Nylon Production: An Unknown Source of Atmospheric Nitrous Oxide

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Audience/Grade:	College Freshman - Graduate
Discipline(s):	Chemical, Biochemical, Biomolecular Engineering Chemistry Design Environmental Engineering Green Design and Sustainable Engineering Manufacturing Engineering Materials Engineering
Learning Resource Type:	Reference - Article/Document
Media Type:	WWW
Author(s):	Mark Thiemens, William Trogler Organization: University of California at San Diego Department: Chemistry
Description:	Article from Science 22 February 1991: Vol. 251. no. 4996, pp. 932 - 934. Abstract: "Nitrous oxide in the earth's atmosphere contributes to catalytic stratospheric ozone destruction and is also a greenhouse gas component. A precise budgetary accounting of N2O sources has remained elusive, and there is an apparent lack of source identification. One source of N2O is as a by-product in the manufacture of nylon, specifically in the preparation of adipic acid. Characterization of the reaction N2O stoichiometry and its isotopic composition with a simulated industrial adipic acid synthesis indicates that because of high rates of global adipic acid production, this N2O may account for sim10 percent of the increase observed for atmospheric N2O."
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Keywords:	nylon, sustainable engineering, environmental pollution


Usage Tip
Related ABET Criteria:	(h) Understand global, economic, environmental, and societal context
Use of Resource:	Social implications of technology
Difficulty:	Medium
Interactivity Level:	Very Low