RSC Chief Executive makes chemical sciences point in Financial Times

Richard Pike, RSC chief executive, makes a strong point in a UK national paper about the importance of chemical sciences for the environment. The letter is on page 16 of the 10 March 2006 Financial Times.

Investing in chemical sciences is key to a sustainable future

Your article on gas-to-liquids (GTL) technology was timely, and emphasises the pivotal role of the chemical sciences in addressing key environmental issues. Even modern plants take around 40% of the inlet gas as fuel for powering the GTL process, meaning that only 60% is converted to products, which limits the current economic attractiveness of these facilities.

Consequently, a major issue is the environmental balance between relatively high carbon dioxide releases at the production site (and sulphur handling), and markedly reduced emission of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur at use by consumers. 

GTL products based on fossil fuels represent a transitional phase.Catalyst technology will be at the heart of reducing energy needs, and sequestration of carbon dioxide will eliminate releases at the production site. As carbon dioxide will still be emitted at consumption, the 'Holy Grail' will be more efficient use of biomass feed to similar plants elsewhere in the world, to keep the atmosphere neutral with respect to such emissions. 

Continued investment by companies and governments in chemical sciences will be key to attaining this sustainable future.