36

• Local Section News/Nouvelles des sections locales 38

• Division News/Nouvelles des divisions 40

• Student News/Nouvelles des étudiants 42

• Careers/Carrières 44

302018

Table of contentsTable des matières

L’Actualité chimique canadienne � Canadian Chemical News

2004Vol. 56, No./no 4

April � Avril

Page Page Page

A p u b l i c a t i o n o f t h e C I CU n e p u b l i c a t i o n d e l ’ I C C

Cover/CouvertureWhat does it mean to be “green”? The field of greenchemistry has diversified in widespread and progressivedirections for the benefit of the economy and theenvironment. Canada and the world take note!

Photo by Crissie Hardy

Feature Articles/Articles de fond

Waste Not—Want Not? 12Green chemistry’s current trends and future aspirations

Chao-Jun Li, MCIC

Innovation Roadmap 14Canada’s bioproducts industry’s report on bio-based feedstocks fuels, and industrial products

J. E. Cunningham

Meet the Green Machines 16What’s new? Who’s who? What’re they up to?

Developing Green Chemistry 18Organometallic reactions in water and other alternative media

Tak Hang Chan, FCIC

Directed Evolution of Enzymes 20Obtaining clean, efficient, and biodegradable catalysts

Nicolas Doucet and Joelle N. Pelletier, MCIC

You Get What You Pay For! 22Energy supply and pricing for a sustainable future

William E. Rees

New and (Already) Improved! 25A report on the first IUPAC International Conferenceon Bio-based Polymers (ICBP 2003)

Robert H. Marchessault, FCIC, and Jumpei Kawada, MCIC

New Bleaching Agents for Mechanical Pulps 27A discovery made possible by the pursuit of green chemistry

Thomas Q. Hu, MCIC, and Brian R. James, FCIC

Pollution Prevention 29In the print and pulp and paper industries

2 L’Actualité chimique canadienne � avril 2004

The Board ofDirectors ofthe Chemi-

cal Institute ofCanada hasrecently created aGreen Chemistryand EngineeringForum as part ofthe CIC’s new ini-tiatives. As thenational organiza-tion representingchemical profes-

sionals in Canada, it is essential that the CICinitiate and participate in activities related togreen chemistry and engineering. This strate-gically places the CIC in its efforts inlobbying, taking public positions on issues,and communicating with the public.

The green chemistry and engineeringinitiative has surged in various formsthroughout the world during the pastdecade. The Green Chemistry Institute (GCI)is now a part of the American Chemical Soci-ety (ACS) and has chapters throughout theworld. A Canadian Green Chemistry Insti-tute Chapter (22nd) was formed in 2002 bya group of interested chemists and chemicalengineers in academia, industry, andgovernment laboratories in Canada. Itsmission, activities, and other details areavailable at www.greenchemistry.ca.

The basic premise of “Green Chemistryand Engineering” is that chemical processesshould be developed to enable zero wasteproduction, and that prevention is betterthan a cure. Research should be encouragedat the fundamental level to reach this goal.There have been several reviews recently onconcepts such as “atom economy” (B. M.Trost, Acc. Chem Res. 35, 695. 2002), whichsimply means that all the material that isused to produce a product should be incor-porated in the final product so that “noatom is wasted.” Green chemistry and engi-neering may be defined as the utilization ofa set of 12 principles that reduces or elimi-nates the use or generation of hazardoussubstances in the design, manufacture, andapplications of chemical products (Anastas,P.; Warner, J. Green Chemistry: Theory and

Practice, Oxford University Press: Oxford,1998). Consequently, green chemistryfocuses on the fundamentals of chemicalresearch. It is interesting to note that afourth-year level course is offered at McGillUniversity on green chemistry (course180–462A).

As J. McKee, editor of Physics in Canada,noted (Physics in Canada, 59, 302, 2003),whatever role science may play in thecreation of environmental problems, it isthrough science and engineering that greensolutions to such problems can be achieved.While countries around the world are takingsteps to curb the “throw away culture” ofthe plastics world (C&ENews, October 27,2003, p. 28; Physics in Canada, 59, 302,2003), the technology is also gearing up todevise “ever green plastics” (Nature, 426,424, 2003).

A proposal was made last year for theCIC to take a proactive role and participatein the activities related to green chemistry.Since the green chemistry and engineering(GCE) initiative is a “culture” and a “busi-ness practice,” it impacts all sub-disciplinesof chemistry and chemical engineering. Itwas hence decided by the CIC Board thatinstead of forming a Division, we wouldcreate a Green Chemistry and EngineeringForum (GCEF), based on the model used bythe American Physical Society for commonthemes of this nature. Any member of theCIC can take part in the activities of thisForum without any additional fee.

Canada’s vast forest and agriculturalresources coupled with its strong position-ing in chemical and biological sciences andengineering, give us a green advantage toadvance in this important area of world-wide growth. The GCEF plans to organizeinterdisciplinary discussion events relatedto GCE during the annual conferences.Of course, suggestions from members arewelcome.

Section headGuest Column

Chroniqueur invité

Editor-in-Chief/Rédactrice en chefMichelle Piquette

Managing Editor/Directrice de la rédactionHeather Dana Munroe

Publications Assistant/Adjoint aux publicationsJim Bagrowicz

Graphic Designer/InfographisteKrista Leroux

Editorial Board/Conseil de la rédactionTerrance Rummery, FCIC, Chair/Président

Catherine A. Cardy, MCICCathleen Crudden, MCIC

Milena Sejnoha, MCIC

Editorial Office/Bureau de la rédaction130, rue Slater Street, Suite/bureau 550

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Recommended by The Chemical Institute of Canada,The Canadian Society for Chemistry, the CanadianSociety for Chemical Engineering, and the CanadianSociety for Chemical Technology. Views expresseddo not necessarily represent the official position ofthe Institute, or of the societies that recommend themagazine. Translation of any article into the other officiallanguage available upon request. / Recommandépar l’Institut de chimie du Canada, la Sociétécanadienne de chimie, la Société canadienne de géniechimique et la Société canadienne de technologiechimique. Les opinions exprimées ne reflètent pasnécessairement la position officielle de l’Institut oudes sociétés constituantes qui soutiennent la revue. Latraduction de tous les articles dans l’autre langueofficielle est disponible sur demande.

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Green Chemistry andEngineering ForumWhen it comes to waste production—prevention is better than a cure

P. Sundararajan, FCIC

P. Sundararajan, FCIC, is the vice-chair ofthe CIC and is an NSERC-Xerox Industrial

Research Chair and professor of chemistry atCarleton University, Ottawa, ON.

IndustryThe Pulp and Paper TechnicalAssociation of Canada (PAP-TAC) awarded the John S. BatesMemorial Gold Medal toCharles A. Sankey, FCIC, inrecognition of his long-termcontributions to the science andtechnology of the industry.Sankey’s career has spannedfour decades and much of hiswork was dedicated to thedevelopment of the process forextracting vanillin and othervaluable chemicals fromsulphite liquor. Commercializa-tion of these processes hascreated an economic benefit inuseful by-products, and in alle-viating effluent problems.

PAPTAC recognized BernardBégin, ACIC, for his contribu-tion to a paper entitled, “Effectsof Wood and Pulp Quality onLinting Propensity.” The paperwas a joint effort and awardedthe I. H. Weldon Award.

PAPTAC awarded the DouglasAtak Award to Yonghao Ni,MCIC, and Zhibin He of theUniversity of New Brunswick,and Eric Zhang of HolmenPaper AB of Sweden. Theirpaper was entitled, “Mechanismof Sodium Borohydride-AssistedPeroxide Bleaching of Mechani-cal Pulp (The PR Process),” andwas deemed the best paper pre-sented at the mechanicalpulping sessions of the previousPAPTAC Annual Meeting.

UniversitySecond-year Simon FraserUniversity science student,Karen Chan, won a prestigiousWomen in Engineering andScience (WES) award.

Although always inclinedtowards “medicine and mathe-matics,” Chan says her decisionto study science “was kind ofarbitrary.” An accomplishedpianist with a passion for drama

and literature, the 19-year-oldVancouver native also enter-tained the idea of enrolling in anarts program. But last month,the second-year chemicalphysics student received newsthat confirmed she’d made theright decision: Chan was nameda 2004 winner of the prestigiousWES competition.

There are 25 presented eachyear in recognition of theresearch potential of outstand-ing young Canadian femalescientists. The honour affordswinners the opportunity towork for several terms atnational research institutes, forwhich they are paid up to a totalof $33,000.

This fall, Chan hopes to studynanoscience during a worktermat Montréal’s Industrial Materi-als Institute. It will not be herfirst time working in a lab:currently, she receives fundingfrom the Natural Sciences andEngineering Research Council(NSERC) to assist SFU professor Zuo-Guang Ye, MCIC, in hissolid state chemistry research.

Chan appreciates that SFU’srelatively small size offers her “somuch more direct contact withprofessors.” She says she hasbeen given research opportuni-ties much earlier than students atother larger campuses.

“Working as an NSERCstudent has really inspired me,”says Chan. “In school, you’rechasing after the ‘right’ answer.But in the research lab, there area lot more possibilities. You getto ask more questions and bemore creative. It’s satisfying toknow that one day you may beable to contribute to the broaderbody of knowledge.”

Although Chan has not yetclearly identified her careergoals, she thinks it would be“very gratifying” to work as aresearcher, and to “make animpact on human health”through biomedicine. She saysthe biggest challenge aheadwill be focusing her area ofinterest. “At the moment, I’minto nanoscience, but I’malso interested in inorganicchemistry and physics. I’mconsidering all the possibili-ties.” She laughs: “I’m open toinspirational professors.”

Reprinted with permission fromSimon Fraser University

Distinction

Pioneer of electrocatalytichydrogenation (ECH) inCanada, Jean Lessard, FCIC, ofthe Université de Sherbrookereceived the 2004 Murray RaneyAward from the OrganicReactions Catalysis Society(ORC Society). The RaneyAward is sponsored by W.R.Grace Co. and administered bythe ORC Society. It is given to anindividual who has made signif-icant technical contributions tochemistry and the chemicalindustry via catalyst technologybased on that originally devel-oped by Murray Raney. Thisinternational prestigious prize,awarded every two years, isgiven to Lessard in recognitionof his substantial contributionsto the use of Raney type metalsand to the understanding offactors which control their reac-tivity and the selectivity of theECH of organic polyfunctionalcompounds. Lessard justrecently presented his awardaddress to the ORCS at the 20thConference on Catalysis ofOrganic Reactions at HiltonHead Island, SC.

April 2004 � Canadian Chemical News 3

Section headPersonals

Personnalités

Karen Chan

Jean Lessard, FCIC

In MemoriamThe CIC extends its condolences to the families of:

Stanley Bywater, FCIC Frederick R. Richardson, MCICStuart M. Chapman, FCIC Walter R. Ruston, MCICDimitrio V. Favis, FCIC

Shell Gets NodFor New MineShell Canada has receivedconditional approval for Phase 1of its Jackpine Mine from a jointreview panel established by theAlberta Energy and Utilities Boardand the federal government. TheJackpine Mine, a second oil sandsmine for Shell in the Athabascaoil sands region, was found tobe in the public interest andunlikely to result in significantadverse environmental effects.The application is subject to19 conditions and now has to beapproved by the cabinets ofboth the provincial and federalgovernments.

“This is a big step forwardtowards our long-term growth goalof producing 500,000 barrels/dayfrom our Athabasca oil sandsleases,” says Neil Camarta, seniorVP, oil sands. The developmentconsists of:• Expansion of the existing

Muskeg River Mine to increasetotal production from thecurrent design level of 155,000barrels per day of bitumen up toapproximately 225,000 barrelsper day. This project wouldlikely be completed before 2010;

• A new stand-alone mining andextraction facility located on theeastern portion of lease 13 witha capacity of approximately200,000 barrels/day of bitumen;

• Mining of additional resourceson leases 88 and 89 as anextension of the first phase ofthe Jackpine Mine, allowingfor additional production ofapproximately 100,000 barrelsper day.Shell is also looking at the

integration of each of thesemining developments withupgrading facilities. The exacttiming of any of these develop-ments will depend on a numberof factors, including the outcomeof the regulatory processes,project economics, and theability to meet Shell’s sustain-able development principles.

Camford Chemical Report


Section headNews Briefs

Nouvelles en bref

U.S. BorderConcerns KeepResearchersHome Increased concerns aboutborder security prevented twoChinese-born graduate studentsfrom presenting papers in theU.S. recently, an issue that hasUniversity of Toronto adminis-trators ready to take action.

The two environmental toxi-cology students, Yushan Su andHang Xiao, were slated to makepresentations about the move-ment of pollutant chemicals inthe environment to their col-leagues at the annual meetingof the Society of EnvironmentalToxicology and Chemistry,being held in Houston, TX.They applied early for visas,booked their hotel, purchasedairplane tickets and preparedtheir posters and presentations.

It was then the environmen-tal toxicology students hit abrick wall at the U.S. con-sulate—the term toxicologywas a red flag to consular offi-cials. Su and Xiao were refusedvisas and told they would haveto undergo background checksbecause officials were con-cerned they worked with toxicchemicals. A letter from the so-ciety’s president explaining theconference and its value inshaping U.S. public policymade no difference. The delayforced Su and Xiao to abandontheir plans and to absorb morethan $1,000 in registration fees

and flight and accommodationscosts.

“We were surprised,” said thestudents’ supervisor, U of Tchemistry professor, FrankWania. “Both had been to thesame meeting the year beforeand followed the very sameprocedures and there were noproblems at all.”

Faculty members from chemi-cal engineering and chemistrywere outraged by the incident,which impeded the flow of ideasacross the border. Both depart-ment chairs were angry enoughto fire off a memo toadministrators seeking universityaction.

“This is about free trade in theintellectual realms and I thinkthat is extremely important,” saidDouglas Reeve, FCIC, chair ofchemical engineering and appliedchemistry, and the Frank Dottori,professor of pulp and paper engi-neering. “I think it is extremelyimportant to Canadian re-searchers in science andengineering that we should beable to have ready access to theAmerican market and the Amer-ican scene. We are also able tomake significant contributionsto the American scene andeconomy.”

Scott Mabury, MCIC, chair ofchemistry at U of T, said educat-ing consular officials might makea difference. “I think it’s an indi-vidual thing down there onUniversity Avenue (at the U.S.consulate),” he said. “I think it’sa real practical issue of border of-ficials making fairly rashdecisions without any knowledgeabout their impact on a career or

certainly on the freedom ofinquiry aspect.

“If we ignore it, it could spiraldownward and next, it’s anyphysics students working withlasers—I mean, this could goanywhere. It’s not country based,it’s subject based, and subjectscan drastically broaden.”

Vivek Goel, deputy provostand vice-provost (faculty),understands the implications theborder difficulties have, not onlyfor the free flow of informationbut for the careers of aspiring sci-entists. “It’s something that’saffecting scholarship,” he said.“In a lot of disciplines peoplehave to be present at these keyNorth American meetings andthey’re not able to do it, so it’s af-fecting people’s ability to explorequestions they’re interested in.For junior faculty that really im-pacts on their progress becausethey need to get internationalrecognition for their scholarshipand in a lot of disciplines, manyof the international meetings willbe in the U.S.”

Goel said the University ofToronto will be pursuing theissue with the U.S. government.“The president is planning tomeet with U.S. officials todiscuss visa and related issues.We hope we can convey anunderstanding of our concerns,”he said. “However, we recognizethat the U.S. government’s secu-rity concerns are paramount andthat their rights underinternational law must berespected.”

Reprinted with permission from theUniversity of Toronto Bulletin.

Ottawa SeeksSubmissionsfor CO2ProjectsA two-year initiative is expectedto help develop a market for car-bon dioxide capture and storagein Canada, as well as new uses

for CO2 from industrial emitters.Developed in consultation withindustry and provinces in west-ern Canada, this initiativecomplements provincial meas-ures such as Alberta’s CO2projects royalty credit programand is designed to reduce dupli-cation of effort for applicants inthe Alberta program.

The Western Canada Sedi-mentary Basin is believed to be

the most promising location forsuch projects. “Storing CO2 in aninnovative way will bring uscloser to meeting our goals forreducing greenhouse gas (GHG)emissions and contributing toclimate change solutions,” saysR. John Efford, Minister of Nat-ural Resources Canada (NRCan).“These projects will also help usmaximize the benefits from ourfossil fuel resources.”



Nouvelles en bref

ForestManagersTest CarbonTrackerTracking carbon in Canada’sforests moved one stepcloser to reality this fall. Thirtyanalystsand partners fromCanada’s Model ForestNetwork put Canada’s firstoperational level carbon-accounting tool through its paces.The tool, developed in partner-ship by the Canadian ForestService’s carbon accounting teamand the Model Forest Network,allows forest managers to assesshow harvesting, thinning andplanting trees, as well as distur-bances due to fire, disease orinsect infestation, contribute tochanges in forest carbonstocks.

The tool tracks carbon storedin the trees, leaf litter, woodydebris, and soil that make upforest ecosystems. It can beused to analyze how past man-agement decisions and forestdisturbances have affectedtoday’s carbon levels, and topredict how today’s forest-management decisions willimpact future carbon stocks.

“Forest managers are increas-ingly being asked to understandand evaluate the consequencesof their management actions interms of their impacts on theatmosphere,” says WernerKurz, senior research scientistat the Canadian Forest Service,Pacific Forestry Centre, and aleader of the carbon accountingteam. “Trees are 50 percentcarbon. As we grow or harvesttrees, we either take up carbonfrom the atmosphere or releaseit back into the atmosphere.The effects we have on carbonlevels in the atmosphere can besubstantial.”

The tool that measures suchchanges builds upon a decadeof work by scientists at theCanadian Forest Service todevelop a carbon budget modelfor research purposes. With pol-icy-makers, trading partnersand the public pressuring theforest industry to answer forhow its activities affect globalclimate, the carbon accountingteam and its Model Forest part-ners are now applying theresearch model to forest opera-tions, thus allowing managersto include carbon as one of thecriteria in the planning process.

The team had to be sure thetool could incorporate the bestavailable science about forest-

carbon stocks and processes asit becomes known, and complywith evolving internationalcarbon-accounting rules. Thescientists had to design it to beflexible to deal with the manyscenarios and managementquestions that interest forestmanagers, and to addressregional differences in climateand environmental conditions.It also had to be compatiblewith different inventoryformats.

“The message we receivedfrom different participants is,‘You have to make it easy for usto use this.’” Kurz says. “Theway to make it easy for them isby permitting them to build, tothe greatest extent possible, onthe data and data sources thatthey already have for othertypes of analysis. They’vealready done the hard part:getting the inventory, keeping itcurrent, having the growth andyield data for each of the differ-ent strata within the inventory.We wanted to built on that.”

“We look forward to thecoming year when our partnersbegin to incorporate insightsgained by using the model insustainable forest managementplans and practices,” says JimTaylor, general manager of theWestern Newfoundland ModelForest, one of the sites involvedin the workshop. “There is agrowing desire to understand therole of carbon as it relates to thepractices of forest management.”

The carbon-accounting opera-tional tool will be available, freeof charge, for use by provincial,territorial, industrial and private

forest managers in late-2004.Even after testing is completeand the tool is released, thecarbon accounting team willcontinue to update it as scienceand accounting rules evolve.Information on carbon account-ing programs is available at:carbon.cfs.nrcan.gc.ca. The oper-ational carbon-accounting tooltracks and predicts changingcarbon stores in Canada’s forests.

Information Forestry,Canadian Forest Service,

Pacific Forestry Centre

CFI FundsResearch atSFU—andBeyondCanada’s research communitywill receive a major boostthanks to the $585.9 million in-vestment from the CanadaFoundation for Innovation(CFI). The money is intendedto support 126 projects at 57Canadian universities, colleges,hospitals and other non-profitresearch institutions.

The CFI award to Simon FraserUniversity worth $9.5 million isthe largest single grant everreceived by SFU. It will help tofund a new centre for research inelectronic materials at SimonFraser University as well as SFU’scomponent of a regional laserfacility.

The $7.34 million has beenawarded for the new centre, and

Incentive funding will be usedto support projects that demon-strate CO2-based enhancedresource recovery in small-scalecommercial settings, and to helpabate the costs of CO2 captureand storage. CO2 is collectedduring processes such as oilsands recovery, electricity gener-ation and cement, petrochemicaland fertilizer production. Thecaptured CO2 can then be

processed, compressed, trans-ported and injected intogeological sites, such as oil andnatural gas reservoirs, deep coalbeds, or deep saline aquifers.

Potential applicants for thisincentive include any for-profitfirm that will operate a projectthat injects CO2 from a Canadianindustrial source into a geologicalformation for storage, enhancedoil and gas recovery or disposal

in Canada. Applicants must sub-mit detailed economic data forthe project. Only eligible recipi-ents who sign contributionagreements with NRCan willreceive incentive payments.

This $15 million investmentin CO2 capture and storageoffers Canada significant long-term potential for addressingGHG emissions, while continu-ing the pursuit of our industrial

economic objectives. Thisinitiative builds on the uniqueexpertise Canada has developedfrom the Weyburn CO2 monitor-ing project.


the remainder has been assignedto the University of BritishColumbia for a regional laserfacility, called the Laboratory forAdvanced Spectroscopy andImaging Research (LASIR).

“This award builds on SFU’score strengths in material scienceand will enable our researchersto engage in truly transformativeresearch in this very importantfield,” says Bruce Clayman, SFUvice-president, research.

SFU’s share of the LASIR CFIaward will pay for state-of-the-artlaser equipment and the space tohouse it at SFU. Gary Leach,MCIC, the SFU chemistry profes-sor who co-wrote the applicationfor the LASIR award with SFUand UBC colleagues, says thejoint facility will enable nationaland international researchers inacademia and industry to pursuenew science, including newfrontiers in laser chemistry andspectroscopy, environmentalscience, materials chemistry andchemical and biological catalysis.

Ross Hill, FCIC, past CSC treas-urer, is currently a chemistryprofessor at SFU. He says thatinternational researchers special-izing in some of the newer formsof nanotechnology, such asmolecular-based devices, will becoming to the centre.

Simon Fraser University

CGPA WantsChangeCanada’s generic pharmaceuti-cal industry believes legislationreinstated in the House ofCommons will not deliverCanadian-made generic drugsto people in developing coun-tries. Since the introduction ofBill C-56 in November 2003,the Canadian Generic Pharma-ceutical Association (CGPA)has consistently told Ottawathat the legislation needs majorchanges to be effective. Despitea January 23, 2004 letter toPrime Minister Paul Martinoutlining obstacles to deliveringon the bill’s intent, it wasrecently reinstated withoutamendment.

“The government’s intention islaudable, but it is unlikely thatany generic pharmaceutical com-pany in Canada will use it unlesssubstantial amendments aremade,” says Jim Keon, presidentof the CGPA. “The governmenthas allowed this landmark initia-tive to be hijacked by themultinational brand-name phar-maceutical industry.”

The CGPA believes one of themost flawed sections of the bill isthe provision that gives brand-name drug makers a right of firstrefusal. This will allow brand-

name drug makers 30 days totake over contracts already nego-tiated by generic companies.

“The very existence of theright of first refusal will dissuadeCanadian generic companiesfrom pursuing agreements or bid-ding on contracts under thisinitiative. Generic drug compa-nies will not invest time andmillions of dollars if it could allbe taken away,” notes Keon.

Another industry concernis the restriction that thebuyer must be a government,excluding non-governmentalorganizations that deliver healthcare in developing countries. TheCGPA will seek substantialamendments to the legislationduring the committee process.


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Nouvelles en bref

CanadaCommits$1.5 M toGreat LakesCleanupThe Honourable DavidAnderson, Minister of the Envi-ronment, announced funding of$1.5 million from the GreatLakes Sustainability Fund, tosupport 47 restoration projects inthe Great Lakes Basin. The fundprovides financial support toprojects that improve the ecosys-tem health of Areas of Concernaround the Great Lakes, which

have been identified as beingenvironmentally degraded pur-suant to the Canada–U.S. GreatLakes Water Quality Agreement.

“Restoring the health andsustaining the integrity of theGreat Lakes Basin Ecosystem is apriority for the Government ofCanada, and we’re advancingthrough concrete action,” saidMinister Anderson. “We mustcontinue to protect and restorethis precious resource, whichserves as the primary source ofdrinking water for the millions ofCanadians who live, work, andplay in the Great Lakes Basin.Building on our success in thefull restoration of CollingwoodHarbour and Severn Sound,we’re working with our partners

toward ensuring a healthy andsustainable future for the GreatLakes.”

Great Lakes SustainabilityFund projects, involving partner-ship with local government andcommunity groups, focus on arange of restoration activities.These include improved prac-tices in the treatment ofwastewater by products, restora-tion of habitat for fish andwildlife, and preventing agricul-tural run-off from flowing intowaterways that empty into theGreat Lakes.

The funding announced todayis part of the Governmentof Canada’s Great LakesSustainability Fund, firstannounced by Minister Anderson

in July 2000. Through the fund,the Government of Canada isinvesting $30 million over fiveyears to help restore the remainingCanadian Areas of Concern. Thisfunding is a key component ofthe Government of Canada’sGreat Lakes Basin 2020 ActionPlan which is an inter govern-mental partnership betweenHealth Canada, Fisheries andOceans Canada, Canadian Her-itage, Transport Canada, NaturalResources Canada, Agricultureand Agri-Food Canada, PublicWorks and Government ServicesCanada and EnvironmentCanada.

Environment Canada

There’s a new level of excitement onthe Web. We can look at ourcomputer monitors and watch an

experimental program taking place onanother planet. NASA have landed a pairof Rovers equipped with a collection ofchemical instruments on two locations onthe surface and the European SpaceAgency is orbiting the planet. We get to seeall the new data as soon as it’s made avail-able. The main sites are the Jet PropulsionLaboratory’s (JPL) Mars Rovers site(http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html) and the European SpaceAgency’s (ESA) Mars Express site(http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/). Both also give you several use-ful links. You can also find a vast collectionof data and images from earlier visitson the Mars Pathfinder Project site(http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/mesur.html). Whatever you do—have a goodlook at NASA’s compilation of imagesof all the planets and their satellites(http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/) plussome rather spectacular imagesfrom the Hubble space Telescope(http://heritage.stsci.edu/gallery/gallery.html). After you browse through these, youwill probably toss out any old astronomybook that’s kicking around the house.

The big search is for evidence that lifemay have existed on Mars. The Vikinglanders in 1976 included GC/MS equip-ment, but failed to come up with conclusiveevidence for life. The Rovers are concen-trating on searching for evidence that wateris present now or was present in the past.You can’t have life as we know it, withoutwater. If you find it, some form of life is orwas possible. If you don’t find it, it’sunlikely that any form of life existed. Water,if it was present, should leave a geochemi-cal trail. A mineral such as gypsum wouldhave come into existence in an aqueousenvironment as would carbonate rocks.Mars is known as the red planet due to thepresence of iron oxides, especially hematite.Another form of hematite, the greyhematite, can form in standing water where

it precipitates in layers. It can also formthrough volcanic activity. The crystallineforms will be different. The Rover, Opportu-nity, landed in an area where there is anabundance of hematite. It’s going to look atthe crystal form and also look for otherspecies. If it finds the layered hematite alongwith any carbonate species, we’ll know thatwater had been there.

In the quest for water, there are two setsof tools. First, there is photographicevidence. The Rovers send them from thesurface every day. The Mars Express sendsthem less frequently from orbit. As theyarrive, the geologists jump into action andtry to identify the land patterns which canbe compared with those on earth where weknow what happened. Those photos are onthe website. They may be exciting, but justwait until you get to see the ones that are in3D. These appear as two almost superim-posed images, one with a preponderance ofred tones and the others blue. To view themin 3D, you need a pair of glasses with a redleft eye and a blue (NASA) or green (ESA)right eye. I know there’s a pair around thehouse, but they seemed to have disap-peared. Fortunately I was on Highway 401one day and remembered about EfsonScience(http://www.escience.ca/home.html) just afew blocks down from the Dufferin Streetexit ramp. I got a red/blue pair for $3.95.When I got home, I fired up Internet Ex-plorer and went to Mars. The depth wasunbelievable. I seemed to be looking rightinto the guts of my monitor’s CRT. I’veflown over the Grand Canyon andcompared to this, the Grand Canyon was flat.

The on-board instruments include:• A miniature thermal emission spectrom-

eter (Mini-TES) to do a variety ofspectroscopic tasks. Water and carbon-ates have well defined infraredabsorption bands. If water is present, thisinstrument will confirm its presence;

• A rock abrasion tool (RAT) to grind awaythe weathered surfaces of rocks toexpose fresh surfaces without the con-tamination that comes from weathering;

• A Mössbauer Spectrometer (MB) to helpin the identification of the mineralogy ofthe iron-based rocks and soils;

• An alpha particle x-ray spectrometer(APXS) for elemental analysis. I once setup an alpha spectrometer near Wollas-ton Lake in Northern Saskatchewan.I thought that place was far out—butnow there’s Mars;

• A collection of magnets to collect mag-netic dust particles either from theatmosphere or from the material groundup by the RAT for further MB or APXSanalysis;

• A microscopic imager (MI) for takingclose-up pictures of the rocks andminerals from the surface or ground upby the RAT.

If you want to be up with the latest aboutMars and have a bit of fun while doing so,one of the links on the JPL site will take youto a page from which you can download aMars screensaver. The one restriction inusing this screensaver is that you must havean always-on Internet connection as it’sgoing to keep going to the JPL for updatedinformation.

Incidentally, they found water. When youlook at those pictures and that unfriendlysurface, it’s hard to believe that anybodylives nearby. I’m now hoping that someMartians will walk up to one of the Rovercameras and wave a cheerful greeting. Ifthey are wearing Maple Leaf sweaters, thatwill prove once and for all that Toronto isthe centre of the universe!

You can reach our Chemputing editor,Marvin D. Silbert, FCIC, at Marvin Silbert and

Associates, 23 Glenelia Avenue, Toronto, ONM2M 2K6; tel.: 416-225-0226;

fax: 416-225-2227; e-mail: [email protected];Web site: www.silbert.org.


Chemputing

Marvin D. Silbert, FCIC

Out-of-this-world Chemistry

Marvin D. Silbert, FCIC

It was a quasi religious moment. Therein front of me, in a display case at theBritish Museum, lay the original copy of

“The Adventure of the Missing Three Quar-ter” in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s ownhand. Like any other Sherlock Holmes fan,I have read and reread the detective’s ad-ventures numerous times, but never beforehad I gazed upon an original version.Unfortunately, the hallowed moment was alittle tainted by the appearance of themanuscript. It was a brownish yellow incolour! Of course, one would expect a hun-dred-year-old piece of paper to show itsage. That was no surprise—but theappearance of the Missing Three Quarter’sneighbour was. A Gutenberg Bible,produced over five hundred years earlier,looked as good as new! And it will likelybe on display long after the SherlockHolmes manuscript has crumbled awayalong with millions of other books storedin the British Library and other majorlibraries around the world. What is the dif-ference? The type of paper that was used.

Ah, paper. We don’t give it muchthought, but our society would grind to ahalt without it. Remember those promisesthat computers would provide a “paperlesssociety?” Forget it. We use more paper thanever. Rough copies spew out of our printersand we use reams of paper to feed ourInternet habit. Yet, most people have noidea of the complex chemistry involved inproducing the marvellous product that givesus grocery bags, facial tissue, toilet paper,books, and a myriad of other products,including of course newsprint.

The earliest forms of paper were not verycomplicated. Thousands of years ago, theEgyptians scraped out fibres from the insideof the bark of the papyrus plant and pressedthem into sheets. Our word “paper” derivesfrom “papyrus,” but papyrus wasn’t reallypaper. Not by our modern definition any-way: paper is the substance that formswhen a slurry of disintegrated cellulosefibres is allowed to settle on a flat mould.When the water is drained away, thedeposited layer can be dried into paper. Theoldest surviving such piece, although

devoid of any markings, was discovered in1957 in a Chinese tomb and dates roughlyto 100 BC. The first paper with writing on itis also of Chinese origin, and can be tracedto about 110 AD. Supposedly, this paper wasmade by a process developed by Ts’ai Lun,the “chief eunuch” in the Emperor’s court.Why the Emperor needed eunuchs isn’texactly clear, but guarding the ladies of thecourt would be a good guess. In any case,Ts’ai Lun apparently had some time on hishands and discovered that macerating hempfibres, old rags, and scrapings from theinner bark of mulberry trees with water, andthen spreading the resulting pulp thinly ona drying frame, resulted in a materialsuitable for writing.

Amazingly, news of this discovery did notspread to the Western World for about athousand years. Europeans recorded theirhistory on parchment, laboriously madefrom animal skins. When word finallyreached Europe through the Arabs who hadlearned about paper making from the Chi-nese, one would have expected the Churchto jump on the new technology. Such wasnot the case. Parchment was the only mate-rial fit to carry the Sacred Word, the Churchmaintained, and called paper making a“pagan art.” Initially, there was not muchopposition to this curious view becausepaper making was not an easy task forEuropeans. There were no mulberry trees,

which seemed to be the key to Chinesepaper. Finally, the Europeans turned tohemp fibres along with cotton and linenrags as raw materials. These were boiled inwater to a point of disintegration and werethen pounded into a pulp before pouringinto drying trays. Treatment with animalgelatin usually followed to prevent waterabsorption and to reduce the spreading ofthe ink. Each sheet had to be made byhand, but the paper was of remarkablygood quality, as witnessed by the spectacu-lar condition of manuscripts such as theGutenberg Bible. (Gutenberg printed biblesboth on parchment and on paper and thushis work represents the transition from theold to the new.) Soon though, as more andmore people learned to read, and the Indus-trial Revolution began to pick up steam, ragswere no longer able to meet the demand forpaper manufacture. This forced the Englishto pass a law that all burial garments had tobe made of wool, a substance that could notbe used to make paper. By the mid-19thcentury the shortage was so severe thatAmerica actually imported linen wrappingsfrom Egyptian mummies to make paper.

And then came a breakthrough. FriedrichKeller in Germany devised a method ofmaking paper from trees by chipping woodand beating the chips into pulp. The pulpcould be mixed with water, and the result-ing slurry poured through a fine screen.Drying the residue from this “mechanicalpulping” yielded sheets of paper. The samestuff we rely on so heavily—and take forgranted—today.

Popular science writer, Joe Schwarcz, MCIC, isthe director of McGill University’s Office for

Science and Society. He hosts the “Dr. Joe Show”every Sunday 3–4 p.m. on Montréal’s radio

station CJAD. The broadcast is available on theWeb at www.CJAD.com. You can contact him

at [email protected].


Section head

Chemfusion

Joe Schwarcz, MCIC

Writing the Book—on Paper

Super-cool and superfluid:how many helium atomsdoes it take?

One frequently thinks that propertiesof individual molecules and atomsare governed by quantum-mechan-

ics, whereas large assemblies of moleculesare described by classical/statisticalphysics. On the other hand, a variety ofphenomena exist which demonstrate thateven large ensembles of molecules canbehave as quantum systems. As it turnsout, the discovery and description of all ofthese phenomena have eventually resultedin Physics Nobel prizes, for example, insuperconductivity (1913, 1972 and 2003),lasers (1964 and 1981), superfluidity(1962, 1978 and 2003), and most recentlyBose-Einstein condensates (2001).

Superfluidity describes the eerie propertyof liquid helium to flow without any trace ofviscosity at below 2.18 K. This results in thespectacular observation of liquid heliumclimbing the walls of a beaker and beingable to crawl through cracks so small thateven helium gas would not be able to read-ily diffuse through them. But when exactlyturns a handful of helium atoms into asuperfluid liquid? An intriguing answer tothat question has come from an unexpecteddirection.

The research groups of Wolfgang Jaeger,MCIC, of the University of Alberta and BobMcKellar of the Steacie Institute, NRC, inOttawa have used microwave spectroscopyand high-resolution infrared spectroscopy tolook at just how much drag a molecule feelsthat is surrounded by 1, 2, 3 and up to 20helium atoms. Both groups found unex-pected trends in the drag (or rather themoment of inertia as determined from therotational constants) as a function of thehelium droplet size. In a paper on themolecule O=C=S surrounded by up to

20 helium atoms (Science 297, 2002, 2030)and more recently N2O-helium clusters(Phys. Rev. Lett., 91, 2003, 163401), it wasshown that clusters with less than fivehelium atoms behave as would be expectedfrom weakly bound van-der-Waals clusters,but that O=C=S embedded in clusters withmore than eight or nine helium atoms

actually rotates more freely as helium atomsare added! McKellar explains that thisimplies that even helium atoms in the firstsolvation shell show signatures of superflu-idity. This “turn-around point” depends onthe embedded molecule and is even less forN2O where only six to seven helium atomsare sufficient!

The experimental work on doped heliumclusters inspired a flurry of activity bytheoretical chemists to determine the exactonset of superfluidity, which they define as

the cluster size at which helium exchangeinteractions become important. Chemistryprofessor Pierre-Nicholas Roy of theUniversity of Alberta and S. Moroni of theUniversity of Rome, Italy, have recentlycalculated rotational constants of thehelium-OCS clusters with or withoutexchange interactions. They found that

about 10 helium atoms were sufficient forsuperfluidity. This is a surprisingly smallcluster size for an effect that is essentially abulk phenomenon (J. Chem. Phys., 2004) inpress. Not surprisingly, all researchers agreethat “more work needs to be done” andcontinue to refine the quantum mechanicalmethodology used to calculate thesesystems as well as expand on the size of thecluster and complexity of the moleculesembedded in the cluster.


Chemical Shifts

What’s new in chemistry research? Chemical Shifts offersa concentrated look at Canada’s latest developments.

Cathleen Crudden, MCICHans-Peter Loock, MCIC

Chemical Shifts

Figure 1

Solid evidence for the effectof oxygen on zeolite spectra

Zeolites are very important naturallyoccurring and synthetic materialsemployed in petrochemical refining

for the cracking, isomerization and synthe-sis of hydrocarbons. These processes arecritical for the production of gasoline andother products. The well defined shapes ofthe cavities in zeolites makes them signifi-cantly more selective for hydrocarboncracking reactions than the simple alumi-nosilicates they replaced. Zeolites are quiteselective about the molecules they allow intheir pores, which gives them applicationsin separating isomers of aromatic com-pounds or branched vs. straight-chainalkanes. Thus studying the interactionbetween adsorbed molecules and the siliconframework to determine the location andstrength of these interactions is of consid-erable interest. Colin Fyfe, MCIC, and hisresearch group at the University of BritishColumbia in Vancouver, BC have shownthat 29Si-29Si INADEQUATE spectra ofimportant zeolites like ZSM-5 can be usedto assign the signals in high-resolutionCP-MAS NMR spectra to the individualpositions of the silicon atoms in the zeolite.urthermore, by examining the rate of

polarization transfer between the protonsof the adsorbate and the silicon atoms ofthe zeolite, information can be obtainedabout the average location of the adsorbedmolecule.

As the thermal motions of the adsorbedmolecule decrease with decreasing temper-ature, the spectra are generally recorded atas low a temperature as possible. Unfortu-nately, significant broadening occurs as thetemperature is decreased as shown inFigure 2A. Dipolar coupling between 1H and29Si is ruled out as the cause of this resolu-tion loss, since increased decoupling powerdoes not result in improved spectra. Theslight increase in the resolution obtained attemperatures lower than 200 K suggests thatthe loss in resolution is not due to freezingout of the motion of the adsorbate.

Interestingly, Fyfe and co-worker DarrenBrouwer, MCIC, found that T2 relaxationwas responsible for the decrease in resolu-tion at lower temperature. Since T2relaxation is often induced by paramagneticoxygen present within the channels, Fyfeand Brouwer collected spectra in deoxy-genated samples, using nitrogen as thebearing and drive gas instead of air toprevent contamination. The results of thisexperiment are remarkable. As shown inFigure 2B, the resolution of the spectrum is

dramatically improved. In addition,significant resolution is still observed attemperatures as low as 160 K.

By examining the rate constants forrelaxation of specific sites, Fyfe andBrouwer were able to conclude that oxygenresides primarily near the zig-zag channelof ZSM-5, while the adsorbate (p-dibro-mobenzene) is preferentially adsorbed inthe large channel intersection. These find-ings have significant implications for thestudy of zeolites and other silicaceousmaterials by solid state NMR. For example,the presence of oxygen can shorten the 1HT1ρ relaxation time at low temperature,leading to inefficient 29Si{1H} cross polar-ization. If oxygen is displaced during longexperiments with nitrogen as the drivegas, significant changes in the spectrumcan result throughout the course of theexperiment.

Most importantly, this discovery meansthat in some cases, the very simple solutionof deoxygenating your sample may lead tosignificant gains in low-temperature resolu-tion. For the original publication, see theJournal of the American Chemical Society,2004, 126, 1306.

Still the Stille, but what aremarkable change a chargemakes!

The Stille reaction, like other Pdcatalyzed coupling reactions, gener-ally requires an aryl or vinyl bromide

as the electrophilic coupling partner (equa-tion 1). Interesting, traditional electrophilessuch as imines, ketones or aldehydes haveremained unreactive under Pd-catalyzedcoupling conditions. That is until chemistryprofessor Bruce Arndtsen, MCIC, andgraduate students Jason Davis and RajivDhawan, MCIC, at McGill Universityreasoned that the unreactivity of thesesubstrates was due to the unfavourablecharge that would develop on the nitrogenatom of the imine during the putativeoxidative addition (equation 2).

They further reasoned that beginning thereaction with an iminium ion instead of animine would prevent the buildup of negativecharge on the nitrogen (equation 3), and theamide substituent would stabilize thepositive charge on Pd. In fact, the couplingreaction shown in equation 3 is even easier


Section head

Chemical Shifts

Figure 2

than this. The iminium ion doesn’t need tobe preformed: the addition of benzoylchloride to the reaction mixture is sufficientto activate a variety of imines toward Pd-cat-alyzed coupling reactions with vinylstannanes. Remarkably, even iminescontaining aryl iodides undergo oxidativeaddition preferentially at the imine, ratherthan at the halide (equation 4). Otheradvantages of this new reaction is that it canbe expanded to include the incorporation ofother reagents such as carbon monoxide(equation 5). Considering the importance ofhighly functionalized alpha-substitutedamines and amides such as 5, this reactionpromises to see widespread application. Forthe full account of this work see the originalreport in Angewandte Chemie InternationalEdition, 2004, 43, 590.

Cathleen Crudden, MCIC, is an associateprofessor at Queen’s University in Kingston, ON.

Hans-Peter Loock, MCIC, is a physical chemistand assistant professor at Queen’s. His researchinterests are in laser spectroscopy and sensing.


Chemical Shifts

PdLn + Ar–Br LnPdAr

Br

PdLn +LnPd

RN

H R'

R

NR'

facile oxidativeaddition

difficult oxidativeaddition

LnPd

R

NR'

OPh

RN

H R'

PhO facile oxidative

additionPdLn +

(eq. 1)

(eq. 2)

(eq. 3)

1 2

3 4

ArN

Bn Cl

O

OBn+ PhSnBu3

Ar N

PhO

Bn

O

OBn+

Pd2dba3•CHCl3

CO(eq. 5)

5

N

MeO

MeO

I

N

MeO

MeO

I

Et

O

PhSnBu3

Et

+ PhCOCl

2.5% Pd2dba3•CHCl3RT, 16 hr

CH3CN/CH2Cl2

(eq. 4)

Equations 1–3

Equations 4–5

Consider this: what do pulp andpaper, lumber, petrochemicals,textiles, transportation, health care

and pharmaceuticals, architecture, miningand steel, food and agriculture, plastic/rubber/coatings, and electronics have incommon or a new product with the samefudctions but without harm?

Together they define modern civilization,constitute the world economy, and allinvolve chemistry. They all generate certainwaste that results in environmental andsocial concerns. Historically, industries havebeen established by scientific expeditionsthat have resulted in new industrial territo-ries. Traditionally, those expeditions fosteredthe creation of foundations and further im-provements that were then carried out bypolishing the production processes and byrecycling the waste—both for economicaland environmental reasons. Studies wereperformed to determine the effect of thewaste on the environment (often after anenvironmental disaster). The gradualimprovements to the original foundationbecame the industrial standard. While thoseinitial expeditions allowed for the realiza-tion of new products, they were very oftennot the more efficient or effective methodsof production.

In the early 1990s, the field of greenchemistry emerged.1 The term “GreenChemistry” was coined by Paul Anastas in1991 and defined as “the design of chemicalproducts and processes that reduce oreliminate the use or generation ofhazardous substances.” In contrast to thetraditional wisdom, green chemistry adoptsa totally new philosophical approach toaddress the delicate balance of economicdevelopment and environmental protectionby creating a new science that eventuallywill enable industry to produce the sameproducts in the most direct, economical,and socially/environmentally responsible

manner possible. It also designs the chemistryso it is less hazardous. It ensures mini-mized hazard is a performance criterion inthe feedstock, reagents, solvents, transfor-mations, and products that we make.

Green chemistry results in the reductionand/or elimination of hazardous substances.There are several misperceptions related tothe field of green chemistry:

• Green chemistry is environmentalchemistry.This is the most common misperception.Although they are related to each other,environmental chemistry focusesprimarily on studying the effect of envi-ronmental pollutants, whereas greenchemistry is dedicated to the inventionof new sciences and technologies toprevent the formation of any waste inthe first place.

• Pursuing green chemistry is not costeffective.Green chemistry’s objective is tominimize waste, and thus will allow forincreased profits by saving reagents,solvents, energy, waste disposalcosts, personnel costs, and increasingproduction. More importantly, it createsnew businss opportunites by scientificinnovations.

• Green chemistry has to be perfect.Green chemistry endeavours to perfectindustrial production. However, like anyother scientific discipline, it recognizesthat the prototypes (of academicresearch) may have their shortcomingsand will progress to perfection throughself-correction. In addition, differentchemistry may be “greener” in one situ-ation than in others. A perfectly greenprocess may not be so green if it hasn’tbeen applied in the right situations.

• “Green chemistry has nothing to do withmy industry.”An industry is defined by the production ofuseful products. Regardless of the materialproduct, some method of chemistry is usedto produce that product. Green chemistryis aimed at identifying and perfectingthe most efficient industrial methods ofproduction.

In its early stages, green chemistry hasbeen primarily related to the chemicalindustry. In a new trend, it has now evolvedinto various industrial sectors since allindustrial processes involve one or moreof the following basics: raw materials,chemical reactions, solvents, and separa-tion/purifications.

Industrial raw materials are often artificialchemicals produced by manufacturers.However, the green chemistry approachstarts directly with the natural materials.

In terms of the chemical reactions, theyoften remain unchanged for long periods oftime and industry has dealt with the result-ing waste by finding methods of recycling.Alternatively, green chemistry invents newreactions that both use readily availableraw materials and are atom-economical—which maximizes production andminimizes waste-production.

Various organic solvents or water areused as traditional industrial solvents. Thecurrent research on green solvents includeliquid and supercritical CO2, ionic liquids,as well as water and hot water being usedin new ways. The new uses of water andhot water include catalyst recycling (water-soluble catalyst), product isolation, andincreased/unprecented new chemical reac-tivities. Traditional purification methods inindustry include adding acids/bases andusing crystallization, chromatography, anddistillation. These separation methods havebeen the norm and have remained in use


Waste Not—Want Not?Green chemistry’s current trends and future aspirations

Chao-Jun Li, MCIC

for the last few centuries. They both gener-ate large amounts of acid, base, and solventwastes, and are often energy intensiverelated to heating for crystallization anddistillation, and evaporation of solvent forchromatography. New trends in separationsbypass these processes by using techniquessuch as CO2 extraction-phase separation-evaporation, membrane separation, andreforming by-products into new products. Inaddition, green chemistry adds value by de-veloping new products, new chemistries, andenhanced performance in everything fromplastics, to pesticides, to pharmaceuticals.

The current trends in green chemistry inspecific industrial sectors are listed below:

• Pulp paper/textile: trends in this indus-trial sector focus on developing newmethods for cellulose purification (otherthan strong base washing) such as CO2,ionic liquids, high temperature waterextraction of lignins. Alternative bleach-ing methods (such as new highefficiency and non-polluting oxidants),new ways of dying (such as by usingliquid CO2 techniques), and new waysof cleaning (such as CO2-based drycleaning) are emerging.

• Petrochemicals/fine chemicals: currenttrends in petrochemicals are directed atdeveloping new low temperaturecatalytic refinery, molecular-engineeredmembrane separation, direct conversionof petroleum to high-valued products,new engineering concept (use flow-bedreactors instead of batch reactors), newmedia such as ionic liquids, and newanalytical techniques (such as sensors)to control chemical reactions. In addi-tion, fine and commodity chemicals arefocusing on biomass-based polymermaterials, biodegradable polymermaterials, enzyme and other biocata-lysts, high-efficiency catalytic processes(both high catalytic activity and recyclingability), chemistry to eliminate unnecessaryrepetitions such as protection/deprotectionand strong acids/strong bases utilizations,as well as cleaner reaction media.

• Fuel/transportation: trends in thisindustrial sector are on developing moreefficient catalytic converters for fuel cellresearch, biomass-based hydrogen andalkane production (by using biologicaland chemical methods), biofuel frombiomass, and reforming of green housegases (methane and CO2) into alcohols.

• Pharmaceuticals/personal care: currenttrends in pharmaceuticals focus oninventing new reactions (catalytic, atom-economical, tandem, cascade) that willbe produced more rapidly in fewer steps,the development of array reactions,direct conversion of biomass into phar-maceutical products, new reactionconditions (cleaner solvents, biologicalprocesses, etc.), and new energyinput methods (such as ultrasound,microwave). There has also been interestin developing skin care products basedon biodegradable biomass.

• Mining: direct extraction and processingof target metals (such as using designerionic liquids).

• Food industry: there is an ongoing(although still controversial) interest indeveloping genetically engineered cropsto avoid using pesticides and fertilizers.Other trends in this industrial sector areon developing biodegradable pesticides,smart fertilizers for controlled release,biomass utilization technologies, newfood preservation methods, new pas-teurization methods, and Cl2 alternativesfor drinking water sanitization.

• Electronic industry: new chips-makingmethods are based on high efficiencyand low waste. CO2-based chip-cleaningprocesses use green chemistry to makenanomaterials for electronic applications.

Canada is an opportune place to makeuse of developing biomass technologies.Biomass has a broadening range ofsources of waste including sewage, crops,municipal waste, plants (forest/grass),and pulp and paper. The organic matter inthe biomass is mostly cellulose, lignins,and fatty acids. This matter can be con-verted into a variety of products includingfuel, fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals,polymers, and personal care products.

In just a decade, the concept of greenchemistry has fundamentally changedscientists’ ways of thinking aboutreconciling production, economy, andenvironmental issues. It’s a new philosoph-ical approach—studying and creating newscientific foundations based on the princi-ples of sustainability and efficiency. Greenchemistry’s ultimate goal is to attain themost economical return, the most socialbenefits, the least environmental impact ofall industrial sectors. and to create new

industry through scientific innovaitons.What more could we ask for? Greenchemistry defines the industrial ideal forfuture generations.

C. J. Li, MCIC, is a professor of organicchemistry and a Canada Research Chair (Tier I)

in green chemistry at McGill Universityin Montréal, QC. He received the 2001

Presidential Green Chemistry ChallengeAward (Academic) in the U.S.


Endnote1. Anastas, P. Warner, J. C. Green Chemistry,

Theory and Practice, Oxford University Press,New York, 1998.


Anetwork of business people, aca-demics, government personnel andconsultants with expertise in the

bio-based economy and a strong interest in“thinking green” have developed the Inno-vation Roadmap on Bio-Based Fuels andIndustrial Products. Its objective is to iden-tify bio-based opportunites for utilizingCanada’s abundant bioresources to growthe economy while protecting the environ-ment and our quality of life. The roadmapreport is available …. It covers a number ofchemical and bioconversion technologiesand identifies both immediate and futuremarkets for the bio-based economy.

The roadmap deals with the transforma-tion biomass from the agriculture, forests,marine and municipalities into fuels, chem-icals and materials. It addresses the processof mapping of inventories, harvesting, trans-formation, separation and upgradingtechnologies.

The vision

The overarching vision is to make Canada aleader in environmental and sustainable tech-nologies through its “Natural Advantage” andto grow the economy while improving ourenvironment and quality of life through thedevelopment and commercialization ofindustrial bioproducts and processes from ourabundant biomass resources.

Biofuels and bioproducts are potentiallycleaner and cheaper than fossil-basedproducts. They are also renewable, unlike fos-sil-based products. Biofuels and industrialbioproducts contribute to sustainability andgrowth in meeting burgeoning world demandsfor energy, chemicals and materials. Thistrend is already happening among membercountries of the Organization for EconomicCo-operation and Development, where highlyeducated populations and advanced commu-nications accelerate global adoption.

The objective of the innovationroadmap is to identify technology-basedopportunities for utilizing Canada'sabundant bioresources in order to grow theeconomy while protecting the environmentand our quality of life. The roadmap reportcovers a number of chemical and biocon-version technologies, and identifies bothimmediate and future markets for the bio-based economy. As stated in the body ofthis document, one of the main themes isthat new biotechnologies have the potentialto capture economically viable materialsand energy from biomass residues inclusiveof both underutilized materials from whatis now harvested and land that is notcurrently utilized. Another recurring themeis “your waste is my feedstock.”

The way ahead—it’s alreadyhappening!

Energy is central to Canada's sustainedeconomic growth, and it is becomingprogressively harder or more costly to extractfrom fossil sources. Demand for energyworldwide is expected to continue to growrapidly in the foreseeable future as economicdevelopment and industrialization becomemore globally pervasive.

The International Energy Agency (IEA)forecasts that the world will require 50 percentmore energy over present consumptionlevels by 2020. Global pressure is buildingto allocate fossil fuels more wisely and todevelop ways to diminish existing depend-encies and vulnerabilities. As the amount ofreadily available oil, especially in OPECcountries is depleting, oil prices willincrease, and spikes in energy prices willbecome even more pronounced. Theconflict between price and availability couldconceivably become more severe in the next20 years, resulting in a major paradigmenergy shift into future fuels and highly

efficient energy systems such as fuel cells,small- to medium-scale distributed cogen-eration systems and biofuels (biogases,biodiesel, bio-oils and alcohol) includingmany novel, high, value chemicals andmaterials.

Biofuels and bioproducts are strategicallyimportant to Canada. There are severalsuccessful Canadian companies actively en-gaged in this field. Canada is in an excellentposition to benefit with its resource base,expertise and developing community-basedeco-industrial clusters. The biomass oppor-tunity will provide new revenue streams forthe traditional agricultural, forestry andmarine resource sectors and communities.

Major benefits can be derived fromCanada’s exceptionally large biomassresource—Canada’s “Natural Advantage.”For instance, the BIOCAP Foundationestimates that our standing forests has anenergy content that is equal to 69 years ofCanada's current energy demand that is metby fossil fuels.

Action must be taken now. Substantialbiofuel opportunities both now and in thenear-term future are ours to lose despite ourabundant biomass resources and strongcompetitive advantages, especially in thephysical, chemical and thermal conversionof waste and residue biomass to bio-basedenergy and industrial products.

A theme running though this roadmap isthe potential for new biotechnologies tocapture economically-viable materials andenergy from residues including biomass fromunderutilized materials and land. The pro-duction of high-value by-products can be anincentive to recover and recycle waste energyand organic residues. At the same time, thereis strong potential for greater synergy andresource conversion efficiencies in produc-tion through effective use of co-products.

The business case for future biofuel andbioproduct developments, however, needs

Innovation RoadmapCanada’s bioproducts industry’s report on bio-based feedstocks fuels, and industrial products

J. E. Cunningham

to be better developed and communicatedwidely. The roadmap focuses on takingadvantage of commercial opportunities,increasing biomass productivity andcapturing value from agriculture, forestry,marine industries and municipal solidwaste. Canadian companies are exception-ally well positioned to capture strongfinancial and economic returns from residuebiomass material. The return on investmentis healthy for many Canadian companies inthis business. Industry research and devel-opment is close to the market and is, inmany cases, at a strong commercializationphase.

A transition is occurring in Canada fromour current excellence in physical, chemicaland thermal conversion technologies to agreater longer-term emphasis on bio-processes and green chemistry—which aremuch less energy intensive and less pollut-ing. The innovation roadmap discusses thistransition and multidisciplinary approachesinvolving biotechnology, nanotechnology,biology, chemistry, physics, engineering,rheology and mathematics in greater detail.

This innovation roadmap recommendsseveral specific actions that should takeplace in order to grow the biofuels andbioproducts industries. The following keyaction items are elaborated in the mainbody of the report:

• Community-based eco-industrialclusters pilot project;

• Government procurement;• Creation of a bioproducts industry

Council;• Greater capital availability;• Greater migration of the technology

platform to market-drivencommercialization initiatives; and

• Greater engagement and awarenessof the public.

Copies of the report are available to thepublic at www.bio-productscanada.org

Acknowledgement

Rick Smith, president and CEO of DowAgroScience Canada, Inc. is Industry Cham-pion for the Innovation Roadmap onBio-based Feedstocks, Fuels, and IndustrialProducts.

J.E. Cunningham is the senior commerceofficer at the Manufacturing Industries

Branch of Industry Canada.


Green ChemistryGoals in Canada

• Exploit Canada’s greenadvantage for the productionof bio-based chemicals andfuels;

• Invent reactions that reducethe production of greenhousegases;

• Adapt to work in environ-mentally benign solventssuch as supercritical CO2or ionic liquids;

• Harvest electricity, a renew-able energy, for chemicalsynthesis;

• Evolve enzymes for chemicalsynthesis of fine chemicalsand pharmaceuticals;

• Convert biomass (e.g. lignin)to synthetic intermediatesand fuels;

• Develop manufacturingmethods using biocatalysis;

• Convert complex lignocellulosics to homogeneousthermoplastics;

• Evaluate whether newprocesses really are green.

Canadian Green Chemistry Networkwww.greenchemistry.ca

“The Stone Age did not

end for a lack of stones,

and the oil age will end

not for a lack of oil.”

Bjørn Lomborg,The Skeptical Environmentalist

“We stopped using stone

because bronze and iron

were superior materials,

and likewise we will stop

using oil when other

energy technologies

provide superior benefits.”

Sheik Yamani,Saudi oil minister, 1973


Karine Auclair, MCIC

Department of chemistry

McGill University

Montréal, QC

We try to show that P450 enzymes can be used in

enantioselective synthesis as a more environmental alter-

native to chemical chiral catalysis for reactions such as

hydroxylations, epoxidations, or even dehalogenation.

Peter C. K. Lau

Group head, bioconversion and sustainable development Environmental science sector

Biotechnology Research Institute National Research Council Canada Montréal, QC

Research interests encompass micro-organisms as environmental and sustain-

ability tools; use of enzymes, such as Baeyer-Villiger mono-oxygenases, as

bioreagents; microbes as a biomass for source of biocatalysts; gene cloning,

expression and bioprocess development; development of a strong knowledge

base for the advancement of pollution control technology, green chemistry

bioprocess, and applications in sustainable development.Venkatesh MedaAssistant professorBioprocess engineeringCollege of EngineeringUniversity of SaskatchewanSaskatoon, SKMy research areas include post-harvest thermal processing

of natural products and extraction of plant materials usingmicrowave assisted energy efficient methods. Microwaveenhanced chemical applications are rapidly expanding intonew process/product development for functional foods,herbs/spices and neutraceuticals.

Marcel Schlaf, MCIC

Assistant professor of chemistry


University of Guelph

Guelph, ON

Catalytic conversion of abundant sugar polyols to alpha,

omega-diols through ionic hydrogenation and

hydrogenolysis reactions.

Robert D. Singer, MCIC

Chair and professor


Saint Mary’s University

Halifax, NS

We are interested in the development of green solvents such as

Room Temperature Ionic Liquids (RTILs) as solvents for

organometallic reagents used in organic synthesis. This currently

involves the synthesis, characterization, and use of known and new

RTILs as solvents, and in addition, reactions of bimetallic reagents

(such as Bu3SnSiMe3) to unsaturated substrates and the use of

RTILs in reactions catalyzed by organometallic complexes.

Joelle Pelletier, MCICProfesseure adjointeDépartement de chimieUniversité de Montréal

Montréal, QCMy research group is involved in the modification of en-zymes for use as environmentally benign catalysts, byapplication of “directed evolution” methodologies andcomputer-assisted molecular modelling.

Benoît Marsan

Professeur

Département de chimie et biochimie

Université du Québec à Montréal

Montréal, QC

I’m working on electro-oxidation of inorganic and organic pol-

lutants, electro-oxidation of lignin models to obtain

value-added products, and development of a new electro-

chemical photovoltaic cell.

Meet the Green Machines

R. H. Marchessault, FCICE.B. Eddy professor Department of chemistry McGill UniversityMontréal, QC

Synthesis and scale-up of chemically modified bacterial poly-

hydroxyalkanoates as macromonomers for conversion to graft

and block copolymers. Our objective is clinical applications.

What’s new? Who’s who? What’re they up to?

The field of green chemistry and engineering is only a decade old—but branching out in exciting directions! Canadian trailblazers reporton the paths their research is taking:


William D. Marshall

Food Science

McGill University

Montréal, QC

During the remediation of particulate media (soil/sediment),

supercritical carbon dioxide has been exploited as a medium

for the continuous detoxification of polyaromatic and/or

chlorinated hydrocarbons.

Aicheng ChenAssistant professorDepartment of chemistryLakehead UniversityThunder Bay, ON

At Lakehead, we are collaborating with Bowater Canadian

Forest Products Inc. to investigate biomass conversion of

lignin, a waste product of the pulp and paper industry, to

value-added products.

Andreea Schmitzer, MCIC

Professeure adjointe

Département de chimie

Université de Montréal

Montréal, QC

The main objective of our research program is to develop

rational design methods for bio-materials containing

functionalized cavities adapted to specific needs. Our

modern supramolecular approaches, directed towards

the design and synthesis of solid materials, involve the

use of brand new principles in molecular recognition and

biopolymers chemistry for the preparation of semi-

synthetic enzymes.

J. R. Jocelyn Paré Head Science – MAP Division Environment Canada Ottawa, ON

Development of Environment Canada’s energy-efficient patentedMicrowave-Assisted Processes (MAPTM) for the synthesis and extractionindustries in Canada, to provide these Canadian sectors with a uniqueenergy-efficient industrial process that will offer health, economic andenvironmental benefits by reducing green houses gases and criteria aircontaminants.

Jim A. Nicell

Associate professor

Department of civil engineering and applied mechanics

McGill University

Montréal, QC

Oxidation of aqueous aromatic compounds using oxidative enzymes

(such as peroxidases and polyphenol oxidases), and target compounds

include phenols, aromatic amines, dyes, and a large variety of other

priority pollutants. Oxidation accomplishes transformation of the

parent compound while achieving important changes in solution

quality including toxicity, endocrine disrupting activity, and colour.

Thierry Ollevier, MCICProfesseur Département de chimie

Université LavalQuébec, QC

Our research program deals with synthetic organicchemistry, and it involves the development of newmethodologies based on bismuth(III) catalysts.Catalytic asymmetric synthesis using new bismuthchemistry is also part of our program.

C. J. Li, MCICProfessor of organic chemistry Canada Research Chair (Tier I) in green chemistryMcGill UniversityMontréal, QC

Our research is on green chemistry for fine chemical and pharmaceutical synthesisby developing new catalytic organic reactions in water, ionic liquids, and liquid CO2.We are also interested in direct functionalization of hydrocarbons and biomass intovalue-added products.

Jean Lessard, FCIC

Laboratoire de chimie et électrochimie organiquesDépartement de chimieUniversité de SherbrookeSherbrooke, QCElectrochemical/sonoelectrochemical synthesis and conver-

sion in green media (aqueous media/microemulsions, ionic

liquids, and super critical fluids) using renewable energy:

biomass conversion; electrocatalytic hydrogenation for

chemoselective electrohydrogenations; electrocatalytic

organometallic reactions.

Jonathan Gagnon

ProfesseurDépartement de biologie, chimie et sciences de la santé

Université du Québec à Rimouski

Rimouski, QC

My research group works on the transformation of biopoly-

mers for their use as homogeneous asymmetric catalysts in

aqueous media. The knowledge acquired through this

research on biopolymer transformation processes will be

transposed to numerous fields of applications.

Collected with help from Philip G. Jessop,MCIC, Canadian Research Chair

in green chemistry.

Add your name to the list!

For more information, visit

www.chem.queensu.ca/GreenChemistry

18 L’Actualité chimique canadienne � avril 200418 L’Actualité chimique canadienne � avril 2004

Organic solvents are used extensivelyin the chemical industry, and their re-lease into the environment has been

a matter of great concern. Because of thewide range of hazards that can be associatedwith these volatile organic compounds(VOC), a number of regulations are in placeto govern their production, use, or disposal.1

Most regulations are concerned with overallVOC reduction. A major application oforganic solvents is to serve as the reactionmedium in which other compounds react.Using the precepts of green chemistry,researchers in industry and academia aredeveloping new alternative solvent systemsfor chemical synthesis that may minimizehazards associated with traditional solvents.2

Currently, the most extensively examinedalternative reaction media are: water,3 ionicliquids,3a supercritical carbon dioxide4 andultimately, the solvent-free conditions.

A number of excellent monographs havebeen written on the use of these alternativesolvent media for chemical reactions andprocesses.2–4 A critical question is: what ifthese solvents react with the intendedreagents? This question is especially relevantin the case of reactive organometalliccompounds such as the Grignard or organo-lithium reagents. These compounds are veryuseful in chemical synthesis, but they arewell known to react with water or carbondioxide and likely with many common ionicliquids as well. In order to overcome thiscritical problem, alternative organometallicreagents and reactions, compatible withwater or other alternative media haverecently been developed.

Organometallic reactionsin aqueous media

In the last decade, it has been found that anumber of metals can mediate the reactionsof carbonyl compounds (1) with organichalides in aqueous media to give the

product alcohols (2) under the Barbierconditions (Scheme 1).6 These metalsinclude In, Zn, Sn, Bi, Sb, Mn, Ga and Mg.The experimental set-up for these reactionsis usually simple as there is generally noneed for moisture exclusion or inert atmos-phere. Depending on the metal used, theyshow different chemoselectivity in mediat-ing the coupling between allyl halides andcarbonyl compounds: In and Sn allylateboth aldehydes and ketones; Bi allylatesaldehydes and selected ketones; Sb allyatesonly aldehydes and Mn only arylaldehydes.6 When substituted allyl halidesare used, conditions can be found to giveregioselectively the a- (3) or the y-regioiso-mers (4). Similarly, depending on the

nature of the substituent, reactions withsubstituted propargyl halides can giveeither the homopropargyl adducts 5 orthe allenyl adducts 6.7 Equally impressiveis the stereoselectivity of some ofthese reactions. Examples of high1,2- (compound 7),1,3- (compound 8) andeven 1,6- (compound 9) diastereoselectionare known. An example of asymmetric syn-thesis is the generation of allylglcine 10 andother unnatural ∝ -aminoacids via zincmediated allylation in aqueous media withdiastereomeric excess (de) as high as 99:1.9

Indium mediated enantioselective allylationof aldehydes in an aqueous medium canalso be achieved with 34 percent to92 percent enantioselectivity.10

Developing Green ChemistryOrganometallic reactions in water and other alternative media

Tak Hang Chan, FCIC

Scheme 1

Photo by Matt Bowden

Scheme 1


Advantages and limitationsof organometallic reactionsin aqueous media

Organometallic reactions in aqueous mediaoffer some advantages over their conven-tional counterparts in organic solvents. Thisis particularly true for reactions involving bio-molecules such as carbohydrates, which aresparingly soluble in most organic solvents butsoluble in water. An example is a concise syn-thesis of N-acetylneuraminic acid (12) fromN-acetylmannosamine (11) as outlined inScheme 2.11 The noteworthy features of thesynthesis are: the hydroxyl and the carboxylicacid functions in the reactants do not requireprotection-deprotection chemistry; the C-Cbond formation step provides useful syn-selectivity giving the desired diastereomer.

There are limitations in using aqueousmedia for organometallic reactions. Currently,most of the metal-mediated reactions involveallylation or propargylation, and morerecently, secondary alkyl halides. However,the reactions did not work well with primaryalkyl or aryl halides. A second inherent limi-tation is that water sensitive substrates, suchas imines12 or a-alkoxyalkyl chloride cannotbe used. Finally, highly hydrophobic com-pounds insoluble in water tend to presentdifficulties in these reactions.

Beyond aqueous mediaOf course, using no solvent at all could bethe “ultimate” solution to minimizingsolvent-associated hazards. Indium, zinc,bismuth and tin can mediate the allylation ofcarbonyl compounds under solvent-free con-ditions.13 Sonication was required for someof the reactions, and the reaction conditionshad to be carefully monitored to preventdecomposition of the starting materials orproducts. In solvent-free conditions, solidsubstrates often failed to give satisfactoryreaction.

Another possible reaction medium is liquidcarbon dioxide under super- or subcriticalconditions.4 Using liquid CO2 as a solvent hasthe advantage that hydrophobic substratescan be easily dissolved, and the waste dis-posal problems associated with organicsolvents can be avoided. Various aldehydeswere cleanly allylated with indium and allylbromide in liquid carbon dioxide.14 The limi-tation of liquid CO2 is exactly the opposite tothat of water, in that polar compounds are notsoluble in carbon dioxide.

Ionic liquids have been advocated as thegreen solvents for the future.3a This is due tosome intriguing properties of ionic liquids:high thermal and chemical stability, no meas-urable vapour pressure, non-flammability, andhigh loading capacity. The ionic liquids can berecycled easily and leave little environmentalfootprint. An attractive feature of ionic liquidsis that their solubilities can be tuned readily sothat they can phase separate from organic aswell as aqueous media depending on thechoice of cations and anions. Numerouschemical reactions, including some enzymaticreactions, can be carried out in ionic liquids.3a

However, relatively few organometallicreactions in ionic liquids have been investi-gated thus far. Recently, it has been reported15

that indium, tin, and zinc can effectivelymediate the allylation of carbonyl compounds

in the ionic liquid [bmim][BF4] to give thehomoallylic alcohols in high yields (Scheme 3).It is likely that with the appropriate choice ofionic liquid, more reactive organometallicreactions can also be performed with varioushalide and carbonyl substrates.

Epilogue

The Grignard-Barbier and related organo-metallic reactions in organic solvents haveserved as important methods for carbon-carbon bond formation. Innovativechemistry and reactions must be discovered

to replace these classical reactions in alter-native media. It is hoped that the chemistrydescribed in this article has helped pave theway for meeting the challenges ahead.

T. H. Chan, FCIC, is the Tomlinson professorof chemistry at McGill University.

His research interest is in organic synthesisand the development of new reactions

in environmentally clean solvents.

Scheme 3

Scheme 2

Endnotes1 D. A. Sullivan, Kirk-Othmer Encyclopedia of

Chemical Technology, v. 22, Wiley, New York,1997, pp. 529–571.

2 W. M. Nelson, Green Solvents for Chemistry,Perspective and Practice, Oxford UniversityPress, Oxford, 2003.

3 C. J. Li and T. H. Chan, Organic Reactions inAqueous Media, Wiley, New York, 1997.

3 (a) R. D. Rogers and K. R. Seddon, Ed., IonicLiquids. Industrial Applications to Green Chem-istry, ACS Symposium Series 818, Washington,2002. (b) P. Wasserscheid and T, Welton, IonicLiquids in Synthesis; Wiley-VCH, 2003.

4 W. Leitner and P.G. Jessop, Chemical Synthesisusing Supercritical Fluids, Wiley-VCH,Weinheim, 1999.

5 Selected references: (a) C. J. Li and T. H. Chan,Tetrahedron, 55, 11149, 1999; (b) Z. Wang andG. B. Hammond, J. Org. Chem. 65, 6547, 2000;(c) T. M. Mitzel, C. Paomo and K. Jendza, J.Org. Chem., 67, 136, 2002; (d) C. C. K. Keh, C.Wei and C.J. Li, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 4062,2003.

6 T. H. Chan, L. Li, Y. Yang and W. Lu, Clean Sol-vents, Alternative Media for Chemical Reactionsand Processing, M. A. Abraham, L. Moens,Eds., ACS Symposium Series 819, AmericanChemical Society, Washington, 2002, p. 166.

7 K.-T. Tan, S.-S. Chng, H.-S. Cheng and T.-P.Loh, J. Am. Chem. Soc, 125, 2958, 2003.

8 (a) L. A. Paquette and R. R. Rothhaar, J. Org.Chem, 64, 217, 1999; (b) W. Miao, W. Lu andT. H. Chan, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 125, 2412, 2003.

9 S. Hanessian and R.-Y. Yang, Tetrahedron Lett,37, 5273, 1996.

10 T.-P. Loh and J.-R. Zhou, Tetrahedron Lett, 40,9115, 1999.

11 T. H. Chan and M.-C. Lee, J. Org. Chem, 60,4228, 1995.

12 W. Lu and T. H. Chan, J. Org. Chem, 65, 8589,2000.

13 (a) X. H. Li, J. X. Haberman and C. J. Li, Synth.Commnu, 28, 2999, 1998; (b) P. C. Andrews,A. C. Peatt and C. L. Raston, Tetrahedron Lett,43, 7541, 2002.

14 J. X. Haberman, G. C. Irvin, V. T. John and C. J.Li, Green Chem, 1, 265, 1999.

15 (a) C. M. Gordon and C. Ritchie, Green Chem.4, 124, 2002; (b) M. C. Law, K.-Y. Wong andT. H. Chan, Green Chem. 4, 161, 2002.


Abstract

This brief technological report pres-ents an overview of techniques andapplications in the field of directed

evolution of enzyme catalysts. These tech-niques allow for the creation of modifiedenzymes that are better adapted to manyindustrial contexts. Recent applications inorganic synthesis as well as commercial,biomedical, and environmental usage ofthese modified catalysts will be presented.

Résumé

Cette brève fiche technologique présente ensurvol les techniques d’évolution dirigéepermettant la génération de mutants enzy-matiques pouvant être par la suite utiliséscomme catalyseurs dans un contexted’intérêt prédéfini. Quelques applications deces catalyseurs modifiés sont présentéestouchant des domaines aussi divers que lasynthèse chimique, l’utilisation industrielleet commerciale, la recherche biomédicale etl’environnement. Le lecteur désirant une ver-sion française détaillée et en profondeur dece domaine de recherche est invité à seréférer à la fiche BIOTECHNO, vol. 2, n° 2publiée par le Centre québécois de valorisationdes biotechnologies du gouvernement duQuébec www.cqvb.qc.ca/publications_home.htm.

Enzymes are among the most powerful cat-alytic molecules we know, acceleratingchemical reactions at a rate of 106 to 1,017

times faster than the same uncatalyzedreactions. Moreover, they are often stereo-,regio- and chemoselective as well as beingentirely biodegradable and environmen-tally friendly. On the other hand, reactionscatalyzed by enzymes are generallyconfined to mild temperature conditions inaqueous solutions at pH 7. Because ofthese constraints, it is difficult to integrate

enzymatic catalysts into industrial processeswhere they are prone to denaturation as aresult of harsher prevailing conditions.Enzymatic engineering now offers the possi-bility of improving the robustness as well asthe catalytic efficiencies of enzymes by tech-niques commonly known as “directedevolution.” This approach mimics naturalevolution in a test tube by introducing ran-domly distributed mutations on the geneencoding the enzyme of interest. Theresulting “library” of mutants is screened fora desired characteristic to attempt to identifya mutant enzyme that exhibits the charac-teristic of interest. Successful reportspublished in the last ten years teach us thatthe introduction of a small number of muta-tions on a given enzyme is often sufficient todrastically modify its properties. The possi-bilities of applications are almost endlessand have been amply demonstrated inimprovement of catalytic efficiency androbustness, modification of optimaltemperature and pH, among others. These

modified enzymes are now used in aconsiderable number of chemical fieldsranging from chemical synthesis,pharmaceutical and biomedical applicationsto environmental detoxification and numerousother industrial purposes. A few exampleswill be presented here. References [1–4] con-tain detailed examples and thoroughinvestigations of the methods used fordirected evolution of biocatalysts.

Green chemistry and theenvironment

Directed evolution of enzymes has foundmany applications in the fields of environ-mental protection and green chemistry. Soildetoxification and degradation of toxic chem-icals are particularly amenable to enzymatictreatments because their elimination byclassical means often generates chemical by-products that are environmentally noxious.Furukawa and collaborators applied thecombined approaches of site-directed muta-genesis and Family Shuffling™ of genes tobroaden the recognition spectrum of biphenyldioxygenases [5]. The resulting mutatedenzymes recognize and degrade many stablechemical pollutants, notably PCBs but alsoaromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene andtoluene.

Modified enzymes are also increasinglyused toward industrial purposes that exploittheir clean and environmentally friendlyusage compared to other catalysts that aredamaging to the environment. Thus,enzymes are perfectly adapted to green chem-istry applications. A convincing industrialapplication in this field is the use of proteasesin laundry detergents. Proteases such as sub-tilisin are constantly improved in order toadapt them to the constantly changing andharsh reaction environments of washingmachines. Ness et al. have modified subtilisinby Family Shuffling™ using the commercialenzyme Savinase™ as well as other membersof the same family of proteases. By creating654 different random mutants, they selectedmodified enzymes that displayed up to fourtimes the activity of the native parent with re-spect to thermostability, pH dependence andthe presence of different solvents [6]. Thiswork demonstrates the capacity for directedevolution studies to produce environmentallyfriendly catalysts with improved catalyticefficiency, a characteristic that stronglyinfluences their industrial profitability.

Directed Evolution of Enzymes Obtaining clean, efficient, and biodegradable catalysts

Nicolas Doucet andJoelle N. Pelletier, MCIC

Mutated enzymes

recognize and

degrade many stable

chemical pollutants


Pulp and paper, food, andother industrial applications

The pulp and paper industry also benefitsfrom enzymatic catalysts, especially in thebleaching and delignification processesundertaken with the fungal enzyme laccase.Laccase expression in systems more practicalthan fungi is inefficient, hampering itsproduction and its industrial profitability.Nevertheless, using directed evolution studies,Bulter et al. [8] expressed laccase in yeast atlevels 8-fold higher than had been previouslyobtained. Moreover, under the conditionstested, they isolated mutants with a 170-foldincrease in specific activity with respect to thenative enzyme. Since laccase is also useful inthe food industry for fruit juice clarificationand may be useful for environmental applica-tions in the degradation of polycyclic aromatichydrocarbons, this progress may proveimportant for many industrial purposes.

Enzymes such as α-amylase, glucoamylaseand isomerase are heavily used to convertstarch into fructose for the production ofcorn syrup. However, the necessary steps forthis conversion require temperature and pHchanges that are not well supported bya-amylase. Directed evolution successfullyimproved its stability at pH 4.85, a pH soacidic for the native enzyme that its denatu-ration rate in these conditions is not evenaccurately measurable [7]. The capacity tocreate or modify a specific characteristic ofan enzyme demonstrates the power ofdirected evolution techniques for modulatingthe properties of these catalysts towarddifferent requirements.

Organic synthesis andpharmaceutical applications

To date, organic synthesis has been refractoryto use of enzyme catalysts, particularlybecause of their lack of robustness in presenceof organic solvents. Nevertheless, Chen andArnold [9] have adapted enzymes to theseenvironments by improving the activity ofSubtilisin E by three cycles of error-pronePCR to obtain an enzyme that is 256 timesmore efficient than the native parent in asolution containing 60 percent DMF. Thishighlights the efficiency of directed evolutionin the modification of enzymes for use inreaction media that are considerably differ-ent from their natural environment. Modifiedenzymes can also be applied to organic syn-thesis for the resolution of racemic mixes,which is very attractive for synthesis ofbiologically-active compounds in the phar-maceutical and biomedical industries. Reetzand collaborators modified the selectivity ofa bacterial lipase for 2-methyldecanoic acidp-nitrophenyl ester using the combinedmethods of Error-prone PCR and saturationmutagenesis [10]. While the native enzymegives a two percent enantiomeric excess infavour of the (S)-isomer, one of their mutatedenzymes provided a 93 percent enantiomericexcess in favour of the same enantiomer.These two examples highlight the fact thatdirected evolution of enzymes is paving theway toward their use in organic synthesis.Mutated enzymes might eventually be usedto catalyze reactions that are currently hardto perform or simply inaccessible usingclassical synthesis approaches.

Conclusion

The examples presented here provide aglimpse of the numerous applications whereenzymes have been adapted to industrialpurposes. Originally confined to biologicalsystems, enzymes are now efficientlymodified by directed evolution, whichmakes them an interesting alternative forenvironmentally clean industrial processesand green chemistry. Considered ofmarginal industrial utility even ten yearsago, enzyme applications are now growingexponentially because of directed evolution,which makes their application much moreflexible, profitable and efficient.

Acknowledgement

The authors thank Michel Lachance of theCQVB for his helpful suggestions.

References1 Arnold, F. H., 1998. Accounts of Chemical

Research 31, 125–131.

2 Brakmann, S., 2001. Chembiochem 2,865–71.

3 Tao, H. and Cornish, V. W., 2002.Curr Opin Chem Biol 6, 858–64.

4 Bull, A. T., Bunch, A. W. and Robinson, G.K., 1999. Curr Opin Microbiol 2, 246–51.

5 Kumamaru, T., Suenaga, H., Mitsuoka,M., Watanabe, T. and Furukawa, K.,1998. Nat Biotechnol 16, 663–6.

6 Ness, J. E., Welch, M., Giver, L.,Bueno, M., Cherry, J. R., Borchert,T. V., Stemmer, W. P. and Minshull, J.,1999. Nat Biotechnol 17, 893–6.

7 Shaw, A., Bott, R. and Day, A. G.,1999. Curr Opin Biotechnol 10, 349-52.

8 Bulter, T., Alcalde, M., Sieber, V.,Meinhold, P., Schlachtbauer, C. andArnold, F. H., 2003. Appl EnvironMicrobiol 69, 987–95.

9 Chen, K. and Arnold, F. H., 1993.Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 90, 5618–22.

10 Reetz, M. T. and Jaeger, K. E., 2000Chemistry-A European Journal 6, 407–412.

Nicolas Doucet is a PhD studentin the département de biochimie of the

faculté de médecine. Joelle N. Pelletier, MCIC,is assistant professor in the département dechimie of the faculté des arts et des sciences

at the Université de Montréal.

Figure 1. General strategy for the directed evolution of enzymes (adapted from ref 10)


Canadians enjoy one of the most en-ergy-intensive economies on Earth.This makes life very pleasant indeed

in what would otherwise be a cold, darkcountry for half the year. Much of thecountry depends, directly or indirectly, onfossil fuel for heat in winter and for airconditioning in summer. The Canadian wayof life feeds on mainly fossil-fuelled modes oftransportation that move everything peopleneed over vast distances within the country,and connects the nation materially to the restof the world. Thanks to production agricul-ture and industrial food processing, our dailybread now “embodies” more fossil energythan solar energy. The reality is, that for all thepaper wealth being generated by the so-calledknowledge-based economy, the country’s en-tire post-industrial economy still floats on an“old economy” pool of oil and gas. It’s nowonder that in recent years Canadians havebeen taken aback by wild swings in the mar-ket supply and pricing of gasoline, diesel fuel,heating oil, and natural gas.

The Canadian—and U.S.—governmentshave generally responded to this instabilitywith interventions designed to restorestable low prices for conventional fossilfuels. Even while ratifying the Kyoto accord(which is designed to reduce CO2 emis-sions), Ottawa is doing everything it can,including ruling out a carbon tax, andexempting the auto industry, to ensure thatthe oil and gas and automotive industriesare minimally affected. While this may begood short-term politics, it is bad econom-ics and lousy environmental policy. And itwon’t prevent even steeper price increasesin the near future. To avoid a serious energycrisis in coming decades, citizens in theindustrial countries should actually beurging their governments to come to inter-national agreement on a persistent, orderly,predictable, and steepening series of oil andnatural gas price hikes over the next twodecades. The present world energy market

obscures the true price of hydrocarbon fuelsand inhibits the development of alterna-tives.

This argument comes in two parts. Thefirst is neatly summarized in a 1998 reportby the Washington-based InternationalCentre for Technology Assessment on “TheReal Price of Gas.” The purpose of thisreport was to quantify the numerous externalcosts associated with the use of fossil-fuelled motor vehicles that are not reflectedin U.S. consumer prices. Such hidden costsrange from various tax and direct subsidies

to the oil industry from governments,through publicly funded infrastructurecosts, to the health and environmental costsassociated with burning fossil fuels (such asbreathing second-hand exhaust). These di-rect and indirect subsidies seriously distortenergy markets, burden the economy withrampant inefficiencies, and in the process,are helping to destabilize the world’sclimate.

Depending on the range of subsidiesincluded and the quality of available data,the total unaccounted cost of fossil fuel use

in the U.S. was found to lie between$559 billion and $1.7 trillion dollars annu-ally. A fuller social cost accounting for theuse of fossil fuel would therefore result in agasoline price per gallon of betweenUS$5.60 and US$15.14. In Canadian terms,this would be roughly equivalent to a priceper litre of between CAN$2.20 andCAN$5.95, or three to nine times the recentVancouver prices. In other words, even withthe burden of existing taxes, prevailingenergy prices do not “tell the truth” aboutthe costs of using fossil energy. North Amer-icans pay a fraction of the price they wouldpay for gas in a perfectly functioning market.

In fact, U.S. consumers enjoy the mostunder-priced fuel available in any majorindustrialized country and Canadians arereally not that far behind—with predictableresults. As every economist knows, theinvariable consequence of under-pricing isoveruse. Wealthy and middle-class NorthAmericans live in ever-larger energy-ineffi-cient houses, drive ever-bigger and lessfuel-efficient vehicles and are thereforesquandering in a few decades a non-renew-able resource that took tens of millions ofyears to accumulate. Even if there were noother issues at hand, it would be economi-cally rational and ecologically beneficial forour federal governments to intervene intoday’s energy market to correct at least thebest-documented and non-controversialmarket imperfections. For example, price-induced lower consumption would helpCanada meet its Kyoto commitment. Weshould be paying significantly greater pricesand taxes at the pump.

But there is another issue at hand. Theworld is running out of cheap oil and NorthAmerica is looking at dwindling reserves ofgas. Recent price hikes may be mere tremorsheralding the real price shock to come. Surelythis is not the time to be discouraging thedevelopment of alternative energy sourcesand deepening our dependence on fossil fuel.

You Get What You Pay For!Energy supply and pricing for a sustainable future

William E. Rees

The present world

energy market

obscures the true

price of hydrocarbon

fuels and inhibits

the development of

alternatives


The evidence? Oil production (or extrac-tion) peaked in the U.S. around 1970 and inNorth America as a whole in 1984. Extrac-tion from North Sea fields peaked in 2000(only 25 years after peak discovery) and isnow also in decline. More than 50 other oil-“producing” countries have already gonethrough this cycle of discovery, peak extrac-tion and decline so that non-OPECproduction is approaching its aggregatepeak even as this is being written. Indeed,several recent studies project globalconventional oil production to peak as earlyas 2010. Harry J. Longwell, executive vice-president of Exxon Mobil, made anunprecedented admission recently when hewrote, “To put a number on it, we expectthat by 2010 about half the daily volumeneeded to meet projected demand is not onproduction today—and that’s the challengefacing producers” (Longwell 2002). Eventhe necessarily conservative InternationalEnergy Agency (IEA) in its World EnergyOutlook, (1998) concurred for the first timethat global output could top out between2009 and 2012 and decline rapidly there-after. Indeed, the IEA projected a nearly20 percent shortfall of supply relative todemand by 2020 that will have to be madeup of from “unidentified unconventional”sources. Known oil-sands deposits such asthose being developed in Alberta havealready been taken into account. Otherstudies show that by 2040 total oil andnatural gas liquid output from all sourcesmay fall to 60 percent of today’s 25 billionbarrels of oil equivalents per year.

And running out of oil is not running outof just oil. Oil is the means by which indus-trial society obtains (and exploits) all otherresources. The world’s fishing fleets, itsforest sector, its mines, and its agricultureall are powered by liquid portable fossilfuels. Seventeen percent of the U.S. energybudget, and most of it oil, is used just togrow, process, and transport food alone.Physicist Albert Bartlett of the University ofColorado has called modern agriculture “theuse of land to convert oil into food.” Keepin mind, too, that petroleum is not just afuel. Oil and natural gas are the raw mate-rial for thousands of products frommedicines, paints, and plastics to agricul-tural fertilizers and pesticides. Since oil isdirectly or indirectly a part of everythingelse the coming scarcity of oil and theattendant price shock may mean higherprices for everything else as well.

Many analysts will agree with energyeconomist M. A. Adelman that rising priceswill stimulate “... a stream of investment

[creating] additions to proved reserves, avery large in-ground inventory, constantlyrenewed as it is extracted.” Unfortunately,this argument is dangerously misleading.The physical stock of exploitable oil is notbeing “renewed” and while higher priceshave stimulated more drilling, they have not“added to proved reserves” in net termssince the early 1980s. To complicatematters, improved technology does makedwindling finite reserves more accessible

thus increasing short-term market supply.Unfortunately, this effectively short-circuitsthe price increases that would otherwisesignal impending real scarcity, even as finitestocks are depleted.

Adelman’s argument also ignores the factthat oil exploration is subject to diminishingmaterial returns. Despite increasing effort,we typically discover only six to eightbillion barrels of new oil per year, or be-tween a quarter and a third of presentconsumption. A few decades ago, oilextractors in the U.S. would discover 50barrels of oil for every barrel consumed indrilling and pumping. In the mid-1990s theratio fell as low as five to one. While theratio fluctuates, the trend in older oil pro-ducing regions is downward. At some point,there will no point in extracting oil with oilat any price even though there will still beplenty left in the ground.

What about substitutes? Concerns overclimate change have already stimulated agrowing interest in alternative energysources. However, there are problems on thesupply side. A recent summary article onenergy engineering in Science cautioned thatmost renewable alternative sources ofenergy suffer from low aerial power densi-ties, intermittent supply, and other severedeficiencies that limit their ability to replacefossil fuels. Biomass, wind power, and solar,for example, produce relatively few watts ofpower per unit area compared to the chem-ical energy concentrated in fossil fuel. Forthese and other reasons, a recent issue ofThe Energy Advocate argued rather bleaklythat, “The renewable sources of energy—direct sunlight, wind, hydropower,biomass—are all solar in origin and are intoto inadequate for running anything that

passes for civilization. “They have” nochance whatsoever of sustaining thepresent world’s population.”

While not all analysts agree with thatgrim prognosis, it has yet to be confidentlyrefuted and there are still other problems.We sometimes forget that qualitative differ-ences among energy types make themimperfectly substitutable. Wind-generatedand photovoltaic electricity may be able tosubstitute for most of the electricitycurrently generated by fossil fuels (nuclearfission is still in disrepute and commercialfusion reactors are decades in the future).However, electricity cannot replace thedirect use of petroleum derivatives as fuelnor overcome their clear advantages inenergy storage. While there may be promisein fuel-cells if we can discover a way toproduce hydrogen efficiently, the fact is thatno suitable substitutes are yet in sight forthe fossil fuels used in heavy farm machin-ery, construction and mining equipment,diesel trains and trucks, and ocean-goingfreighters. Jet aircraft cannot be powered byelectricity, whatever its source. Nothing canreplace hydrocarbons as feedstocks in themanufacture of myriad industrial and agri-cultural products. Finally, it is no smallirony that we need high-intensity fossil fuelto produce the machinery and infrastructurerequired for most alternative forms ofenergy. Sunlight is simply too “dilute”(remember, “low energy density per unitarea”) to use in manufacturing the high-tech devices and equipment required for itsown conversion to heat and electricity.Industrial civilization faces a paradox: weneed oil to move beyond the age of oil.

The human population has grown six-fold in less than 200 years. The globaleconomy has quintupled in less than 50. Nofactor has played a greater role in this recentexplosive growth of the human enterprisethan abundant cheap fossil fuel. No otherresource has changed the structure ofeconomies, the nature of technologies, thebalance of geopolitics, and the quality ofhuman life as much as petroleum. Littlewonder that some scientists believe thatpassing the peak of world oil productionwill be a shock to the human enterprise likeno other event in history. Population andconsumption are still on a steep trajectorybut the rocket is running out of fuel.

The problem is solvable, but not withoutpositive action and wide-ranging policyinnovation. Certainly universities should beleading the way in performing the researchrequired to make alternative energy workand in on-campus energy-conservation

Running out of oil

is not running out

of just oil


demonstration projects. Meanwhile informedordinary citizens and public service organiza-tions in Canada and the U.S. should beurging governments to get real about energypolicy, including pricing. As a first step, alldirect and indirect subsidies to conventionaloil and gas producers must be eliminated.Subsidies keep fossil fuel prices artificiallylow, encouraging excess consumption andinhibiting the development of alternatives.Secondly, we should be moving closer tofull social cost pricing of fossil energythrough carbon taxes or resource depletiontaxes—as noted, significant price increasesfor conventional fuels are long overdue.Eventually, if alternative energy develop-ment continues to lag, it may be necessaryto implement a quota system for remainingfossil reserves. This would slow the pace offossil energy consumption to ensure there issufficient conventional energy supply tobridge the transition to the post-petroleumera. Government agencies would determinethe annual allowable quota for crude oil andraw gas based on the best available scienceand analyses; competitive bidding amongresource companies would then set a fairand efficient market price for the availablesupply.

More realistic prices for traditional fuelsare needed to induce conservation of ourremaining fossil fuel reserves, to encouragethe private sector to develop more energy-efficient technologies (particularly in theauto and transportation sector generally,building technologies and appliances), andto make inherently more expensive butnecessary alternatives more competitive.Keep in mind too that more realistic pricingwould help make the entire economy more

efficient and competitive as the worldenergy market tightens up.

It could be argued that higher energycosts would impose an unfair burden onlow-income families. Certainly any suchinequity must be avoided but without aban-doning the overall energy policy objective.(Failure to act now might mean an evengreater future burden on the poor.) On thepositive side, note that this potential prob-lem might be relatively short-lived if thepolicy changes are phased in properly,according to a predictable schedule. Bothproducers and consumers respond to highercosts and prices. People would not objecttoo much about gasoline costing twice asmuch if their cars were twice as fuel-effi-cient (and they’d have to become more fuelefficient if their manufacturers hope toretain market share). In any event, changesto energy pricing policy would be part of abroader program of ecological fiscal reform.Even income taxes rates could be adjustedto compensate for any residual inequityresulting from rising energy and materialcosts (dare we discuss a negative incometax?). Finally, keep in mind that manyadvanced European countries already havemuch higher energy costs than we do inCanada. They have already made manyefficiency adjustments with no appreciablenegative distributional impacts.

The data and trends in the energy sectorare no secret. Governments have knownabout the deteriorating conventional supplysituation for years yet tend to sacrifice thepublic interest to the interests of the oil andgas and automotive industries who lobby forthe status quo. Or they remain in the thrall ofconventional economists who still argue—against the evidence of recent decades—thatrising prices will automatically lead to ade-quate new discoveries. All this creates apolitical climate in which the looming crisisremains invisible and corrective action (withthe possible exception of an oil-related warin Iraq) is impossible. The point is thathigher energy prices are needed now to sig-nal the real scarcity to come. Without higherprices we will not invest in the technologiesneeded for a smooth transition to the post-petroleum age. Without higher prices we willnot conserve the fossil energy needed tomanufacture those alternative technologies.As energy analyst Richard Duncan hasfrequently argued, without higher prices, theremaining life expectancy of industrialsociety may well be less than 40 years!

AcknowledgementAn earlier version of this article appeared inthe CCPA Monitor, June 2003.

References andadditional reading

Adelman, M. A. 1993. The Economicsof Petroleum Supply. Cambridge, MA:MIT Press.

Campbell, C. C. 1999. The ImminentPeak\of World Oil Production. www.hubbertpeak.com/campbell/commons.htm.

Duncan R. C. 1993. “The Life-expectancyof Industrial Civilization: The Decline toGeneral Equilibrium,” Population andEnvironment 14: 325–357.

Duncan R. C. and W. Youngquist. 1999.“Encircling the Peak of World Oil Produc-tion,” Natural Resources Research 8 (3)219–232.

The Energy Advocate, August 1996.

Fleming, D. 1999. “Decoding a MessageAbout the Market for Oil,” EuropeanEnvironment 9: 125–134.

Hoffert, M. I., et al. 1992. “AdvancedTechnology Paths to Global Climate stability:Energy for a Greenhouse Planet,” Science298: 981–987, November 2002.

International EnergyAgency.1998. World Energy Outlook.

Laherrere, J. 2003. “Forecast of oil andgas supply to 2050,” Paper presented to“Petrotech 2003,” New Delhi.

Longwell, H. J. 2002. “The Future of theOil and Gas Industry: Past Approaches,New Challenges,” World Energy 5: 3: 102–105.

Youngquist, W. 1997. GeoDestinies.Portland: National Book Company.

Youngquist, W. 1999. “The Post-PetroleumParadigm—and Population,” Populationand Environment 20(4): 297–315.

William E. Rees is an ecologist and ecologicaleconomist and professor in the University of

British Columbia’s School of Communityand Regional Planning.

Tell us whatYOU think!

Send your commentson this article to

[email protected]


Nearly ten years ago, CanadianChemical News/L’actualité chimiquecanadienne (ACCN) carried a

report on the ISBP 1994 International Sym-posium on Bacterial Polyhydroxyalkanoates,PHAs. The headline read, “InternationalConference Discusses the Future ofBiodegradable Thermoplastics.”

While the objective has not changed andthe same players are involved—biodegrad-able products are greatly expanded and nowinclude many synthetic biodegradables.Yoshiharu Doi, the conference chair, openedthe first IUPAC International Conference onBio-based Polymers with this statement:

“Bio-based polymers include varioussynthetic polymers derived from renewableresources and CO2, biopolymers (nucleicacids, polyamides, polysaccharides, poly-esters, polyisoprenoids and polyphenols),their derivatives, and their blends andcomposites. Fossil resources are limited,while renewable resources are sustainable.In the last few years, science and technologyon bio-based polymers have experienceda tremendous rise in significance. The bio-based polymers have become important atboth the academic and industrial researchcentres.”

The biodegradability target hasexpanded from microbial polyesters toinclude all types of plastics as long as theyare friendly to the environment. The recentbook by E. S. Stevens, Green Plastics,published in 2002 by Princeton UniversityPress is a good layperson’s primer on thissubject, although most of the 240 registrants(2/3 from Asia) were already “green plastics”enthusiasts.

Life cycle of PHAs

Microbial polyesters are part of the naturalbiosynthesis/biodegradation cycle, hence theyrespond to present requirements for biodegrad-able materials as shown below.

Bacteria can accumulate PHAs, such aspoly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvaler-ate), as carbon reserve. The PHAs areextracted from the cell and are utilized forcommodities, such as shampoo bottles, golftees, fibres, plastic bags, and so on. Theseitems are quickly and easily degraded by soilenzymes when they are thrown away tonature. The enzymes can break them downinto small molecules which are the very foodfor bacteria to produce the PHAs, again.

These biopolyesters have been a model systemfor learning about biodegradable thermoplasticsbut have failed to satisfy all possible needs andespecially large scale production’s requirements.The January 2004 issue of Canadian ChemicalNews / L’Actualité chimique canadienne (ACCN)

had a lead article on the Cargill-Dow NatureWorksTM poly(lactic acid), PLA, a syntheticbiodegradable derived from fermentation ofstarch to lactic acid, its production by ring-opening polymerization of the lactide, recycling,etc. Large scale production of PLA leaves thebacterial polyesters on the starting blocks, atleast for now. However, the storehouse ofmicrobial knowledge concerning this mannerof bioplastics production will probably see itsfuture in production using transgenic plants.

New and (Already) Improved!A report on the first IUPAC International Conferenceon Bio-based Polymers (ICBP 2003)

Robert H. Marchessault, FCIC,and Jumpei Kawada, MCIC


Biodegradablesynthetic plastics

In Japan, companies such as Toyota Auto-motive, Mitsui Chemicals, and others arecommitted to the PLA technology and notPHA. The reason being is the natural fibre orclay/polylactide biocomposite that is a majordevelopment in Europe, Asia, and the U.S.to replace the non-sustainable polyolefins inautomobile parts. Along with this effortgoes the “biorefinery” that implies crackingof natural raw materials to make valuablechemicals, many of which are not possiblewith present day petroleum refining. Bothfundamental and focused research on poly-lactides is replacing the former effort onPHA. For the automotives, the specificobjective is to fabricate some of the 200 ormore compression molded componentsinside the cabin of an automobile withsustainable biodegradable plastics.

Biodegradability is not the exclusive featureof natural polymers. An increasing numberof synthetic plastics mimic this “greenchemistry” characteristic. It is not only thesource of the polymer that confers biodegrad-ability, equally important are texture,conformation, and the aliphatic ester oramide comonomers. The latter seems to bethe trigger for initiating biodegradation insynthetic biodegradables. Thus, BASF’sEcoflexTM, a synthetic biodegradable half-aromatic polyester, is a random copolymerbased on 1,4-butanediol and a mix ofterephthalic acid and adipic acid. Thealiphatic components, reminiscent of PHAbiopolyesters, are prominent in the success-ful synthetic biodegradables. For example,BionolleTM, a product of the Showa HighPolymer Company is poly (tetramethylenesuccinate) with biodegradability character-istics comparable to the microbialpolyesters. Other successful syntheticbiodegradable thermoplastics are listed inthe table.

Thus, the meaning of “bio-based” in thetitle of this article refers to a chemical classof polymers that mimic nature’s biopoly-mers. The mature chemical processing ofthe synthetic polymer industry will oftenuse biomass fermentation to ensure asustainable plastics industry. The Biosyn-thesis-Biodegradation Cycle of PHA is amodel where fermentation is the source ofthe biodegradable plastics. PLA products arebased on a combined agro-fermentation-chemistry paradigm. Bio-based polymers forvalue-added applications such as drugdelivery or compatible bone cement can besynthesized/biosynthesized with comb-like

or block-like textures. New blends andcopolymer compositions of PHAs such asProcter and Gamble’s NodaxTM, a copoly-mer of butyrate/hexanoate repeat units[poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexa-noate)], were described at the conference.

Conclusions

Of the six classes of biopolymers mentionedby Doi in his opening statement only poly-esters were prominent in the program. Thisis in keeping with the ease of chemical syn-thesis of commercial polyesters. Polyolefinswere only present as blends with starch; inspite of the natural abundance of polyiso-prenoids, natural rubber was not mentioned.Polyphenols (which can be called lignins) areequally abundant, but their variable structureis too much of a challenge for controlledpolymer synthesis. The oral presentationswill be published in a special issue of Macro-molecular Bioscience later in 2004.

The final lectures of the meeting werededicated to presentations by organizationssuch as the Biodegradable Plastics Societyof Japan (BPS). They have a trademark“GreenPla” that has guidelines for productapproval and wide industrial membership.In the U.S., the Biodegradable Products In-stitute (BPI) is the equivalent. Productssuch as “starch loose fill, raincoats from un-woven poly lactic acid, PLA microwaveable

trays, etc.” are blazing the publicity trail.Life cycle analyses were prominent in theselectures.

This was an outstanding meeting, a rallyingcry for much broader biopolymer perspec-tive than was provided by ISBP meetingsalone. The research activities in polylactideseem to have a distinct edge for commercialdevelopment. The most prominent PHA“push” was for Procter and Gamble’sP(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-6mol%-3-hydroxy-hexanoate) from vegetable oil fermentation.

Many academic researchers at theconference believe PHAs are the bestcandidate for the thermoplastic due to thesustainability—in other words— the idealbiosynthesis-biodegradation cycle. Howevercost and productivity problems are stillformidable compared with PLA or othersynthetic biodegradables. In contrast, in-dustrial researchers favour PLA in terms ofavailability and price. At the 1994 ISBPmeeting, the PLA success was not antici-pated. Technology advances have allowedlarge scale production. Will the next decadebring the same success for PHAs and otherbio-based materials?

Robert H. Marchessault, FCIC, is the E.B. Eddyprofessor, and Jumpei Kawada, MCIC, is a

postdoctoral fellow. They both hail from thedepartment of chemistry at McGill University.

Polymer trade name Composition

Ecoflex Biodegradable aliphatic- aromatic(BASF) copolyester: Terephthalic acid (22%),

1,4-butanediol (50%) and adipic acid (28%)

Hydro/biodegradable aliphatic-aromaticBiomax copolyester: ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol(DuPont) 85% terephthalic acid

~ 15% adipic acidsulfo isophthalic acid

CelGreen PH (Daicel Chemical Homopolyester: Poly (ε-caprolactone)Industry Ltd.)

LACEA/Nature WorksPLA (Mitsui Chem. Corp/Cargill Homopolyester: Poly(L-lactic acid)Dow Polymer)

Bionolle Biodegradable aliphatic polyester:(Showa Highpolymer Co.) Poly(tetramethylene succinate)


In 2000, the Canadian pulp and paperindustry contributed over $21 billion toCanada’s $54 billion merchandise trade bal-ance and directly employed about 67,000people. Technical innovation in processesused for the production of pulp and paperwill have a significant impact on theCanadian economy.

Canada— the world’s biggestproducer of mechanical pulp

To make paper, wood (in the form of woodchips or sawmill residue) is first convertedto chemical or mechanical pulp by a pulp-ing process. Chemical pulp is produced in ayield of 45 to 55 percent through the disso-lution of wood lignin by pulping chemicals,for example, NaOH and Na2S, at elevatedtemperatures (> 160 °C). Mechanical pulpis formed with retention of lignin in a yieldof 90 to 98 percent mainly through the ac-tion of mechanical forces on wood. Canadais the biggest manufacturer and exporter ofmechanical pulp in the world, producing ~11 million metric tons per year, or one-thirdof the total world production of such pulps.

Bleaching ofmechanical pulp

Mechanical pulp has a pale-yellow coloursimilar to that of natural wood due to thepresence of lignin chromophores such asconiferaldehyde (see Scheme 1). Removalor modification of these chromphores (i.e.bleaching of the pulp) is often needed priorto papermaking. Two bleaching agents, al-kaline hydrogen peroxide (HOO-) andsodium dithionite (Na2S2O4) have beenused by the industry for over half a century.The former, in the presence of the peroxidestabilizers sodium silicate and magnesiumsulfate, removes most of the lignin

chromophores and bleaches the pulp to highbrightness. However, peroxide also degradesthe cellulose and hemicelluloses, thusreducing the pulp yield by 2 to 5 percent andproducing effluent with a high content ofdissolved organics. The latter is a moreselective bleaching agent because of itsreductive nature. However, dithionite is lesseffective and generates various sulfur-con-taining chemicals including thiosulfate thatis corrosive to paper machines. Neither ofthese two bleaching agents in terms of mod-ern parlance is “atom efficient” or “green.”

Our green chemistryapproach

Supported earlier (1995 to 2000) by NSERCvia the NCE Mechanical and Chemime-chanical pulp Network, and funded recently(2001 to present) by an NSERC StrategicProject Grant, we have pursued actively thecatalytic H2-hydrogenation of lignin chro-mophores such as coniferaldehyde (Scheme1) as a reductive and “green” bleaching andbrightness stabilizing method for mechani-cal and chemical pulps. The biggestchallenge of our work has been the devel-opment of a H2O-soluble, recyclable androbust catalyst capable of affecting thehydrogenation in aqueous media.

Discovery of a new classof bleaching agents

Among the many catalysts we have synthe-sized and studied over the past few years,the most promising one was a H2O-soluble,ruthenium (Ru)-phosphine complexprepared from the reaction of RuCl3. 3H2Oand tris(hydroxymethyl)phosphine (THP),P(CH2OH)3. An in-situ preparedRu-P(CH2OH)3 complex with a P/Ru molarratio of 3.0 catalyzed the H2-reduction ofthe -CH=CH-CHO group in coniferaldehyde(O-Lignin = OH, Scheme 1) to mainly the -CH2-CH2-CH2OH group under 500 psi H2 at80 °C in aqueous media. More importantly,when an in-situ prepared Ru-P(CH2OH)3complex with a P/Ru molar ratio of > 5.0was applied to the hydrogenation of me-chanical pulp, bleaching of the pulp wasachieved.

Encouraged by these results, THP com-plexes of cheaper metals such as copper(Cu) were studied. When mechanical pulpwere treated with 340 psi H2 in the presenceof the zwitterionic Cu(I)-THP complex,[Cu{P(CH2OH)3}3{P(CH2OH)2(CH2O

-)}],and THP at 80 °C, bleaching of the pulpwas obtained. Subsequently we found bycontrol experiments that neither H2 nor Cuwas needed for the bleaching effect, and

New Bleaching Agentsfor Mechanical PulpsA discovery made possible by the pursuit of green chemistry

Thomas Q. Hu, MCIC, and Brian R. James, FCIC

O

H

OH

H

LigninO

H

OH

H

LigninO

H

OHH

H

Lignin

H

OMe OMe OMe

H

H

H H

H

H

O

H

OHH

H

Lignin

H

H

HHH

H

H

H H H

HH

Lignin coniferaldehyde

H2

orCatalyst

or

HHH

H OMe

Scheme 1

discovered that the phosphine itself was an ef-fective bleaching agent! We also discoveredthat tetrakis(hydroxymethyl) phosphoniumsalts such as [P(CH2OH)4]Cl (THPC) and[P(CH2OH)4]2SO4 (THPS) (see Scheme 2)were equally effective. Furthermore, pulpbleached with these simple, H2O-solubleP-containing compounds showed improvedbrightness stability when exposed to heat andhigh moisture. The P-compounds could alsobe applied to the surface of paper made frommechanical pulp to provide the paper withimproved light-stability.

Characteristics and potential ofthe new bleaching agents

THP, THPC and THPS have a bleaching powersimilar to that of Na2S2O4. However, they canbe used over a much wider range of tempera-ture (20 - 130 oC), consistency (e.g. 1.5 percentto 40 percent) and pH (4.5 to 9.5). “Consis-tency” is the weight percentage of pulp in a

pulp and water mixture. Such a temperature,consistency and pH tolerance is unprece-dented in the field of pulp bleaching, and veryattractive to pulp mills where it is often diffi-cult, for example, to control the bleaching ofpulp with Na2S2O4 at an optimal pH of 5.5 to6.5, because of the pH changes caused by thehydrolysis or oxidation of Na2S2O4, andbecause of the increasing recycling of millprocess water with high contaminant levels.

We have also identified derivatives of THPand THPS with a bleaching power higherthan that of Na2S2O4 and approaching that ofalkaline hydrogen peroxide. The derivatives

can bleach pulp that are difficult to bleachwith Na2S2O4, and they can substitute ~70 percent of the alkaline hydrogen peroxideneeded to bleach mechanical pulp tohigh brightness. Preliminary studies byUV-visible spectrometry show that the newbleaching agents are effective inreducing/removing the C=O groups inlignin model chromophores.

THPC and THPS are commercially availablein large quantities (> 103 tons/annum) andare produced in one-step from the commoditychemicals, phosphine (PH3), formaldehydeand sulfuric acid. THP salts have been used fordecades as a basic chemical to make flame-retardants for cotton, cellulose andcellulose-blend fabrics. The use of THPS as anenvironmentally benign biocide for sulfate-reducing bacteria in non-food papermakinghas also been approved by U.S. EPA.

We have filed PCT and U.S. patent applica-tions on the use of the various P-compoundsand issued a Paprican-University Researchreport to Paprican’s Member Companies. Theresponse from these companies has been over-whelmingly positive. We are currently tryingto illustrate the bleaching chemistry of theP-compounds, identify additional values theycan bring to a pulp mill, and determine theircommercial feasibility. We are optimistic thata new and greener bleaching technology formechanical pulp will develop from ourdiscovery of the unique bleaching abilities ofTHP, THPC and THPS.

Thomas Q. Hu, MCIC, is a scientist at the Pulpand Paper Research Institute of Canada

(Paprican) and an adjunct professor in thechemistry department at the University of BritishColumbia. Brian R. James, FCIC, is an emeritus

professor in the chemistry department at theUniversity of British Columbia. They can be reached

at [email protected] and [email protected].


HO P OH

OH

HO P OH

OH

OH

HO P OH

OH

OH

(THP) (THPC)

Cl-+ SO42-

+

2

(THPS)

Scheme 2

POLLUTION

PREVENTION


CleanPrint Canada

CleanPrint Canada is a non-profit partnership comprised ofrepresentatives from all aspects of the printing industryincluding printers, suppliers, associations and government.

Participation and implementation of projects is completelyvoluntary. The web site provides an opportunity to distribute andpublish information to inform other printers on differentopportunities to reduce pollution and often save money.

The various representatives work together and support oneanother to:• identify and implement various types of pollution prevention

projects;• test and operate new technologies or systems (environmental

management systems); share successes and discuss issues andchallenges;

• improve energy efficiency;• increase recycling and reuse of materials;• reduce water consumption; and • to reduce both hazardous and nonhazardous waste generated.

Ontario and British Columbia have the two most active regionalcommittees in Canada, however, most provinces have had somelevel of involvement in a printing and graphics sector pollutionprevention project.

In Ontario, the current focus is on reducing volatile organiccompound emissions from the screenprinting facilities. AnEnvironmental Performance Agreement was recentlybeen signed between Environment Canadaand the Specialty Graphic ImagingAssociation (www.sgia.org) toreduce volatile organiccompound emissions by 20percent and carbon dioxideemissions by 3 percent from thescreenprinting plants throughoutOntario. Additional details andother reduction goals regarding thisagreement can be found on Environ-ment Canada’s Web sitewww.ec.gc.ca/CEPARegistry/docu-ments/agree/sgia_agree/index_sgia.cfm.The screenprinters participating in theproject will be implementing an integrated environmental man-agement system at their facilities to help them identifyopportunities for reduction in waste and energy consumption.

The environmental management system can easily be incorporatedin the practices and procedures already coordinated by the Healthand Safety Committee. The environmental benefits often improvethe work conditions for the employees. Several companies arealready in the process of converting from a solvent based ink sys-tem to an ultra violet technology and demonstrating significantVOC reductions and improved employee moral due to the reducedamount of fumes inhaled.

In previous years the pollution prevention printing project inOntario focused on lithographic sector. As a result of this pastproject, many success stories describing how reductions in the useof toxic materials and reduced emissions were achieved have beendescribed and are available from the CleanPrint web sitewww.cleanprint.org.

The British Columbia Regional Committee has developedseveral useful tools that are available for free from the CleanPrintweb site including: best management practices posters andchecklists, and a how-to guide for preparing an environmentalmanagement plan which can be used by flexographic,screenprinters and offset printers.

Environment Canada Ontario Region has developed procure-ment guidelines for purchasing paper and printing services.Currently there is a requirement that paper purchased must

contain a minimum of 30 percent post consumer waste. Print-ing services which are contracted to print governmentdocuments must meet the environmental criteria describedby the Environmental Choice Program www.environmen-talchoice.ca. The criteria is intended to encouragecompanies to reduce their environmental impact andoutline the performance characteristics that a printingcompany should achieve. Companies have the optionof participating in the environmental certificationprogram but it is not mandatory requirement forsecuring print contracts but they must prove they

do meet the standards. The standards describe theuse of inks containing a reduced quantity of harmful in-

gredients (heavy metals and VOCs), the process must minimizeits use of water and ensure that wastewater is directed to sewagetreatment facilities that meet strict quality requirements.

For further information on CleanPrint Canada contact: Shee-lagh Hysenaj, Pollution Prevention Officer at Environment

Canada at 416-739-5910.

The three Ps go “green” and clean up their acts!

in the PRINT andPULP and PAPER

INDUSTRIES

Millar Western Pulp(Meadow Lake) Ltd.

The start-up of Millar Western’s Meadow Lake bleachedchemi-thermo-mechanical pulp (BCTMP) mill in Edmon-ton, AB in 1992 marked the world’s first successful

implementation of zero-liquid-effluent-discharge technology at amarket pulp facility. A totally chlorine-free operation, theMeadow Lake mill generates no chlorinated dioxins, chlorinatedfurans or other chlorinated organics.

Millar Western monitors each pulp run to find ways to decreaseboth chemical and electricity use. According to the Canada Pulpand Paper Association’s 1997 Energy Monitoring Report, MillarWestern had the lowest purchased-energy rates of all mechanicalpulp mills in Canada. Work is also being done on recovering thefibre that is lost through various processes (such as the debarkingof logs) in order to maximize fibre usage.

BenefitsEnvironmental

Millar Western’s Meadow Lake milluses approximately 10 timesless fresh water thanconventional BCTMPmills and 40 timesless than con-ventionalkraft mills.This mill produces60 to 100 percent morepulp per tree than kraft mills,resulting in fewer trees being har-vested per tonne of pulp. Hydrogenperoxide is used to bleach the pulp, avoiding thegeneration of chlorinated dioxins, chlorinated furansor other chlorinated organics.

EconomicDecreased production costs have resulted from efforts to reduce andreuse solid wastes and minimize energy and chemical use. Produc-tion costs from this zero-liquid-effluent-discharge pulp mill arecomparable with those of conventional BCTMP mills.

Recognition In 1993, the Meadow Lake mill was awarded the SaskatchewanAchievement for Business Excellence Award for the Physical Envi-ronment. In 1998 Meadow Lake achieved ISO 14001 certificationof its environmental management system.

To learn more about Millar, visit www.millarwestern.com

Environment Canada’s Pollution Prevention

The totally chlorine-free Millar Western Pulp (Meadow Lake) mill isthe world’s first successful zero-effluent-discharge market pulp mill.

Go to www.ec.gc.ca/ppto see examples ofpollution prevention stories in action. The successstories are designed to recognize Canadianorganizations, companies, and individuals whoare making a difference in pollution prevention.The site shows the economic benefits of industry’sefforts to “Keep Clean” as well! It provides anincentive for Canadians to adopt practices similarto those featured in the stories. Take a look atthese two Pollution Prevention Success Storiesfrom Canada’s pulp and paper industry:

Success Stories Web Site



Does your company or institution practice

POLLUTION PREVENTION?Submit your own story to [email protected].

See the Web site for desired criteria.

Printed with permission from Environment Canada.

World of difference. Manyimprovements distinguish the TembecMill of 1927 shown at left and the new

Mill shown above in 2002.

Tembec Paper Group—Pine Falls Operations

Tembec-Pine Falls Operations in Pine Falls, MB producesnewsprint for major newspapers in Canada and the U.S.Tembec is Manitoba’s only newsprint mill and is the largest

recycler of old newspapers and magazines in the province. Theinstallation of a deink facility in 1995, allows Tembec to use 100tonnes per day of old newspapers and magazines in the pulpingprocess.

From 1927 to 2001, the Pine Falls mill produced pulp for itsnewsprint operation using a mix of stone groundwood and sulfiteprocesses. Groundwood pulping uses large stone grinders to grindlogs into pulp while the sulfite process essentially digests the woodfibres into pulp using a cooking liquor. Pine Falls was one of veryfew pulp and paper mills left in North America using suchtechnology.

In March 2001, the mill underwent a major change in the pulpproduction process to improve the quality characteristics of thenewsprint sheet, reduce operating costs and improve environmen-tal performance of the mill. The two older pulping technologieswere shut down and a new, and state of the art $124 million thero-mechanical pulp (TMP) mill was commissioned. The new facilityuses heat and pressure to break down wood fibre into pulp. Theheart of the process involves 35,000 horsepower motors to driverefiners, which break up the fibre in wood chips into pulp. Theprocess generates a significant amount of heat, which is capturedby a sophisticated heat recovery unit. This heat is then used togenerate steam for use in other parts of the mill.

Benefits Environmental

The shutdown of the sulfite pulping department has eliminated thegeneration of sulfur odours and greatly reduced SO2 emissionsfrom the mill facility. The heat recovery unit has reduced coal usein the powerboilers by more than 50 percent, thereby reducing airemissions significantly. This will allow the company to attain a 50percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below the 1990baseline. The use of wood waste generated from the TMP and logchipping operation as a biomass fuel in the boilers also contributesto the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. TMP-related efflu-ent improvements include a 63 percent reduction in BiochemicalOxygen Demand, 84 percent reduction in Total Suspended Solidsand a 90 percent reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand. The useof old newspapers and magazines has reduced the need to harvestthe forest by almost 25 percent.

EconomicThe automated nature of the new TMP plant has resulted in asignificant cost savings to the company. The TMP will substantiallyreduce production costs, thereby securing the long-term future ofthe mill in Pine Falls. The TMP will put Tembec-Pine Falls into thetop 10 percent among low-cost newsprint producers in NorthAmerican by reducing costs by an estimated $80/tonne. Inaddition, the TMP will greatly improve the quality characteristicsof the newsprint sheet that is produced.

To learn more about Tembec, visit www.tembec.com

The nine members of The Chem-ical Institute of Canada profiledbelow were elected to the Fellow-ship in 2004 by the CIC Board ofDirectors. They will receive theirFellowship certificates either atthe CIC Annual General Meeting(AGM) in London, ON, on May31, 2004, or at the CSChE AGM tobe held in Calgary, AB, this Octo-ber. A reception will be held inhonour of the new Fellows im-mediately following the CIC andCSChE AGMs.

These Fellowship recipientsnow carry the designation FCICon their name, replacing MCIC.

Congratulations are extendedto the following new members:

Philip R. BunkerPrincipal research officer,National Research CouncilCanada, Ottawa, ONPhD, Cambridge University,1965Member of the CIC since 1996Nominated by TuckerCarrington, FCIC, Universitéde Montréal

Philip Bunker has made out-standing contributions toresearch in theoretical spec-troscopy for 40 years, specificallyin the breakdown of the Born-Oppenheimer approximation,the dynamics of highly flexiblemolecules and in the discoveryand analysis of spectra of tripletand singlet methylene, as de-scribed in 165 papers. He hashad a major impact on spec-troscopy through his books

Molecular Symmetry andSpectroscopy, co-authored withPer Jensen and Computa-tional Molecular Spectroscopy,co-edited with Jensen.

Thomas A. DueverProfessor and chair of chemicalengineering, University of Waterloo,Waterloo, ON PhD, University of Waterloo,1987Member of the CIC since 1988Nominated by AlexanderPenlidis, FCIC, University of Waterloo

Thomas Duever is distinguishedfor research on the application ofstatistical methods for chemicalprocess analysis, which has re-sulted in models and estimationof parameters for predicting poly-mer process behaviour, and inthe calculation of reactivity ratio-s in polymer reaction systems. Hehas also made important contri-butions to the CIC through hisactivities in the CSChE and in theteaching of chemical engineering.

Edward P. C. LaiProfessor of chemistry, Carleton University, Ottawa, ONPhD, University of Florida, 1982Member of the CIC since 1985Nominated by Jean-FrançoisLegault, MCIC, NationalDefence and president of theCSChE Board of Directors

Edward Lai has made substantialcontributions to the analyticalchemistry of biochemical and en-vironmental materials by usingsuch novel techniques as nonasec-ond laser spectroscopy, surfaceplasmon resonance, time-of-flightspectrometry and electrochro-matography, resulting in newphotochemical, electrochemical,optical, and molecular recognitionphenomena. His achievements inteaching and in CIC and CSC ac-tivities at local and national levelsare also noteworthy.

Rafik LoutfyCorporate vice-president, Xerox Corporation,

Mississauga, ONPhD, University of Western Ontario,1972Member of the CIC since 1979Nominated by P. R. Sundararajan,FCIC, Carleton University

Rafik Loutfy has beenoutstanding in research onphotochemistry, electrochem-istry, and pigment science andtechnology, as applied to solarcells, photoreceptors, and xerog-raphy, all described in 165papers and 43 patents. His CICand CSC activities, fosteringindustry-university interactionsand management of scienceand technology have beenexemplary.

Derek C. G. MuirResearch scientist, Environment Canada,Burlington, ONPhD, McGill University, 1977Member of the CIC since 1980Nominated by James Maguire,FCIC, Environment Canada

Derek Muir is an internationalexpert on environmentalchemistry, including the bioac-cumulation and bioavailabilityof persistent organic pollutantsin the aquatic environment,especially of Northern Canada.His research work, described inover 200 publications, is havinga major impact on nationaland international initiativesto identify and control thesepollutants.


Section headCIC Bulletin ICC

Announcing the 2004 CIC Fellowships

Flora T. T. NgProfessor of chemicalengineering, University of Waterloo,Waterloo, ON PhD, University of BritishColumbia, 1970Member of the CIC since 1990Nominated by Thomas Fahidy,FCIC, University of Waterloo

Flora Ng is making significantcontributions to fundamentaland applied aspects of bothhomogeneous and heteroge-neous catalysis. Her world-classresearch on catalytic distillationhas made a major impact in thefield of green reaction engineer-ing and process intensification.Ng has contributed to BPChemicals, (U.K.) award-win-ning process for the productionof ethyl acetate on a huge scale.She is an excellent mentor anda role model to many femalestudents.

James M. PiretProfessor of biotechnologylaboratory and chemical andbiological engineering,

University of British Columbia,Vancouver, BCScD, Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology, 1989Member of the CIC since 1989Nominated by Paul Watkinson,FCIC, University of BritishColumbia

James Piret is distinguished formajor achievements in stem cellresearch, hollow fibre bioreac-tors for monoclonal antibodyproduction, recombinant proteinproduction, and the develop-ment of an acoustic filter forretention of cells from bioreac-tors. He has been a leader in theBiotechnology Subject Divisionand an inspiration to studentsand researchers in biotechnology.

Campbell W. RobinsonProfessor emeritus, University of Waterloo,Vancouver, BCPhD, University of California,Berkeley, 1971Member of the CIC since 1971Nominated by Norman Epstein,HFCIC, University of BritishColumbia

Campbell Robinson has enjoyeda highly productive career forover forty 40 in chemical andbiochemical engineering, both inindustry and academia, by beingoutstanding in research, teach-ing, mentoring, editing, andadministrating. A special issue ofThe Canadian Journal of Chemi-cal Engineering (CJChE),Volume 77, October 1999, wasdedicated to him for his exemplary

achievements as a chemical engi-neer and associate editor of theCJChE from 1980–1984, and aseditor from 1990–1996.

Kevin James SmithHead of chemical and biologicalengineering, University ofBritish Columbia, Vancouver,BCPhD, McMaster University,1983Member of the CIC since 1988Nominated by Paul Watkinson,FCIC, University of BritishColumbia

Kevin Smith has made significantcontributions to chemical engi-neering in Canada through hisoutstanding research on catalyticprocesses for heavy oil upgradingand for natural gas conversion,involving hydrocracking, hydro-denitrogenation, and desul-phurization. He has served theCatalysis Subject Division withdistinction and is an award-win-ning teacher.


Section headCIC Bulletin ICC

2003 Financial StatementsBy mid-April 2004, copies of the complete audited financial state-ments of the CIC, CSC, and CSChE will be available (in both officiallanguages) on our Web site and on request from the executive direc-tor. The statements will also be available at the annual generalmeetings of the Institute and the consituent Societies.

États financiers 2003Dès la mi-avril 2004, des copies des états financiers vérifiés de l’ICC,de la SCC et de la SCGCh seront disponibles dans les deux languesofficielles sur notre site Web et sur demande du directeur exécutif.Les états seront aussi disponibles aux assemblées généralesannuelles de l’Institut et de ses sociétés constituantes.

AnnouncementCSC/CIC AGMDate ChangeCSC/CIC members are advisedthat the Annual General Meetings(AGM) date has been changed toMonday, May 31, 2004 in London,ON. The AGMs are being held inconjunction with the CanadianChemistry Conference andExhibition. A sandwich lunch willbe served at both the 12:00–12:30CSC AGM and the 12:30–13:00CIC AGM. Please refer to theconference Web site atwww.csc2004.ca/home.html forthe actual room location.

AnnonceChangement dedate des assembléesgénérales annuellespour l’ICC et la SCCAvis aux membres de l’ICC et dela SCC : la date des assembléesgénérales annuelles sera le lundi31 mai 2004 à London (Ontario). Lesréunions générales annuelles sontorganisées conjointement avecle Congrès et exposition canadiensde chimie. Un déjeuner de sand-wiches sera servi à l’assembléegénérale de la SCC de 12 h à 12 h 30et de l’ICC de 12 h 30 à 13 h. Veuillezconsulter le site Web du congrèsau www.csc2004.ca/home_fr.htmlpour l’emplacement de la salle.

Winners for 2004

Antonella Badia, MCIC, is anassistant professor of chemistryat the Université de Montréal.She received her PhD fromMcGill University (1996), whereshe investigated the structureand dynamics of self-assembledmonolayers on gold surfacesunder the supervision of R.Bruce Lennox, MCIC. She wasan NSERC postdoctoral fellow atthe Max-Planck Institute for

Polymer Research (1997) andthe McGill Centre for the Physicsof Materials (1998). Her currentresearch is focused on atomicforce microscopy investigationsof the structure, interfacial prop-erties, and phase behaviour oftwo-dimensional assemblies oforganic surfactant moleculesthat serve as model biomimeticsystems or surface nanopattern-ing materials. Badia is therecipient of a Strategic FacultyAward (2000–2004) from theFonds de recherche sur la natureet les technologies and a CottrellScholar (2002) of the ResearchCorporation. She will use herCNC-IUPAC Travel Award to at-tend the Ian Wark ResearchInstitute International Confer-ence and Workshop on PhysicalChemistry of Bio-Interfaces inSouth Australia in May 2004.

Badia’s research involvesstructure/interfacial property in-vestigations of ultrathin organicfilms formed by self-assembly

and Langmuir-Blodgett meth-ods. Her work is directedtowards understanding and ma-nipulating molecular assemblyand surface interactions in ap-plications of these films asmodel biomimetic interfaces andsurface nanopatterning materials.

Louis Barriault, MCIC, wasborn in 1970, in Armagh, QC. In1993, he obtained his BSc inchemistry from the Universitéde Sherbrooke. He pursued his

PhD at the same institutionunder the guidance of PierreDeslongchamps, FCIC. Aftercompleting his doctorate in1997, he joined the group of LeoA. Paquette at the OSU as aFCAR postdoctoral fellow wherehe completed the total synthesisof (-)-polycarvernoside A. InMay 1999, he accepted a posi-tion as assistant professor at theUniversity of Ottawa where hehas been promoted to associateprofessor (2003). Barriault’s re-search involves the developmentof novel strategies using tandempericyclic reactions to constructcomplex bio-active natural prod-ucts. Recently, Barriault receivedthe John Polanyi Award inChemistry (2000), Ontario Inno-vation Trust Award (2000),Premier’s Research ExcellenceAward (2002), Ottawa Life Sci-ence Michael Smith Award(2002), and the Boehringer In-gelheim Young InvestigatorAward (2002).


Section headCSC Bulletin SCC

The Canadian National Committee for IUPAC(CNC/IUPAC) established a program ofTravel Awards for young Canadian scientists

in 1982. These awards are financed jointly by theCanadian Society for Chemistry’s Gendron Fundand by CNC/IUPAC’s Company Associates.(Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Inc. Mark FrosstCanada Inc.)

The purpose of these awards is to help youngCanadian scientists and engineers, who should bewithin 10 years of gaining their PhD, present apaper at an IUPAC-sponsored conference outsideCanada and the U.S.A. Deadline for receipt ofapplications: October 15, 2004.

Details of the applications procedures can befound at: www.cnc-iupac.org.

Le Comité national canadien de l’Unioninternationale de chimie pure et appliquée(CNC/UICPA) remet des bourses de voyage

aux jeunes scientifiques canadiens depuis 1982. Cesbourses sont subventionées par le Fonds Gendron(administré par la Société canadienne de chimie) etpar les compagnies associées au CNC/UICPA.(Boehringer Ingelheim (Canada) Inc. Mark FrosstCanada Inc.)

L’objectif de ces bourses est de venir en aide auxjeunes scientifiques et ingénieurs canadiens, quisont à moins de 10 ans de l’obtention de leur doc-torat, afin de leur permettre de présenter leurstravaux lors d’une conférence commanditée parl’UICPA à l’extérieur du Canada et des États-Unis.Date limite pour postuler : le 15 octobre 2004. Ren-seignments supplementaires : www.cnc-iupac.org.

CNC/IUPAC Travel AwardsBourses de Voyage du CNC/UICPA

Barriault’s research involvesthe development of novel andeffective synthetic strategies toconstruct complex bio-activenatural products.

Eric Fillion, MCIC, joined thedepartment of chemistry at theUniversity of Waterloo in August2000. His research interestscentre on the design anddevelopment of catalytic carbon-carbon bond forming reactionsfor the enantio- and stereocon-trolled synthesis of bioactivecarbocycles and heterocycles.Fillion received his BSc from theUniversité de Sherbrooke. Aftercompleting his MSc at theUniversité de Montréal withDenis Gravel, FCIC, he pursuedhis doctoral studies at theUniversity of Toronto under thesupervision of Mark Lautens,FCIC. From 1998 to 2000, he wasan NSERC postdoctoral Fellow atthe University of California,Irvine, in the laboratories of LarryOverman. The CNC/IUPACTravel Award will allow him toattend the 15th InternationalConference on Organic Synthesisin Nagoya, Japan in August 2004.

Fillion’s research interestscentre on the design and devel-opment of Lewis acid- andtransition metal-catalyzedcarbon-carbon bond formingreactions.

Deryn Fogg, MCIC, is an associ-ate professor in the departmentof chemistry at the University ofOttawa. Her research interests liein transition metal organometal-lic chemistry and catalysis, witha particular focus on tandemcatalysis, on the design of robust,long-lived, and selective catalystsfor olefin metathesis, and on thedevelopment of MALDI-MS as atool for structural elucidation ofair-sensitive organometallics.Fogg obtained her doctorate fromUBC in 1994, working with BrianJames, FCIC, on imine hydro-genation, and subsequently helda postdoctoral appointment withRichard Schrock at MIT, whereshe developed polymer-quantumdot composites for device appli-cations. She joined the faculty atthe University of Ottawa as anassistant professor in 1997, andin 2001 received acceleratedtenure and promotion to associ-ate professor. Fogg will use herCNC-IUPAC Travel Award to at-tend the 36th InternationalConference on CoordinationChemistry, in Merida, Mexico, inJuly 2004.

Fogg’s research in transitionmetal chemistry and catalysisfocuses on tandem catalysis, andthe design of robust, long-lived,and selective catalysts for olefinmetathesis. Her group is alsopioneering the development ofMALDI-MS as a tool for struc-tural elucidation of air-sensitiveorganometallics.

Robert Hudson, MCIC, is cur-rently a faculty member in thedepartment of chemistry at theUniversity of Western Ontario.He holds a cross-appointment tothe department of biochemistry,Faculty of medicine and den-tistry. He arrived at UWO in1997 by way of the CaliforniaInstitute of Technology wherehe tenured a NSERC postdoc-toral fellowship studying minorgroove-binding polyamides withPeter Dervan. Hudson obtainedhis MSc in the field of inorganicchemistry with Anthony Poë,FCIC, and his PhD studying nu-cleic acids with Masad Damha,FCIC, both at the University ofToronto. Hudson’s research atUWO is focused on syntheticand bio-organic chemistry ofnucleic acids and peptides, withemphasis on the nucleic acidmimic known as PNA or pep-tide nucleic acid. He willpresent his group’s work on thesynthesis and properties ofnucleobase-modified peptidenucleic acids at the 7thInternational Symposium onBiomolecular Chemistry(ISBOC-7) held at the Universityof Sheffield, U.K.

Hudson’s research at UWO isfocused on synthetic and bio-or-ganic chemistry of nucleic acidsand peptides, with emphasis onthe nucleic acid mimic knownas PNA or peptide nucleic acid.

George Shimizu’s, MCIC,research falls under theumbrella of supramolecularinorganic chemistry. The grouphas synthesized numerousexamples of metal-organicframeworks that function assorbants and ion exchangematerials. The group hasfocused its efforts on the chem-istry of the sulfonate group,which offers interesting bindingproperties with metals both inthe primary and the secondarycoordination spheres. A highlyunique aspect of this research isthe ability of the solids to bestructurally dynamic, as com-pared to zeolite-like solids, whilestill retaining order and func-tion. Targeted applications of thesolids vary from highly selectiveseparations agents, porous solidsfor gas storage, compounds withsecond order non-linear opticalactivity, and the formation ofhighly ordered proton conduct-ing solids.

Shimizu, uses inorganicsupramolecular chemistry tosynthesize new materials. Targetcompounds have propertiesranging from highly selectiveseparations agents, poroussolids for gas storage, com-pounds with second ordernon-linear optical activity, andthe formation of highly orderedproton conducting solids.


Section headCSC Bulletin SCC

The Canadian Society for Chemical Engineers (CSChE) Nom-inating Committee, appointed under the terms of CSChEbylaws Article 8, Section k, has proposed the candidates

listed below to serve as CSChE officers for 2004–2005.Andrew Hart, MCIC, CSChE, past-president and chair of the

Nominating Committee, is pleased to announce the candidatesfor the 2004–2005 election of the CSChE. Additional nominationsfor candidates may be submitted by members to be received atNational Office no later than Tuesday, May 18, 2004. Ten or morevoting members must support additional nominations in writ-ing. Those elected, whether by ballot or acclamation, will takeoffice immediately following the AGM of the Society in Calgaryon October 5, 2004.

President 2004–2005Gerry Phillips, MCIC, a native of Saskatoon, SK, re-ceived degrees in chemical engineering and chemistryin 1970 and 1971 from the University ofSaskatchewan. Following graduation, he worked withDuPont of Canada in North Bay, ON and Sarnia, ONas a project and plant engineer. In 1979, he obtainedhis MASc in chemical engineering from the Univer-sity of Waterloo.

Phillips joined NOVA Chemicals in 1979 as aprocess engineer prior to startup of the first ethylene plant. He laterworked as an operations supervisor before taking on the role of sitesafety engineer. This two-year assignment turned into a careerwhen the disaster in Bhopal, India, changed the context of ProcessSafety Management (PSM).

Phillips is presently NOVA Chemicals’ senior loss prevention en-gineer and has spent the majority of his career developing andadvancing the concepts of PSM in North America and Europe. Hehas served on national and international committees dealing withprocess safety and risk assessment and assisted in development ofseveral products related to risk assessment and public safety.

When the Major Industrial Accidents Council of Canadadissolved, he led the establishment of the CSChE PSM SubjectDivision. He has presented papers and chaired sessions at confer-ences and workshops in North America and Europe.Phillips has been an active member of the CSChE since 1967. Heserved on the executive of the Sarnia Local Section and on theorganizing committee for the 1979 Sarnia conference. He was theIndustrial Liaison on the CSChE Board from 1999 to 2002, andserved as the first chair of the PSM Subject Division. He is thecurrent CSChE vice-president.

Le comité des candidatures de la Société canadienne de géniechimique (SCGCh), nommé aux termes de l’article k de lasection 8 des règlements de la SCGCh, propose les candi-

dats suivants aux postes d’administrateurs de la SCGCh pourl’exercice 2004-2005.

Andrew Hart, MICC, président sortant de la SCGCh et présidentdu comité des candidatures, est heureux de présenter les candidatsaux élections pour l’exercice 2004-2005. Les membres peuventprésenter d’autres candidats au plus tard le mardi 18 mai 2004. Lesmises en candidature supplémentaires doivent être appuyées parécrit par au moins dix membres votants. Les personnes élues, auscrutin ou sans concurrent, entreront en fonction immédiatementaprès l’AGA de la Société qui se tiendra le 5 octobre 2004.

Président, 2004-2005

Originaire de Saskatoon, dans la Saskatchewan,Gerry Phillips, MICC, a étudié le génie chimique etla chimie à la University of Saskatchewan. Après l’ob-tention de ses diplômes, en 1970 et 1971, il a travailléchez DuPont Canada à North Bay et à Sarnia, dansl’Ontario, en tant qu’ingénieur de projet et d’usine.En 1979, Gerry a obtenu une maîtrise en génie chim-ique de la University of Waterloo.

M. Phillips s’est joint à NOVA Chemicals en 1979 àtitre d’ingénieur des procédés, avant le démarrage de la premièreusine d’éthylène. Il a ensuite assuré les fonctions de chef d’ex-ploitation, puis celles d’ingénieur spécialiste de la sécurité. Cedernier mandat, qui devait durer deux ans, a pris les allures d’unecarrière lorsque le désastre de Bhopal, en Inde, a transformé le con-texte de la gestion de la sécurité des procédés (GSP).

M. Phillips est actuellement ingénieur principal, prévention dessinistres, chez NOVA Chemicals, après avoir consacré la plusgrande partie de sa carrière au développement et à l’avancementdes concepts liés à la GSP en Amérique du Nord et en Europe. Il asiégé dans des comités nationaux et internationaux sur la sûretédes procédés et l’évaluation des risques et a contribué à la mise aupoint de plusieurs produits reliés à l’évaluation des risques et à lasécurité publique.

Après la dissolution du Conseil canadien des accidents indus-triels majeurs, M. Phillips a dirigé l’établissement de la division dela gestion de la sûreté des procédés de la SCGCh. Il a en outreprésenté des communications et présidé des sessions lors decongrès et d’ateliers en Amérique du Nord et en Europe.

M. Phillips a été un membre actif de la SCGCh depuis 1967. Il afait partie du bureau de la section locale de Sarnia ainsi que ducomité organisateur du congrès de Sarnia en 1979. M. Phillips asiégé au conseil d’administration de la SCGCh à titre de représen-tant des relations avec les entreprises, de 1999 à 2002, et a été lepremier président de la division de la gestion de la sûreté desprocédés. En ce moment, il est le vice-président de la SCGCh.


Section headCSChE Bulletin SCGCh

Canadian Society for Chemical EngineeringBoard of Directors Nominations (2004–2005)Présentation des candidats pour le conseild’administration de la Société canadienne degénie chimique (2004-2005)

Vice-President 2004–2005

Paul Stuart, MCIC, is a professor in the department ofchemical engineering at École Polytechnique, and theChairholder of an NSERC Environmental DesignEngineering Chair whose theme is Process Integrationin the Pulp and Paper Industry. He received his PhDin chemical engineering from McGill University in1992—he was the last student of the late WilliamGauvin, a founding member of the CSChE and itspresident in 1966–1967.

Prior to joining École Polytechnique in 2000,Stuart was a process engineer for 12 years servingthe pulp and paper industry including as company associate andmanager of process engineering at Beak Consultants Limited, aspartner and manager of environmental services at Simons Envi-ronmental Group, and as director of the Montréal process andenvironmental engineering group of H.A. Simons Limited. Stuart isactive on many committees related to his field of research includ-ing currently as a member of the NRCan Advisory Board onEnergy Science and Technology (NABEST), vice-chair of the Cana-dian Design Engineering Network (CDEN), and he is on the NSERCStrategic Grants panel. He is a professional engineer in theProvince of Quebec and continues to consult to the pulp andpaper industry through his company, Processys Inc.

Stuart has been an active member of the CSChE since 1982. Heserved in various capacities with the Montréal Local Section duringthe 1980s including a term as chair, technical program co-chair of theCanadian Chemical Engineering Conference held in Montréal in 2000,and more recently was director of conferences on the CSChE Boardfrom 2000–2003. He has co-chaired the Symposium in ProcessIntegration at the CSChE conference for the last four years.

Statement of PolicyThe CSChE was created in 1966, and has evolved along with the Canadian chemicalengineering community over nearly four decades. We can be proud of its role as a tech-nical association serving the interests of chemical engineers in industry, academia, andgovernment.

The Society should continue to build on its existing programs and strengths, and createnew initiatives to increase its visibility nationally and internationally in the coming years.I will work hard to focus on this overall vision.

First and foremost, the CSChE must have a strong balance sheet in order to achieve itsgoals. The Society should follow through on the measures that have been outlined andexecuted over the past few years to ensure a balanced budget. We should focus on ourexisting program strengths, continuing to increase membership as we have over the lastseveral years. Certain programs should be evaluated, and possibly modified to enhancetheir impact on our overall financial position.

Canada will host the 2009 Chemical Engineering World Congress. As we approach thisexciting event, it is appropriate that we distinguish ourselves relative to other chemicalengineering societies around the world, including when appropriate, taking a position onimportant issues where chemical engineering knowledge is pertinent to the debate. Weshould identify opportunities within existing programs to celebrate our evolution as aCanadian engineering community, our successes in research and innovation, and ourtraditions as an open and inclusive community.

Our annual conference has a unique and informal format. It effectively captures Cana-dian research activities, and has an increasingly strong international reputation. We canalso be proud of The Canadian Journal for Chemical Engineering. We need to examinethese two vehicles, and as 2009 approaches, develop initiatives that raise the visibilityof Canada’s chemical engineering community and thereby further strengthen our Society.

Canadian chemical engineers have a lot to be proud of. The CSChE needs to collabo-rate with Canadian chemical engineering departments and Canadian industry to preparefor 2009, which should provide a great forum to celebrate successes with our peers fromaround the world.

Vice-président, 2004-2005

Paul Stuart, MCIC, enseigne au sein du département degénie chimique de l’École polytechnique et est titulaired’une Chaire CRSNG en génie de conception environ-nementale dont le thème est l’intégration des procédéspour l’industrie papetière. Il a obtenu son doctorat engénie chimique de l’Université McGill en 1992 – il ad’ailleurs été le dernier étudiant de feu William Gauvin,un membre fondateur de la SCGCh dont il fut présidenten 1966-1967.

Avant de se joindre à l’équipe de l’École polytech-nique en 2000, M. Stuart a travaillé comme ingénieur

des procédés durant 12 ans au service de l’industrie des pâtes etpapiers, notamment à titre d’associé et gestionnaire des procédésopérationnels de Beak Consultants Limited, de partenaire et directeurdes services de l’environnement du Simons Environmental Group eten tant que directeur du groupe de génie des procédés et de l’envi-ronnement de Montréal de H.A. Simons Limited. M. Stuart estmembre actif de plusieurs comités liés à son domaine de recherche.En effet, il est présentement membre du Comité consultatif de RNCansur les sciences et les technologies énergétiques (CCRSTE), vice-prési-dent du Réseau canadien de la conception en ingénierie (RCCI) etmembre du comité des subventions stratégiques du CRSNG. Il travailletoujours comme ingénieur professionnel dans la province de Québecet continue d’apporter ses services d’expert-conseil à l’industrie despâtes et papiers par l’entremise de son entreprise, Processys Inc.

M. Stuart est membre de la SCGCh depuis 1982. Il a occupéplusieurs fonctions au sein de la division locale de Montréal durantles années 1980, notamment celles de président, de coprésident duprogramme technique du Congrès canadien de génie chimique qui aeu lieu à Montréal en 2000 et, plus récemment, de directeur descongrès au sein du conseil d’administration de la SCGCh de 2000 à2003. Il a également coprésidé le Symposium sur l’Intégration desprocédés lors des quatre derniers congrès de la SCGCh.

Énoncé de politiqueLa Société canadienne de génie chimique (SCGCh) a été créée en 1966. Depuis prèsde 40 ans, elle évolue de pair avec la communauté canadienne de génie chimique.Nous pouvons être fiers de son rôle en tant qu’association technique représentantles intérêts des ingénieurs chimistes de l’industrie, du monde de l’enseignement etdes gouvernements.

La Société devrait continuer de miser sur ses programmes actuels et ses forcesainsi qu’amorcer de nouvelles initiatives pour accroître sa visibilité aux niveauxnational et international au cours des prochaines années. Je vais déployer des effortssoutenus pour atteindre cet objectif.

D’abord et avant tout, la SCGCh doit afficher un solide bilan afin de pouvoiratteindre ses objectifs. Elle devrait donner suite aux mesures définies et mises enoeuvre ces dernières années pour assurer un budget équilibré. Nous devrions nousconcentrer sur les points forts de nos programmes et continuer d’accroître le nombrede nos membres comme nous avons réussi à le faire au cours des dernières années.Certains programmes devraient être évalués et éventuellement modifiés pouraccroître leur impact sur notre situation financière générale.

Le Canada accueillera le Congrès mondial des ingénieurs chimistes en 2009. Aumoment où nous approchons de cet événement d’importance, il faut se distinguer desautres sociétés de génie chimique du monde entier, y compris, le cas échéant, seprononcer sur des questions importantes lorsqu’elles font appel à des connaissancesen génie chimique pertinentes pour le débat. Nous devrions relever au sein desprogrammes existants les possibilités de célébrer notre évolution en tant que com-munauté canadienne de génie, nos réussites dans le domaine de la recherche et desinnovations ainsi que nos traditions en tant que communauté ouverte et favorisantl’intégration.a formule de notre congrès annuel est unique et informelle. Elle intègreefficacement les activités canadiennes de recherche et, de plus en plus, elle acquiertune solide réputation au niveau international. Nous pouvons aussi être fiers de larevue The Canadian Journal for Chemical Engineering. Nous devons examiner cesdeux moyens de diffusion et, à l’approche de 2009, créer des initiatives qui aug-mentent la visibilité de la communauté canadienne de génie chimique et, par le faitmême, renforcent davantage notre position.

Les ingénieurs chimistes canadiens ont beaucoup de raisons d’être fiers. La SCGChdoit collaborer avec les départements de génie chimique et l’industrie canadiennepour se préparer au congrès de 2009, qui devrait assurer une tribune privilégiée pourcélébrer nos réussites avec nos pairs du monde entier.





An on-site competition at the Science andEngineering OlympicsThe Ottawa CIC Local Section was once again involved in the Scienceand Engineering Olympics that were held at the Canada Science andTechnology Museum on February 24 2004. Students in Grades 7 to 12from 15 schools were involved in the on-site Chemistry Quiz run bythe Ottawa CIC Local Section.

Two students from each school answered a series of questions ofincreasing difficulty, as read by Helen P. Graves Smith, MCIC, andmarked by Savita Pall, MCIC. The winners of the contest for Grade 7 and8 students were determined from the preliminary rounds. T-shirts wereawarded to the top team: Cassandra Cao and Véronique Gingras-Gau-thier from École secondaire publique De La Salle.

The top three teams from the high school contest, for Grade 9 to 12students, had to work a little harder! After the preliminary roundsthey were invited onto the stage to compete head-to-head in front ofa full auditorium of students, teachers, and judges. With some encour-agement from the crowd, the students answered more challengingquestions.

T-shirts were given to the top three winning teams:

1st place:Collège catholique Samuel-GenestEric Pelot and Marlène Mansour

2nd place:Colonel By Secondary SchoolHoan Nguyen and George Huang

3rd place:Merivale High SchoolSheng Li and Pam Zhang

Pall and Graves Smith were on hand to present the T-shirts to thewinners of this competition and to present the trophy, which LocalSection provided in 2003, to the winning school in the Grade 7 and 8category for the whole Science and Engineering Olympics. This yearthat school was École secondaire catholique Béatrice-Desloges.Congratulations to everybody!

Helen P. Graves Smith, MCIC

The Ottawa Chemistry Olympiad

Secretary/Treasurer 2004–2005 Souheil Afara, MCIC, is a lab supervisor for thedepartment of chemical and biochemical engineeringat the University of Western Ontario in London, ON.He received his BESc degree from the University ofWestern Ontario in 1982, and remained at Western asa research assistant from 1982–1988. In 1988, Afaraworked as research engineer for the Chemical ReactorEngineering Centre (CREC) at Western’s faculty of en-gineering until 1999. He then returned to Western’schemical and biochemical engineering departmentfrom 1999 to present.

Afara has been a member of the CSChE since 1982. He was treas-urer of the 48th CSChE conference in 1998, and has served astreasurer of the CSChE Board from 1999 to present. Since 1988,Afara has also been a member of Professional Engineers Ontarioand was the recipient of Western’s Outstanding Achievement StaffAward in 2001

Secrétaire-trésorier, 2004-2005 Souheil Afara, MICC, est responsable de laboratoire pourle département de génie chimique et biochimique dela University of Western Ontario, à London, en On-tario. Souheil a reçu son baccalauréat en ingénierie àla University of Western Ontario en 1982 et a occupéle poste d’adjoint à la recherche de 1982 à 1988, dansce même établissement. En 1988, M. Afara a travailléen tant qu’ingénieur de recherche pour le ChemicalReactor Engineering Centre (CREC) de la faculté degénie de Western jusqu’en 1999. Depuis 1999, il est

rattaché au département de génie chimique et biochimique de cettemême université.

M. Afara est membre de la SCGCh depuis 1982. En 1998, il a assuréles fonctions de trésorier du 48e congrès de la SCGCh et il occupedepuis 1999 le poste de trésorier du conseil d’administration de laSCGCh. M. Afara est en outre membre de l’association ProfessionalEngineers Ontario et a reçu le prix pour contribution exceptionnelledes employés de la University of Western Ontario en 2001.

Director 2004–2007Allan Gilbert, MCIC, graduated with a BASc in chem-ical engineering from the University of Toronto in 1970.Specializing in pulp and paper research, he continuedto his MASc and PhD, also at Toronto. In 1978 he ac-cepted a professorial position in the department ofchemical engineering at Lakehead University in Thun-der Bay. After a leave in 1982–1983 to develop papermachine control code for Great Lakes Forest Productsin Dryden, his research interests shifted to sensor de-velopment and control of pulp and paper processes. Hewas a participant in the control group of the NCE Net-work on Mechanical and Chemi-Mechanical Pulps from 1990–1999.Gilbert has served as chair of the department of chemical engineer-ing at Lakehead since 1996. He is a father of three engineering sons,although one strayed from the fold into mechanical engineering.

Administrateur, 2004-2005Allan Gilbert, MCIC, a obtenu son BScA en génie chim-ique de la University of Toronto en 1970. C’est dans lecadre de sa maîtrise et de son doctorat, également ef-fectués à Toronto, qu’il s’est spécialisé dans la recherchesur les pâtes et papiers. En 1978, il a accepté un postede professeur au sein du département de génie chim-ique à la Lakehead University de Thunder Bay. Aprèsune brève absence en 1982-1983, période au cours delaquelle il se vouait au développement de codes de com-mande pour les machines à papier de l'entreprise GreatLakes Forest Products à Dryden, ses intérêts de

recherches se sont orientés vers le développement de capteurs per-mettant le contrôle des procédés dans l’industrie des pâtes et papiers.Il a également fait partie du groupe de contrôle du Réseau sur les pâtesmécaniques et chimico-mécaniques du RCE de 1990 à 1999. M. Gilbertoccupe le poste de président du département de génie chimique de laLakehead University depuis 1996. Ses trois fils sont également in-génieurs, bien que l’un d’eux ait bifurqué vers le génie mécanique.


Section headCIC News ICC

Annual General Meeting and DinnerAssemblée générale annuelle et dîner

May 5 mai 2004 18:00–22:00

Algonquin College, Woodroffe Campus, Building DÉdifice D, Collège Algonquin, campus Woodroffe

With a special presentation from / Avec une présentation spéciale deSgt. Carl McDiarmid, RCMP Forensic Identification Research Services

“Chemical Aspects of Forensics”

Agenda / Ordre du jour18:00 Cocktails, cash bar / Apéritifs, bar payant18:30 Dinner / Dîner20:00 Local Section business / Affaires de la section locale20:30 Guest speaker presentation / Présentation du conférencier invité

Cost is $20 person, payable at the door.

If you plan to attend or have any special dietary needs, please contact Fred Scaffidiat 613-990-2300 or [email protected] by April 23, 2004.

Please visit our Web site at www.cheminst.ca/sections/ottawa for more details.

Le coût est de 20 $ la personne, payable à l’entrée.

Si vous désirez être présent ou avez un besoin alimentaire spécifique, veuillezcommuniquer avec Fred Scaffidi au (613) 990-2300 ou [email protected] d’icile 23 avril 2004.

Pour plus de renseignements, visitez notre site Web à www.cheminst.ca/sections/ottawa.

Parking is free (Lot 9 or 12) / Le stationnement est gratuit (terrain 9 ou 12).

Peterborough Local Section Salutes Trent UniversityChemistry Students

The Peterborough CIC Local Section participated in an awards ceremony to recognizechemistry students at Trent University on January 30, 2004. The Section also hosteda brief reception following the ceremony.

The 2002-2003 prize recipients were as follows:The Robert Annett Scholarship: Danielle DusomeCRC Handbook Prize: Sandra RutherfordGraham Hartley Prize (1st year): Ina Koseva and Julie Metcalf (this is a PeterboroughSection sponsored award)Graham Hartley Prize (2nd year): Sarah Nienhuis (this is a Peterborough Sectionsponsored award)The David Sutherland Irwin Prize: Ursula MeierThe Makhija Prize in Chemistry: Danielle DusomeThe Organic Chemistry Prize: Lambert AmpongProfessional Engineers Wives’ Prize: Sarah NienhuisThe R&R Laboratory Prize in Analytical Chemistry: Meghan WoodsThe Society of Chemical Industry Student Merit Awards: • Biochemistry: Kerry Presley• Chemistry: Mark RobinsonThe Chemistry Undergraduate Society Improvement Award: Pearl Signaporia

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

The Chemical Instituteof Canada 2005 AwardsThe Union Carbide Award ispresented to a person who has madean outstanding contribution in Canadato education at any level in the field ofchemistry or chemical engineering.

Award: A framed scroll, a cashprize of $1,000 and travel expenses

Deadline: The deadline for thisCIC award is July 1, 2004 for the 2005selection.

Please submit your nominations to:Awards Program, The ChemicalInstitute of Canada, 130 Slater Street,Suite 550, Ottawa, ON K1P 6E2;tel.: 613-232-6252, fax: 613-232-5862;[email protected]

Nomination forms and the fullTerms of Reference for these awardsare available at www.cheminst.ca.

CCC Conference 2004College Chemistry Canada’s 31st confer-ence will be hosted by OkanaganUniversity College in Kelowna, BC, June10–13, 2004. The conference, entitled a“Taste of Chemistry” will look at thewine industry in the Okanagan Valley,which is fast becoming a world-classproducer of truly great wines. The con-ference begins Thursday evening with awine and cheese reception.

On Friday and Saturday they will pres-ent speakers knowledgeable in the wineindustry, including a presentation aboutthe analysis and characterization ofaroma precursor compounds in wine bymembers of Nigel Egger’s research groupat Okanagan University College. TheEggers group carries out collaborativestudies with the Pacific Agri-FoodResearch Centre (PARC). We plan to offera wine-tasting workshop. The conferencewill also present topics related to theteaching of chemistry.

The CCC Banquet Saturday eveningwill be held on the patio overlookingOkanagan Lake at Gray Monk EstateWinery. For Sunday, we are planning aday of local fun/activity. You can choseone of two activities: a scenic bicycleride on the famous Kettle Valley railwaythrough the hills above Okaganan Lakewith lunch at Hillside Estate Winery; ora tour of Summerhill Estate Winery andlunch while cruising Okanaga Lake onthe Fintry Queen, Kelowna’s historicpaddle wheel boat.

For more information, contact PatBaird at [email protected] or telephone250-762-5445, ext. 2239.

Anyone wishing to present a papercan contact Stephen McNeil [email protected] or telephone250-762-5445, ext. 7573.


Section headDivision News

Nouvelles des divisions


Section headStudent News

Nouvelles des étudiants

The CIC is proud to announce the 2002 Silver Medal winners.The medals are awarded on behalf of each Society.

Bishop’s UniversityTrevor Taylor

Brandon UniversityChrista Miriam Homenick

Carleton UniversityChris Rowley

Dalhousie UniversityDavid Herbert

Laurentan UniversityNatalie Lefort

McGill UniversitySuzanne Hulme (Chemistry)Ramzy Wahhab (Biochemistry)

McMaster UniversityDana Nyholt (Biochemistry)Cathy Wong (Biologicial Chemistry)

Memorial UniversityTimothy Kelly

Queen’s UniversityGenevieve Gavigan(Engineering Chemistry) Yoonjung Huh (Chemistry)

Ryerson UniversityPaula Brown

Simon Fraser UniversityMathieu Bohemier-Bernard

Sir Wilfred Grenfell CollegeChristina Smeaton

Université de Moncton Stéphane Bourque (Biochimie)Mike Doucette (Chimie)

Université du Québec à ChimieFrançois Simard

Université LavalFrancis Cronier

University College of Cape BretonJason Kenneth Pearson (Chemical Science)Kristin Marie Power (Chemical Science)

University College of the CaribooStuart D. Chambers

University College of the Fraser ValleyLori Thiele

University of AlbertaJonathan Ailon

University of British ColumbiaBryan Ka Ip Chan

University of CalgaryJeffrey Francis Van Humbeck

University of GuelphJudith Cirulis

University of ManitobaMeghan Nicole Gallant

University of New BrunswickCrystal Craig

University of ReginaSteven Hepperle

University of SaskatchewanHeather Lynn Filson

University of TorontoEugene Kwan

University of Toronto – MississaugaMohamed Alarakhia

University of Toronto – ScarboroughAmber Asad

University of WindsorBen Johnson (Biochemistry)Alexis Taylor (Chemistry)

York UniversityBoris Zevin

Tom Sutton, FCIC, with the CSCsilver medallists from McMasterUniversity: Dana Nyholt (left) andCathy Wong (right).

Silver Medalists HonouredCSC Silver Medal WinnersGagnants de médailles d’argent de la SCCThe Canadian Society for Chemistry encourages undergraduate stu-dents in chemistry and related subjects by offering an award to thestudent with the highest marks, entering his or her final year ofstudies at each chemistry and/or biochemistry department in Canada.The CSC Medal consists of an engraved medal and a certificate ofmerit. The Society offers its congratulations to those students whoreceived the CSC Medal.

La SCC souligne les efforts des étudiants de premier cycle enchimie ou autres matières connexes en décernant un prix àl’étudiant(e) qui aura obtenu(e) les meilleures résultats scolairesà son avant-dernière année d’études dans un programmeconduissant à l’obtention d’un diplôme en chimie ou enbiochimie. Le prix de la SCC comprend une médaille gravée,accompagnée d’un certificat de mérite. La Société tient à féliciterles étudiants suivants qui ont mérité cette médaille :




In addition to the medal and certificate of merit offered by all thesocieties, the Canadian society for Chemical Engineering awards anadditional prize of $50 and a two-year subscription to The CanadianJournal of Chemical Engineering. Winners have achieved top marksin their third year of a chemical engineering program. The Societywishes to congratulate those students who received the CSChEMedal.

La SCGCh décerne comme toutes les autres sociétés des médailles etcertificats de mérite. Cependant, elle désire accorder un prixadditionel de 50 $ et un abonnement de deux ans au Canadian Jour-nal of Chemical Engineering, aux étudiants qui auront obtenu lesmeilleurs résultats scolaires à leur avant-dernière année d’études dansun programme approuvé de génie chimique. La Société désire féliciterles étudiants suivants qui ont mérité la Médaille de la SCGCh :

Dalhousie UniversityDavid Castagné

McMaster UniversitySara Yonson

Queen’s UniversityJordan Pohn

Royal Military CollegeChelsea Anne Braybrook

Ryerson UniversityMelody Johnson

Université de SherbrookeNicole Desnoyers

University of AlbertaPatricia Taylor

University of CalgarySarah Harvie

University of New BrunswickSarah Harvie

University of OttawaJason Gaudette

University of SaskatchewanDanielle Meyer

University of TorontoRafael Mattos Dos Santos

University of WaterlooMatthew StevensRMC’s Officer Cadet

Chelsea AnneBraybrook receivesher silver medalfor chemicalengineering.

MatthewStevens ofthe Universityof Waterloo,departmentof chemicalengineering.

CSChE Medal WinnersGagnants de médailles de la SCGCh

Chemical Engineer (Bachelors) with six years ofexperience in Chemical Process Design, Project Coor-dination and Safety Studies is looking for a similarposition in GTA and surrounding area. Has experi-ence in simulation software such as ChemCAD, HTRIand PHAST. Has worked on projects for Pharmaceu-tical and Chemical Industries. Contact Meghal at905-874-4090 or [email protected].

Employment WantedDemandes d’emploi

Section headProfessional Directory

Répertoire professionnel

C. Lloyd Sarginson B.Sc. (Chem. Eng.), LL.B.Philip C. Mendes da Costa B.Sc. (Chem. Eng.), LL.B.Michael E. Charles B.Eng.Sci. (Chem. Eng.), LL.B.Micheline Gravelle B.Sc., M.Sc. (Immunology)Andrew I. McIntosh B.Sc. (Chem.), J.D., LL.B.Anita Nador B.A. (Molec. Biophys./Biochem.), LL.B.Noel Courage B.Sc. (Biochem.), LL.B.Patricia Power B.Sc., Ph.D. (Chem.)Meredith Brill B.Sc., (Chem. Eng.), LL.B.

Practice Restricted to Intellectual Property LawScotia Plaza, 40 King Street West, 40th FloorToronto, Ontario Canada M5H 3Y2 416 364 7311 fax: 416 361 1398

2000 Argentia Road, Plaza 4, Suite 430Mississauga, Ontario Canada L5N 1W1 905 812 3600 fax: 905 814 0031www.bereskinparr.com

Chemical Group




The Canadian Society for Chemical Technology extends congratu-lations to those students attending a college or a CEGEP, whoreceived the Society’s medal. The students listed have achieved topmarks in a CSCT accredited Chemical, Biochemical , or ChemicalEngineering Technology program.

La SCTC tient à féliciter les étudiants suivants qui se sont vudécerner la médaille de la Société. Ces étudiants des Collèges oudes cégeps ont obtenu les meiulleurs résultats scolaires tout aucours de leur programme de technologie chimique, biochimique outechnologie génie chimique, approuvé par la Société.

British Columbia Institute of TechnologySheri Watson

Centennial CollegeKawsalya Ponnampalam (Biotechnology)

Collège AhuntsicAnnie VachonAynet Pérez Gomez

Dawson CollegeMathieu Charbonneau

Durham CollegeKim Elder (Food and Drug Technology)

Durham CollegeJohn Dwinnell (Chemical EngineeringTechnology)Shane Wood (Environmental Technology)

Humber CollegeJurgen Kola (Chemical Technician)Nameeta Darshani (Chemical Technology)

Mohawk CollegeChristine Di Sapio (Chemical EngineeringTechnology – Environmental)Brandon Djukic (Chemical EngineeringTechnology)

New Brunswick Community CollegeHeather Best

Northern Alberta Institute. Of TechnologyAmanda Carlton

Sheridan CollegeKevin Elliott (Chemical EngineeringTechnology – Environmental)Bindu Gupta (Chemical EngineeringTechnology)

Southern Alberta Institute of TechnologyMartin Niemiec

University College of Cape BretonBlair Jason Mombourquette

CSCT Medal WinnersGagnants de médailles de la SCTC

www.chemistry.mcmaster.ca

NEW FACILIT IES FOR TEACHINGAND GRADUATE RESEARCH

Analytical & Environmental ChemistryBiological ChemistryInorganic ChemistryMaterials ChemistryOrganic Chemistry

Physical & Theoretical Chemistry

Canada

Seminars and courses

April 26–28, 2004. 8th Annual Process Control Applicationsfor Industry Workshop (APC 2004), Vancouver, BC. Web site:www.ieee-ias.org/apc2004/index/html.

May 20–21, 2004. U.S.–Canada Joint Workshop on InnovativeChemistry in Cleaner Media, Montréal, QC. Tel.: 504-398-8457;E-mail: [email protected].

October 4–5, 2004. ICPES—Inductively Coupled Plasma EmissionSpectroscopy, Canadian Society for Chemical Technology, Calgary,AB. Tel.: 888-542-2242; Web site: www.cheminst.ca/prof/dev.

October 4–5, 2004, Laboratory Safety, Canadian Society forChemical Technology, Calgary, AB. Tel.: 888-542-2242; Web site:www.cheminst.ca/prof/dev.

November 5–7, 2004. The 15th Quebec–Ontario Mini-Symposiumin Synthesis and Bio-Organic Chemistry (QOMSBOC), Ottawa,ON. Contact: Louis Barriault or William Ogilvie; Tel.: 613-562-5800.

Conferences

April 28–29, 2004. 8th Canadian Pollution Prevention Roundtable(CPPR), Canadian Centre for Pollution Prevention, Ottawa, ON.Contact: Sue McKinlay; Tel.: 519-337-3425;E-mail: [email protected]; Web site: www.c2p2online.com.

May 16–19, 2004. Biannual Canadian Surface ScienceConference: Surface Canada 2004, Vancouver, BC. Web site:www.chem.ubc.ca/surfacecanada.

May 16–19, 2004. 18th Canadian Symposium on Catalysis,Montréal. QC. Contact: Jitka Kirchnerova; Tel.: 514-340-4711;E-mail: [email protected]; Web site:www.polymtl.ca/18CSC2004.

May 29–June 2, 2004. Strong Roots/New Branches—87thCanadian- Society for Chemistry Conference and Exhibition,London-, ON. Web site: www.csc2004.ca.

June 9–11, 2004. CACD 17th Annual Meeting and NACD RegionIV Meeting, Québec, QC. Contact: Cathy Campbell; Tel.: 905-844-9140; Web site: www.cacd.ca.

July 10–14, 2004. 15th Canadian Symposium on TheoreticalChemistry (CSTC 2004), Sainte-Adèle, QC. Web site:www.chem.queensu.ca/cstc2004.

October 3–6, 2004. Energy for the Future—54th CanadianChemical Engineering Conference, Calgary, AB, Canadian Societyfor Chemical Engineering (CSChE); Tel.: 613-232-6252; Web site: www.csche2004.ca.

U.S. and OverseasApril 25–29, 2004. AIChE Spring National Meeting, New Orleans,LA; Tel.: 212-591-7330; Web site: www.aiche.org.

May 11–14, 2004. The Global Analysis Fair – Analytica 2004,Munich-, Germany. Web site: www.canada-unlimited.com.

August 22–26, 2004. ACS Fall Meeting (2287th), Philadelphia,PA; Tel.: 800-227-5558; E-mail: [email protected]; Web site:www.acs.org.

November 7–12, 2004. AIChE Annual Meeting, Austin, TX;Tel.: 212-591-7330; Web site: www.aiche.org.

July 10–15, 2005. 7th World Congress on Chemical Engineering(WCCE7), IchemE and the European Federation, Glasgow,Scotland-. Contact: Sarah Fitzpatrick; E-mail:[email protected].

August 13–21, 2005. IUPAC 43rd General Assembly, Beijing,China. Contact: IUPAC Secretariat; Tel.: +1 919-485-8700; Fax: +1 919-485-8706; E-mail: [email protected].


Section headMeetings/Réunions

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Apr 2004: ACCN, the Canadian Chemical News