An undergraduate teaching exercise that explores contemporary issues in the manufacture of titanium dioxide on the industrial scale

Abstract

A teaching exercise is described that aims to expose undergraduate chemistry students to the type and range of complex and interacting issues that a chemist active in an industrial organisation might typically encounter. The business area selected is the titanium dioxide pigment manufacturing sector, that is meant to be representative of large-scale chemical manufacturing. Although the students are exposed to a range of chemical topics, they are also expected to understand some of the associated economic, environmental and legislative drivers that, inevitably, impinge on the business operations. Indirectly, the exercise aims to make the students aware of the concepts of sustainable development, as applied to the chemicals industry.

The students are asked to engage in a mature discussion as to whether a new titanium dioxide manufacturing facility should be constructed within their area. The background information supplied to the students is based around a real situation that existed in 2001. Evaluation of the exercise by the students indicates a definite positive response and suggests that such teaching packages can play a positive role in demonstrating the real issues related to enhanced environmental awareness within the chemicals industry.