Paul Blowers
Associate Professor, Chemical and Environmental Engineering
PhD, Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 1999
Office: Harshbarger, Room 128 [Map]
Phone: (520) 626-5319
Email: blowers@engr.arizona.edu
Paul Blowers has developed a method for estimating global warming potentials for chemicals using only computational chemistry methods. This approach uses theoretical chemistry to predict reaction kinetics with hydroxyl radicals and infrared spectra of the compounds. This information is aggregated to produce global warming potential estimates without even needing to manufacture the chemicals for testing. This approach has the potential for screening new chemicals for climate change before they are even created in a lab. Current work is expanding the methodology, so it is robust and can be used on larger molecules of interest.