Our economies and supply chains are mostly linear: extract, produce, use, dispose. What if we could master our transformations of matter in a circular fashion? How far could we drive our own supply chain efficiencies and sustainability?
Corinne Drennan
Richland Public Library, 955 Northgate Dr., Richland WA 99352
Our economies and supply chains are mostly linear: extract, produce, use, dispose. What if we could master our transformations of matter in a circular fashion? How far could we drive our own supply chain efficiencies and sustainability? This discussion features two vignettes about technologies under development at PNNL that enable circular economies: hydrothermal liquefaction of sewage sludge and jet fuel from alcohol that comes from industrial waste gases. We begin by asking, “What challenges are we really trying to solve?” Then we’ll get to some fun, including pilot plants, industry partnerships, and even a commercial jet flight using fuel developed right here in the Pacific Northwest.
About the Speaker
Corinne Drennan is responsible for PNNL’s research portfolio on biofuels, products, and energy. This portfolio includes sustainable use of marine, terrestrial, and waste biomass for fuels and chemicals via thermal, biological, and catalytic conversion. It also includes Geographical Information System (GIS)-based resource availability analysis, techno-economic analysis/lifecycle analysis, algal growth parameterization and modeling, and sustainability analysis (Global Change Assessment Model). Corinne received a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from the University of California, Riverside, with a concentration in heterogeneous catalysis. She holds a Master of Science in chemical and environmental engineering, also from the University of California, Riverside, and a Master of Business Administration from Washington State University.
About the Community Science and Technology Seminar Series
PNNL’s Community Science and Technology Seminar Series was launched to help the public better understand and explore how science transforms our world. For more information about this seminar and upcoming seminars, call (509) 375-6871.