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Henry points out (below) what many of us have come to conclude. However, what happens when a person or a party or corporation decides what they are doing is "sustainable" and someone disagrees with them?
So we all have some sort of warm, fuzzy feeling on what sustainable means. Let's get down to brass tacks here - the benchtop:
Case in point:
Freshman laboratory experiment performs a simple neutralization reaction - let's say sulfuric acid and sodium bicarbonate, to a pH of 8.0 (a phenolthalein endpoint) resulting in:
1. Carbon dioxide being released. (Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, right?)
2. Sodium sulfate being produced. The school decides to dispose of this product through a TSDF even though it is both non-hazardous and non-regulated, because, after all, "chemistry lab waste is hazardous." NB - the sodium sulfate may or may not be in solution - it really does not matter for this discussion.
For whatever reason, the instructor is unwilling to substitute any of the reactants as they want to demonstrate salt formation of neutralization, conservation of mass, stoichiometry, or any number of other things.
I would argue that #1 above is no big deal, though - and rightfully so - some may say that the experiment contributes to a climate problem, be it real or imagined. (The existance or non-esistance of global warming or its overall impact or non-impact is not germane to this discussion). However, #2 is a real, economic problem - it creates a manifested hazardous waste where none really existed and disposal costs are skyrocketing.
Is this a "sustainable" reaction? Why or why not?
H
-----Original Message-----
From: List Moderator
Sent: Sep 10, 2009 1:40 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**LIST.UVM.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] sustainability definition
The real definition:Sustainability is a relationship, or balancing act,
between factors which are constantly changing.
Like "family values," everyone agrees that sustainability
is a good thing, but no one agrees on what exactly it is,
or even more significantly, how to achieve it and how
to know when we have achieved it.Georgia Tech Research Institute
http://maven.gtri.gatech.edu/sfi/bes/faq.html
A practical meaning:The concept of sustainability refers to our ability to operate
efficiently and productively while minimizing our negative impact
on the environment. Seeking the best balance between the demands
of doing business and the need to protect the environment can be challenging.
Martin Madaus, PhD, Millipore's CEO
http://www.millipore.com/sustainability/eco3/vision
Harry J. Elston, Ph.D., CIH
Principal
Midwest Chemical Safety, LLC
www.midwestchemsafety.comEditor, Journal of Chemical Health & Safety
http://membership.acs.org/c/chas/"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have" - Thomas Jefferson
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