PROCEEDINGS - Industries of the Future - West Virginia - West ...

Inaugural Symposium Poceedings
generated by this IOF-WV meeting. Proposal development to support state efforts in the areas
identified and in response to IOF funding requests will be pursued.
Projects Identified by the Chemicals Industry Group
The question "What specific projects should be undertaken to increase productivity and reduce
costs in the chemicals industry through improved energy efficiency, reduced material waste, use of new
technologies, better inventory and management systems, etc?" was provided for the group’s
consideration. It was suggested that an identified project be such that it can generate an impact within
two years, that it can be accomplished using existing resources, and that it is supported by the present
chemicals industry. The following is a list of ideas generated during the brainstorming session:
• Develop cogeneration
• Need information service (resources, expertise, etc.)
• Need to help small companies
• Recruit consumer product companies to WV
• Develop better bridge for R&D to demonstration
• Bring value-added industry to WV
• Emissions reduction R&D
• Do pooled environmental services - recycling
• Sharing best-practices for energy conservation (benchmarking)
• Need R&D on new sensor technology - application in process control
• Need better technology for process control
• Extend "Freeport" on raw materials
• Need new technology for heat transfer
• Develop new alternative feedstocks - biomass, coal
• Need industrial study and evaluation of waste energy and materials
• Develop consortium to design recyclability into product/materials
• Study of factors that will retain the chemical industry in WV)
• Build a polymer program in the University, with a focus on processing extrusion, composite
materials, new materials
• Study of energy utilization/conservation for small companies
• Study application of new separation technologies to waste minimization and emissions
reduction
• Develop value-added uses for coal
• Develop consortium on waste water treatment
• Develop heat resistant/corrosion resistant materials
• Develop a catalysis center
• Need just-in-time manufacturing technologies for better inventory control
• Need better liquid heat transfer materials (non-toxic, etc.)
• Improve availability of continuing education and technical training focus
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