Tailoring opportunities

Tailoring Opportunities. There are many methods or approaches available to tailor enzyme products. Early in the history of enzyme companies, methods such as source selection, microbial strain selection, growth conditions, media, purification, and recovery systems, were primarily used to make each enzyme preparation unique. Later, immobilization, encapsulation, and chemical modification of the enzyme molecule itself were added as methods of tailoring enzymes to better fit industrial applications. Today, all of these methods are still being used, and now we have added genetic engineering to our tailoring expertises. 

The emulsion polymerization process enables considerable variation in the properties of polychloroprene, and provides an opportunity to tailor polymers for a wide variety of uses. 

The following references will help you develop techniques for applying pollution prevention audits. Use the examples in Chapter 2 as a basis to tailor audit questions and to focus on areas of opportunities. Finally, Chapter 8 will help you in developing the tools needed to assess the financial attractiveness of the pollution prevention opportunities you identify. 

In the past the presence of hazardous substances in soils was not a major public concern. In spite of the large number of documented hazardous waste sites in the United States, relatively few sites liave been cleaned up widi specific redevelopment in mind. Remedial actions usually are undertaken to contain or remove chemical contaminants little or no consideration is given to the ultimate use of the site. If land reuse is decided before the cleanup there may be an opportunity to tailor the cleanup acti ities to best suit the site rcde elopment. 

An interesting recent example of successful application of the SSG process combined with ensuing supercritical drying is the design of titania-silica mixed oxides for the epoxidation of bulky olefins [16-18]. This example will be used to illustrate the opportunities the combined use of SSG and SCD provide for tailoring the chemical and structural properties of mixed oxides. 

In addition, EC-ALE offers a way of better understanding compound electrodeposition, a way of breaking it down into its component pieces. It allows compound electrodeposition to be deconvolved into a series of individually controllable steps, resulting in an opportunity to learn more about the mechanisms, and gain a series of new control points for electrodeposition. The main problem with codeposition is that the only control points are the solution composition and the deposition potential, or current density, in most cases. In an EC-ALE process, each reactant has its own solution and deposition potential, and there are generally rinse solutions as well. Each solution can be separately optimized, so that the pH, electrolyte, and additives or complexing agents are tailored to fit the precursor. On the other hand, the solution used in codeposition is a compromise, required to be compatible with all reactants. 

A prerequisite for the application of filtration methods is a significant difference in molecular size of the catalyst and the reactants / products. Molecular enlargement, i.e. binding the homogeneous catalyst to soluble supports, is often the method of choice. These supports can be dendrimers, hyper-branched polymers or even simple polymers, giving the opportunity to tailor the support according to the given process. 

Toxic operations must be supported by a good communications system. In laboratories where communications are inadequate, workers will naturally use "runners" for communication needs. This practice results in avoidable traffic in and out of toxic areas which increases the opportunities for contamination to spread. In emergencies, a phone or intercom can help ensure that assistance is tailored to the actual need. An "all purpose" response to an alarm will normally be less rapid at a time when speed may be of the essence. Video cameras trained on critical operations add a measure of safety, but annoy the workers who may feel that the purpose of the system is to "spy" on them. As a minimum, the laboratory doors should have windows so that entering personnel don t blunder into a rapidly developing scenario. 

Many benefits for EU industry, consumers and the environment derive from the use of renewable raw materials (a) increased competitiveness from products having tailor-made performance compared with, or in combination with, conventional materials (b) a more stable and secure source of supply (c) a reduction in environmental impact (d) new and growing markets, providing economic benefits to industry as well as and (e) employment opportunities in processing industries and the agricultural sector. 

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