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Alvaro Alvaro Orjuela Orjuela Londo Londo o o, PhD. , PhD.

Associate professor Associate professor
Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering
Universidad Universidad Nacional Nacional de Colombia, Bogot de Colombia, Bogot
Green Engineering Principles Green Engineering Principles
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12 Principles 12 Principles
Principle 1: Inherent rather than Principle 1: Inherent rather than
circumstantial. circumstantial.
Ideally, inputs to the system will be inherently less hazardous, Ideally, inputs to the system will be inherently less hazardous,
which significantly reduces the risks of failure and the which significantly reduces the risks of failure and the
resources expended on control, monitoring, and containment. resources expended on control, monitoring, and containment.
Significant investment of time, capital, material, and energy Significant investment of time, capital, material, and energy
resources. resources.
Evaluate inherent nature of the selected material and energy Evaluate inherent nature of the selected material and energy
inputs inputs
If inherently hazardous inputs are selected, If inherently hazardous inputs are selected, - - removal during removal during
purification or cleanup steps, or incorporated into the final purification or cleanup steps, or incorporated into the final
output (recycle). output (recycle).
Eventual removal to a permanent off Eventual removal to a permanent off- -site storage and site storage and
disposal facility. disposal facility.
Incorporating hazards into a product or process as long as Incorporating hazards into a product or process as long as
the hazard is continually recycled and reused the hazard is continually recycled and reused
Principle 2: Prevention instead of Principle 2: Prevention instead of
treatment treatment
Zero waste in unfeasible (thermodynamics) Zero waste in unfeasible (thermodynamics)
At every design scale, an opportunity exists to prevent waste At every design scale, an opportunity exists to prevent waste
rather than treat it after it is generated. rather than treat it after it is generated.
Find alternative ways to use waste when produced Find alternative ways to use waste when produced
Waste requires the expenditure of capital, energy, and Waste requires the expenditure of capital, energy, and
resources with no realized benefit. resources with no realized benefit.
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular
Protecting groups;
substitution reactions
Atom economy (1)

Process
Dry cleaning with
perchloroethylene
Dry cleaning with
supercritical CO2
Product Virgin paper Paper with recycled content
System Fossil energy Fusion energy

Principle 3: Design for separation Principle 3: Design for separation
Separation and purification operations can be designed at Separation and purification operations can be designed at
every scale to minimize energy consumption and materials every scale to minimize energy consumption and materials
At the beginning of the product At the beginning of the product s life to isolate the desired s life to isolate the desired
output, or at end of life to aid in the recovery, reuse, and output, or at end of life to aid in the recovery, reuse, and
recovery of materials recovery of materials
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular
Column chromatography;
distillation
Reaction product insoluble in
reaction medium (2)
Process
Permanent joining/bonding of
two materials
Reversible fastening
Product
Circuit board masks and etching
using large volumes of organic
solvent
Computer chip manufactured by
vapor deposition
System
Separation intensive recycling
of municipal waste
Local/residential material and
energy systems

Principle 4: Maximize mass, energy, space, Principle 4: Maximize mass, energy, space,
and time efficiency and time efficiency
Processes and systems often use more time, space, energy, Processes and systems often use more time, space, energy,
and material than are necessary and material than are necessary
Inefficiencies generate waste Inefficiencies generate waste
Optimized systems Optimized systems - - need for real need for real- -time monitoring time monitoring - - ensure ensure
operation under intended design conditions. operation under intended design conditions.
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular
Batch reactors using large
volumes of solvent
Continuous flow microreactors
(3); spinning disk reactors
Process Painting Powder coating
Product Printed media Digital media
System Urban sprawl Ecoindustrial park planning

Principle 5: Output Principle 5: Output- -pulled versus input pulled versus input- -
pushed pushed
Extensive energy and material inputs often drive a Extensive energy and material inputs often drive a
transformation toward the desired outcome. transformation toward the desired outcome.
This logic has resulted in waste, inefficiency, and This logic has resulted in waste, inefficiency, and
environmental damage environmental damage
Manufacturing systems can be based on Manufacturing systems can be based on just just- -in in- -time time
manufacturing manufacturing
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular Excess reagent Dehydration reactions
Process
Coating technologies with high
curing temperature
Fermentation product removal
Product Metal casting Direct metal deposition (4)
System
Marketing overproduced items
at a minimal profit
Just in time manufacturing

Principle 6: Conserve complexity Principle 6: Conserve complexity
The degree of complexity is a function of the expenditure of The degree of complexity is a function of the expenditure of
materials, energy, time, and capital. materials, energy, time, and capital.
These investments should be considered when making These investments should be considered when making
design choices on recycle, reuse, or beneficial disposition. design choices on recycle, reuse, or beneficial disposition.
High complexity should generally correspond to reuse, while High complexity should generally correspond to reuse, while
lower complexity should correlate with recycling where lower complexity should correlate with recycling where
possible and beneficial disposition where necessary. possible and beneficial disposition where necessary.
Principle 6: Conserve complexity Principle 6: Conserve complexity
Examples Examples
Design scale Complexity Current practice
Application of
principle
Low
Flaring methane at petroleum
refineries
C-1 (carbon) as a
feedstock for value
added material Molecular
High
Complex biomaterials reduced
to hydrocarbon feedstocks
Chiral molecules with
multiple stereo centers
Low
Incorporating used rubber
as a fill material for its
bulk properties
Depolymerization of
homopolymers
Process
High Incineration of PET bottles
Regeneration of
Petretec polymer (5)
Low Landfilling of yard waste
Using yard waste for
mulch
Product
High
Single-use
(nonrechargeable) batteries
Refurbished/
re-manufactured copiers
Low
Municipal wastewater treatment
sludge to landfill
Sludge for energy
and/or agricultural
System
High
Under-used public school
buildings torn down
Former schools
converted to senior
centers

Principle 7: Durability rather than Principle 7: Durability rather than
immortality immortality
Persistence of synthetic materials in the environment and Persistence of synthetic materials in the environment and
biosphere is increasingly recognized as incompatible with biosphere is increasingly recognized as incompatible with
sustainability sustainability
The targeted durability of product, process, and system levels The targeted durability of product, process, and system levels
can help avoid the legacy of environmental impacts that have can help avoid the legacy of environmental impacts that have
historically caused extensive concerns historically caused extensive concerns
balanced with the design of products that are durable balanced with the design of products that are durable
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular Polyacrylic acid Polylactic acid (6)
Process
Paper coating with petroleum-
based polymers
Paper coating with renewable,
biodegradable polymers
Product Polystyrene packaging material
Eco-fill (7)
(starch-based packing peanut)
System Utility energy sales
Energy efficiency
buy-back programs

Principle 8: Meet need, minimize excess Principle 8: Meet need, minimize excess
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular Excessively reactive reagents
Enzyme catalysts under mild
conditions
Process
Overchlorinating or
overdisinfecting domestic
drinking water
Real-time process analysis/
controlled systems (8)
Product Off-the -shelf technologies
Technologies specific to needs
and demands of end user
System
Shipping by underutilized fixed
capacity vehicles
Shipping by rail with railcars
that can attach or detach as
needed

Anticipating the necessary process agility and product Anticipating the necessary process agility and product
flexibility flexibility
There is a tendency to design for worst There is a tendency to design for worst- -case scenarios case scenarios
The tendency to design an eternal and global solution should The tendency to design an eternal and global solution should
be minimized be minimized
Principle 9: Minimize material diversity Principle 9: Minimize material diversity
Diversity becomes an issue when considering end Diversity becomes an issue when considering end- -of of- -useful useful- -
life decisions life decisions
Up Up- -front design will determine to what degree a product can front design will determine to what degree a product can
be disassembled and the value recovered be disassembled and the value recovered
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular Multistep syntheses
One-pot reactions, cascading
reactions, self-assembly (9)
Process
Plastics with dyes,
Plasticizers and elasticizers
Properties of polymers built into
the backbone (10)
Product
Vehicle door panel based on
multiple plastic types
Vehicle door panel based on
monomaterial (i.e.,
polypropylene) synthesized to
meet mechanical property
demands
System Analog photography developing Digital photography developing

Principle 10: Integrate local material and Principle 10: Integrate local material and
energy flows energy flows
Extensive Design for interconnectivity requires that the Extensive Design for interconnectivity requires that the
designer recognize that such integrated systems can be designer recognize that such integrated systems can be
either very stable or very vulnerable to cascading impacts. either very stable or very vulnerable to cascading impacts.
The positive impacts of integrating flows on sustainability are The positive impacts of integrating flows on sustainability are
an essential design element. an essential design element.
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular
Neutralizing waste acids to
waste salts
Using waste nitrous oxide as
in-process oxidant (11)
Process Flaring at refineries Cogeneration of energy
Product
Braking systems integrated with
drive trains based on internal
combustion engines
Regenerative braking in hybrid
electric cars (12)
System Municipal solid waste/landfill Kalundborg, Denmark

Principle 11: Design for commercial Principle 11: Design for commercial
afterlife afterlife
With forethought, design can ensure performance and value With forethought, design can ensure performance and value
long after initial commercialization long after initial commercialization
Commercial end of life occurs as a result of technological or Commercial end of life occurs as a result of technological or
stylistic obsolescence, rather than a fundamental stylistic obsolescence, rather than a fundamental
performance or quality failure. performance or quality failure.
To reduce waste, components that remain functional and To reduce waste, components that remain functional and
valuable can be recovered for reuse and/or reconfiguration. valuable can be recovered for reuse and/or reconfiguration.
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular Polyester fabrics Nylon 66
Process Single-purpose unit process Flexible manufacturing
Product
Personal electronics (cellular
phones, PDAs, laptop
computers)
Xerox copiers (13)
System Single-purpose/use buildings
Convert industrial buildings
to housing at end of business
life

Principle 12: Renewable rather than Principle 12: Renewable rather than
depleting depleting
Moving toward renewable material and energy sources will Moving toward renewable material and energy sources will
require extensive innovation and infrastructure require extensive innovation and infrastructure
Every unit of finite substance used incrementally moves the Every unit of finite substance used incrementally moves the
supply of that substance toward depletion supply of that substance toward depletion
Virgin substances require repetitive extractive processes, Virgin substances require repetitive extractive processes,
using depleting resources causes ongoing environmental using depleting resources causes ongoing environmental
damage. damage.
Design scale Current practice Application of principle
Molecular Petroleum-based feedstocks Recovered biomass feedstock
Process
Wastewater/water treatment by
chemically based systems
Wastewater/water treatment by
natural ecosystems (14)
Product Petroleum-based plastics Bio-based plastics
System
Hazardous waste site soil
extraction/cleaning
Phytoremediation

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THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
Questions? Questions?