Posted on Friday, January 21, 2005
Dr. Terry Collins, director of the Institute for Green Oxidation Chemistry, will speak at Westminster College Wednesday, Feb. 2, at 7 p.m. in the Witherspoon Rooms of the McKelvey Campus Center.
"Dr. Collins is a leader in the field of Green Chemistry," said Dr. Peter Smith, assistant professor of chemistry at Westminster College. "Green Chemistry develops chemical products and processes that minimize, and potentially eliminate, the use of generations of hazardous substances. Dr. Collins' work focuses on new technologies for more environmentally friendly oxidations. Traditionally, bleaching processes use large amounts of chlorine, which can be hazardous for humans and the environment."
"This new process uses oxygen and iron contained in a nontoxic compound," Smith said. "His processes are also very effective in disinfecting water supplies, destroying toxic pollutants and pesticides, and removing sulfur from fuel sources. Dr. Collins is investigating the use of his processes in homeland defense against harmful chemicals and microbes."
Collins is the Thomas Lord Professor of Chemistry at Carnegie Mellon University, and an honorary professor at the University of Auckland, New Zealand. He earned his undergraduate degree, master's and Ph.D. from the University of Auckland. He was been awarded a number of research awards, including the 1998 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.
The event which is sponsored by the Westminster Chemistry Club and the Penn Ohio Border Section of the American Chemical Society, is free and open to the public. For more information, contact Smith at (724) 946-7299 or e-mail smithpm@westminster.edu.
