Rowan University student projects have examined how to apply green engineering strategies to both R&D and manufacturing in several pharmaceutical and specialty chemical industries. This has been accomplished through industry-university partnerships with pharmaceutical companies in the New Jersey area. Several grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and industry have supported initiatives in green chemistry, engineering and design. These projects have the broader goal of supporting sustainability in the industry. We have sought to improve on our concept of green engineering education integration in a way that not only enhances student learning, but improves the environment. This is through real-world projects in our engineering clinic sequence. The green engineering interventions use a vertically integrated student team of junior, senior and masters level engineering students who work with the industrial partner on approaches to pollution prevention. These projects provide an illustration of how companies can take advantage of universities in their region to assist in sustainable development and manufacturing. Students are able to learn about green engineering design and apply their knowledge directly to a real industrial case. The industries involved partner by providing support in terms of senior staff, scientific/engineering process data, access to plant facilities, and take initiatives recommended forward to process improvements on the plant scale. These projects have the potential to yield the following green engineering outcomes: solvent reduction, increase efficiency in use of raw materials, waste reduction, and energy reduction. Projects examine specific process improvements and use life cycle assessment to quantify the broader impact. Overviews of representative projects are presented. Partnering with industry on the 2008 AIChE Topical Conference on Green Engineering and Sustainability and in the Pharmaceutical Industry will be described.

Extended Abstract Status: Not Uploaded