Eric J. Beckman, PhD

George M. Bevier Professor of Engineering

Co-Director, Mascaro Institute for Sustainable Innovation

153E Benedum Hall | 3700 O’Hara Street | Pittsburgh, PA 15261 P: 412-624-4828

beckman@pitt.edu

We are interested in molecular design and engineering, both for the creation of more sustainable chemical products and for applications that will improve health care outcomes. In the case of the former, we endeavor to employ life cycle impact analysis to examine current solutions to identify key environmental bottlenecks, hence allowing creation of more sustainable alternatives. Our ultimate goal is to fulfill the desired outcomes of the users of chemical technologies while reducing life cycle impacts across the board and thus avoiding the need to employ value judgments in a less-thanadequate way to deal with trade-offs. In collaboration with Robert Enick’s group, we are designing molecules that allow replacement of water by liquid CO2 in oil and gas production. Finally, we also employ molecular design to try to create products that improve healthcare outcomes. For example, tissue engineering work on lysine-based polyurethanes in our lab led directly to the creation of TissuGlu® surgical adhesive for use in eliminating the need for drains following flap surgery, as well as Sylys® surgical sealant for use in reducing anastomotic leakage following bowel surgery.

Life Cycle Analysis and Polymer Design

Bisphenol A has been identified as a possible endocrine disruptor, rendering the use of Bisphenol A polycarbonate (BAPC) in a number of human-contact applications suspect. At the same time, BAPC’s combination of transparency, high impact strength, and robustness at higher temperatures present high hurdles for competing materials. Eastman recently introduced a BPA-free copolyester designed to compete with BAPC, and we looked at its life cycle impacts.

Upon comparing the LCIA of the BAPC process tree (shown above) and that of the Tritan copolyester (partial life cycle shown to the left), we found a number of interesting facets. First, although the phosgene used to make BAPC has received most of the attention in previous green re-design schemes, it is the phenol that dominates the overall life cycle impacts. Further, the life cycle impacts of the Tritan copolyesters are generally lower than the analogous scores for BAPC, However, if one compares bottles manufactured from each of the materials, we found that 30% more polymer is used to create the Tritan containers, wiping out any environmental gains presented by the material itself.