Budny, 10:00
L01
ETHICAL DILEMMA FACED BY A CHEMICAL ENGINEER
Michael Bremer (mjb243@pitt.edu)
INTRODUCTION: ETHICS IN
ENGINEERING
Engineering can do wonders for people around the world.
Whether it is making a new type of drug to combat cancer in
biomedical engineering, or developing an autonomous car
with the help of mechanical engineering, engineers have a
hand in developing in almost everything that we use in our
daily lives.
This goes without saying that engineers have to take care
in the decisions that they make when using their skills to help
solve these challenges. A code of ethics needs to be followed
in order to make sure that all of the choices that engineers
make are the right ones. One small decision can impact
millions of people when dealing with certain problems. It is
pertinent that we, as engineers, use our resources to make
these choices, weighing all of the options and outcomes so
that we know it is the correct one.
SOLAR-THERMOCHEMICAL WATER
SPLITTING: WHAT IS IT?
Solar thermochemical water splitting produces hydrogen
gas, through a reaction that is driven by sunlight [1]. This
hydrogen gas can then be used in a hydrogen fuel cell that
powers cars and generators. By using a two-step reaction,
hydrogen can be produced at lower operating temperatures
that can be achieved from concentrated solar power [2]. These
reactions are represented by Z. Wang, a member at the Clean
Energy Research Lab at the University of Ontario, as “an
endothermic reduction reaction where oxygen is produced
from metal oxide, and a hydrolysis reaction where hydrogen
is produced” [2]. This reaction is accomplished by splitting a
metal oxide into its components of the metal and oxygen, by
using solar power. The metal is then hydrolyzed back into the
original metal oxide, which releases hydrogen gas from the
water [1].
Many different types of metal oxides can be used in this
reaction. Each type of metal has a different efficiency at
producing hydrogen gas. Jonathon Scheffe, a thermal science
researcher at the University of Florida, states that “ceria based
metals are capable of achieving remarkably high vacancy
concentrations at elevated temperatures and low oxygen
partial pressures” [4]. A ceria-based metal oxide has the
potential to reach 37% efficiency in thermal-to-chemical
University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering 1
2015-11-02
conversions [4]. In order to help make solar thermochemical
water splitting a more viable option in the production of
hydrogen, new chemicals need to be determined that are
chemically stable, but also have a low production cost [5].
Researchers are now trying to determine these metal oxides
that so that they can keep the cost of the entire process at a
minimum.
ETHICAL DILEMMA
ITM Power is a hydrogen fuel company that is leading the
market in producing green hydrogen fuel. As a chemical
engineer with a minor in environmental engineer, I work at
ITM Power’s Research and Development Branch. My job
tasks include developing new and more efficient ways to
produce hydrogen fuel, analyzing current hydrogen
production processes to determine the safety of the processes,
and using my environmental background to determine any
impact the reactions used to produce hydrogen may have on
the environment. To this day ITM Power has been focusing
on the process of electrolysis to create hydrogen fuel without
causing major harm to the environment. In an effort keep up
with the growing demand and increase their production, ITM
Power created a new branch of the company dedicated to
creating hydrogen fuel through solar thermochemical water
splitting. My boss tasked me with the job of creating a
reaction that uses a lead based oxide to produce hydrogen gas.
After reviewing this reaction that my boss proposed to me,
I determined that there may be some concern on whether or
not this process may cause harm to the environment. When
the vessel in which the reaction takes place reaches high
pressures, steam that has built up in the reactor will blow-off,
venting into the atmosphere. I determined that this steam may
contain a small amount of lead particles that will be released
into the atmosphere along with the steam. Lead pollution has
been shown to have adverse health effects on people causing
harm to the nervous system, immune system, and
cardiovascular system [3]. My results clearly indicated that
this reaction is not environmentally friendly and it has the
potential to cause harm to many individuals in the area where
this process is being done.
I decided to take these results to my boss and tell him that
using a lead-based oxide is not safe for the environment. I
suggested that ITM Power should use a different compound
that will not release pollutants into the environment. After
Michael Bremer
hearing my concerns, my boss told me to keep the results of
my tests to myself if I want to continue to work at ITM Power,
stating that he already told the executives of the company that
this process was safe to use. My boss also stated that any
research I have done work on is confidential, and may not be
breached to the general public. He went on to say that the
lead-based oxide will save the company millions of dollars as
it is a cheaper alternative to any other metal oxide that could
be used in the reaction. He said that my dedicated work on
this project would likely lead to a promotion to a more
prestigious position at ITM Power. Since he told the
executives of the company that it was safe to use, they went
through with the plans to use this process in mass production
of hydrogen fuel.
I am now faced with the ethical dilemma based on what
decision I should make in this situation. On one hand I could
report this situation to the proper authorities. This will then
stop the possibility of people getting injured due to the
pollutants that would be released from this process. This
choice would be defying direct order from my boss to keep
my findings under wraps, which may cause me to be fired
from my job. It would also likely cost ITM Power millions of
dollars in fines and lost money in the research of the solar
thermochemical water splitting process plants. On the other
hand I could withhold this information, as my boss asked. In
this case I would save my job and please my employer, while
also maintaining the reputation of ITM Power as a green
company.
I will now have to evaluate which of these options makes
ethical sense, using different codes of ethics and case studies
to help me approach my decision.
PRESENTING THE FACTS
In order to determine what decision I should choose, and
make sure that it is an ethically viable option I must consult a
number of sources. The National Society of Professional
Engineers, a leading institute of professional engineers from
around the country, hold themselves to a code of ethics. This
code is used by the professional engineers in as a reference to
allow them to come to decisions, such as the one that I must
come to in my scenario.
The first cannon under which these engineers hold
themselves to is that “Engineers shall hold paramount the
safety, health, and welfare of the public” [5]. The American
Institute of Chemical Engineers holds a code of ethics close
to that of the National Society of Professional Engineers. The
first cannon of their code states that “members shall hold
paramount the safety health and welfare of the public and
protect the environment in performance of their professional
duties” [6]. These cannons state that when making decisions
in the workplace, engineers must consider the impact that it
2
may have on the health of the people that it may affect. If ITM
Power went through in their plan to use a lead-based oxide in
the reaction, a great deal of harm could be done to the people
in the surrounding areas. As lead particles slowly seeped into
the atmosphere, they would begin to collect, eventually
finding their way into water and food sources. This could lead
to adverse health effects such as problems with the: kidneys,
nervous system, immune system, reproductive system, and
developmental systems [3]. It is clear that the lead-based
oxide would have many disadvantages in the health and safety
of the general public. The lead-based oxide will also cause
harm to the environment as it accumulates in soils and
sediments. This leads to a wide range of effects that include
losses of biodiversity and decreased growth in plants and
animals.
The American Institute of Chemical Engineering code of
ethics also states that members shall “formally advise their
employers or clients (and further disclosure, if warranted) if
they perceive that a consequence of their duties will adversely
affect the present or future health or safety of their colleagues
or the public” [6]. This cannon of the code of ethics shows
that as a chemical engineer we must show that a certain
process may cause harm to certain individuals.
Releasing the information that the process of solar
thermochemical water splitting could be dangerous to the
environment would be breaking the confidentiality agreement
and could likely result in losing trust in future employers. The
National Society of Professional Engineers state that
“Engineers shall not disclose, without consent, confidential
information concerning the business affairs or technical
processes of any present or former client or employer, or
public body on which they serve” [5]. The American Society
of Professional Engineers have a similar cannon in their
ethical code that states that members shall “act in professional
matters for each employer or client as faithful agents or
trustees, avoiding conflicts of interest and never breaching
confidentiality” [6]. These cannons show that by reporting the
issue of the pollutants being released into the atmosphere, I
would be betraying the trust and confidentiality of my
employer. I would have to defy a direct order from my boss
in which he told me not to report this incident. Since my
employer did not give me consent to report this incident,
which could in turn leak confidential information, I would be
going against the code of ethics by which I, as a professional
engineer, should hold myself to.
Various codes of ethics are not the only things that should
dictate how an engineer decides to make a decision. A. El-
Zein, a professor of environmental engineering at the
University of Sydney, argues that engineers need to consider
ethics in their work. El-Zein states that the engineers society
is producing are “what industry requires: engineers able to
carry out technically complex projects, rather than
Michael Bremer
professionals with an in-depth understanding of the social
complexity of technology. In fact we need both” [7]. He also
states that “[engineers] therefore contribute to human
suffering as well as flourishing” [7]. Many times throughout
history engineers have made wrong decision, whether it was
for money or own personal gain. Choosing to allow the lead-
based reaction to occur, causing vast amounts of lead
pollution would make sense on the technical side of things,
since it saves money for the company, but there is the other
side to decision, where thousands of people could be injured.
Ethics have a special case when it comes to chemistry.
According to J. Kovac, a chemistry professor at the University
of Tennessee, “This presents an interesting ethical question.
The production of new knowledge is widely accepted as being
a good thing to do, but in the synthesis of a new compound on
is also creating uncertainty, which is generally not thought to
be good” [8]. When doing chemistry, engineers need to be
constantly aware of the reactions that they are doing, making
sure that products and reactants are creating what they are
supposed to create. Kovac states that the synthesis of a
chemical can create a “new compound [that] is a potent
neurotoxin or an explosive or a precursor to such substance”
[8]. This is apparent in my ethical dilemma since the reaction
allows small amounts of lead could be toxic to humans and
the wildlife in the area.
An ethical dilemma that is apparent in current times is the
emissions scandal at Volkswagen. The car company lied to
the public when they said that their cars were clean for the
environment. Instead the cars caused hundreds of times more
pollution than the average car. Volkswagen put a program in
the car to falsify any tests done on the car to make it seem like
it was not polluting as much as it was. This decision could
lead to as many as 60 premature deaths, as an MIT study
reports [9]. The men that made the ethical decision to allow
these pollutants into the environment did not clearly think
about the impact that it may have.
Lastly, when making a decision I often contact my high
school engineering design teacher. He gave me great advice
in a variety of situations throughout my high school career.
He always made it known that he wanted us to do what we
thought was right, and that came first when making a decision
[10].
MY DECISION
After consulting numerous sources I believe that I can
come to an appropriate decision on how to handle this ethical
dilemma. I have decided to report this situation to the proper
authorities, going against my boss’s orders. I believe that the
health and safety of the many, outweighs the need to keep
confidentiality in the workplace. I will alert my boss, and his
3
superiors, that I will be taking my findings to the authorities
before I do so, in order to let them prepare for how they will
responds. Like El-Zein, I believe that ethics are important in
chemistry and they need to be held highly, along with the
technical side of a situation. Chemical engineers need to be
responsible in the reactions that they develop, and letting
pollutants vent into the atmosphere would not be the
responsible thing to do. If I do not publish my findings, many
people could end up getting hurt and I would not be able to
live with letting that happen.
Although I may be fired from my position at ITM Power
for leaking confidential information, I believe that I have
made the right decision. My boss may also be held
accountable for his actions so that any future employee will
not have to face a dilemma similar to.
RECOMMENDATION TO OTHER
ENGINEERS
This dilemma is not the only one that engineers are facing
on a daily basis. All around the world, people are facing tough
decisions that may impact future generations. After reviewing
all of these documents, I believe that I could help other
engineers come to a decision.
I believe that the codes of ethics provided to professional
engineers should be held highly and most decisions can be
based off of these ethics. Sometimes, like in my dilemma, two
cannons in the code may contradict each other. In this case, I
would look to which seems more important in their ethical
standards.
CONCLUSION
Ethics and engineering go hand in hand. Almost all of the
decisions that an engineer makes references some ethical code
in order to come to that decision. Engineers must use these
codes and follow the cannons if they want to make the
ethically correct decision.
Without these ethics, engineers could be creating terrible
things, such as a bombs that could fall into the wrong hand of
terrorists. Engineers need to be held to these ethical standards
like other professions are around the world. As El-Zein states
“when doctors or nurses use their knowledge of anatomy in
order to torture or conduct medical experiments on helpless
subjects, we are rightly outraged” [7].
Engineers face problems that are similar to these, and
holding them to an ethical code makes it less likely that they
will be making the wrong decision when facing an ethical
dilemma.
Michael Bremer

REFERENCES [3] (2014) “The Cost of Integrity” Ethics Case Studies (online
case study)
[1] E. Bozoglan (2012) “Sustainable assessment of solar http://www.webguru.neu.edu/professionalism/case-
studies/cost-integrity
hydrogen production techniques” Energy and Exergy
Modeling of Advance Energy Systems (online article) DOI:
10.1016/j.energy.2012.03.029 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
[2] Z. Wang (2012) “Comparison of thermochemical,
electrolytic, photoelectrolytic and photochemical solar-to- I would like to thank my friend Jenn for helping me
hydrogen production technologies” International Journal of review this paper. I would also like to thank the staff of the
Hydrogen Energy (online article) DIO: Hillman Library for allowing the library to stay open twenty
10.1016/j/ijhydene.2012.03.057 four hours a day, which provided me a place to work on this
[3] United States Environmental Protection Agency (2015) paper.
“Lead in Air” Air Quality (website)
http://www3.epa.gov/airquality/lead/
[4] J. Scheffe, A. Steinfeld (2012) “Thermodynamic Analysis
of Cerium-Based Oxides for Solar Thermochemical Fuel
Production” American Chemical Society (online article) DOI:
10.1021/ef201875v
[5] (2007) “Code of Ethics for Engineers” National Society of
Professional Engineers (online report)
http://www.nspe.org/sites/default/files/resources/pdfs/Ethics/
CodeofEthics/Code-2007-July.pdf
[6] “Code of Ethics” American Institute of Chemical
Engineers (online report) http://www.aiche.org/about/code-
ethics
[7] A. El-Zein (2013) “As engineers, we must consider the
ethical implications of our work” The Guardian (online
article)
http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/05/en
gineering-moral-effects-technology-impact
[8] J. Kovac (2015) “Ethics in Science: The Unique
Consequence of Chemistry” Accountability in Research:
Policies and Quality Assurance (online article) DOI:
10.1080/08989621.2015.1047709
[9] E Ferreira (2015) “Volkswagen excess emissions could
cause 60 premature deaths in the US” Pulse Headlines (online
article) http://www.pulseheadlines.com/60-premature-
deaths-caused-emissions-excess-volkswagen-vehicles/9663/
[10] G Dececco. High School Teacher

ADDITIONAL SOURCES

[1] (2014) “Pubilc Health and Saftey-Delay in Addressing

Fire Code Violations” NSPE (online case study) Case No. 13-
11
http://www.nspe.org/sites/default/files/BER%20Case%20No
%2013-11-FINAL.pdf
[2] (2015) “I’d Rather Be Fishing” Texas Tech University
Ethics Cases (online case study) Case-1039
http://www.depts.ttu.edu/murdoughcenter/products/cases.ph
p