April 2025 Chapter Meeting

Speaker: Mark B. Shiflett, Ph.D., PE, Director, NSF Earth

Topic: Navigating Refrigerants

Date: 4/16/2025 at 12pm

Location: This meeting will be held online through a Microsoft Teams meeting. This invite link will be provide upon your RSVP.

Bio: Mark B. Shiflett is a Distinguished Foundation Professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Kansas (KU). He is the director of the new U.S. National Science Foundation Engineering Research Center – Environmentally Applied Refrigerant Technology Hub (EARTH).  He is also the director of the Wonderful Institute for Sustainable Engineering at KU and the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Ionic Liquids.  He is cofounder and Chief Science Officer for two companies, Icorium Engineering Company and Pvera Tech, LLC.  Professor Shiflett is an inventor on 50 U.S. patents and has published 150 articles with over 10,000 citations. His research focuses on developing sustainable processes and products that has generated over $42 million in funding. 

His groundbreaking work in developing hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant mixtures to replace ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons earned him several prestigious awards, including the DuPont Bolton Carothers Award (2005), ACS Hero of Chemistry Award (2006), and the University of Delaware Presidential Citation (2007).

Dr. Shiflett was elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (2014) and a Division Fellow of the American Chemical Society (2016) in recognition of his contributions to the field. He also received the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Institute Award for Industrial Research (2016) for his pioneering work on non-ozone-depleting refrigerants, applications of ionic liquids, and environmentally friendly TiO₂ processes, as well as for his dedication to mentoring future chemical engineers.

Abstract: Mark Shiflett is an expert in refrigerants and HVAC technology. This discussion will be centered on the evolving regulatory landscape surrounding refrigerants and their impact on the HVAC industry.

Key topics covered included:

• Current Regulations: An overview of policies and guidelines shaping the use of refrigerants, including phasedown plans for high-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants.

• Sustainable Alternatives: Examination of next-generation refrigerants with lower environmental impact, HFOs, and natural refrigerants.

• Industry Adaptation: How HVAC professionals can integrate new refrigerants while maintaining system efficiency, safety, and compliance as well as the work being done by the EARTH consortium.

• Future Outlook: Insights into technological advancements and market trends driving refrigerant innovation.

Understand how to navigate refrigerant selection in an evolving regulatory framework with Mark Shiflett!