Wednesday, January 19, 2011 Meeting - Joint with the AIChE and ChemPharma -

 

Arup K. SenGupta
P.C. Rossin Professor     Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Department of Chemical Engineering LeHigh University Bethlehem, PA
“Sustainable Mitigation of Global Arsenic Crisis: Challenges and Progress”

Date:	Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Location:	European Crystal Banquet Center 519 W. Algonquin Road Arlington Heights, IL 60005 Parlor BC 847-437-5590

Cost:  $35.00 for members of ACS and their guests, $37.00 for non-members,
     $20 for students, retired, or unemployed

Dinner reservations are required and should be received in the Section Office via phone (847-391-9091), email (chicagoacs@ameritech.net), or web by noon on Monday, January 17.   PLEASE HONOR YOUR RESERVATIONS.  The Section must pay for all food orders.  No-shows will be billed.  Seating will be available for those who wish to attend only the meeting.

  Please  REGISTER ON LINE 

5:00 PM Job Club
5:30 PM Social Hour
6:30 PM Dinner
7:30 PM General Meeting

Topic: “Sustainable Mitigation of Global Arsenic Crisis: Challenges and Progress”

Abstract: 

In Bangladesh, Vietnam, eastern part of India, Cambodia, Thailand, Argentina and several other countries, drinking water drawn from underground sources has been responsible for widespread arsenic poisoning affecting millions of people.  Although the genesis of arsenic contamination is yet to be fully understood, natural geochemical weathering of subsurface soil is the sole contributor of dissolved arsenic in groundwater.  To this end, the collaborative work between Lehigh University in Pennsylvania, USA and Bengal Engineering and Science University (BESU) in West Bengal, India and Institute of Technology in Cambodia (ITC) has been directed toward providing arsenic-safe water in remote villages in affected areas.  During the last fifteen years, two hundred low-cost, easy-to-operate arsenic removal units have been installed at the existing wells to insure a supply of safe drinking water.  Currently, about two hundred thousand people (200,000) drink arsenic-safe water in this region.

The two most significant scientific advancements that have emerged from this ongoing project are the development of: the first reusable polymer based arsenic-selective adsorbent; and the inexpensive methodology for safe containment of arsenic-laden sludge in rural environment.

The lecture will emphasize the underlying role of chemical science and chemical engineering principles in providing sustainable solutions to a global water-related crisis.

Biograpy: 

Dr. Arup K. SenGupta received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Jadavpur University in 1973, served as a process development engineer from 1973-1980 for the Kuljian Corporation in Philadelphia, earned a master’s degree in environmental engineering in 1982 from the University of Houston and in 1984 obtained a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from the University of Houston.  In 1985, he joined the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Lehigh University; from 1998-2005 he served as its Chair.  Currently, he serves as the P.C. Rossin Professor at the University.

Dr. SenGupta has received a variety of awards for his work, including, in part: the 2009 Lawrence K. Cecil Award from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) for outstanding contribution in the field of environmental engineering; the 2009 Astellas Foundation Award from the ACS for scientific research that improves public health; the 2008 Dhirubhai Ambani Award from the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) in the United Kingdom for engineering innovation to provide potable water for resource-poor arsenic-affected people and, in 2007, the Grainger Silver Prize Award from the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) for providing a sustainable engineering solution for arsenic-contaminated drinking water in the Indian subcontinent.  These efforts have led to 175,000 villagers in remote areas of West Bengal being able to drink arsenic-safe water; further work in installing sustainable arsenic removal units in schools and villages in Cambodia is occurring due to Gupta’s insistence on sharing his discoveries.

Dr. Gupta is a frequent contributor to Environmental Science and Technology, Reactive and Functional Polymers, the AIChE Journal, Water Research and other peer-reviewed journals and has authored/co-authored nearly 70 articles as well as holding patents on seven inventions.

Map and Directions

Parking:  Free

Dinner:

Vegetable medley of broccoli, baby carrots & rutabaga
Choice of:

• Brochette of Beef on bed of rice with 3-Peppercorn Sauce
• Orange Roughy with Rice Pilaf
• Vegetarian - Sautéed vegetables in Phyllo with Vegetable puree

Apple Crumb Cake