Ricky Jay C. Gomez Exam No.

01
SET 191 / T February 1, 2017

Discuss the hierarchy in sustainable chemistry.

The design of different products and processes should be in accordance with the hierarchy
in sustainable chemistry so as to prevent the production of waste and to avoid environmental
impacts of different pollution. The hierarchy in sustainable chemistry allows the application of the
concept of pollution prevention, wherein the wastes and pollutants from their respective sources
[1]
are being minimized, reduced or eliminated . The hierarchy is summarized as: (1) Green
chemistry concept which includes the source reduction or prevention of different chemical
hazards; (2) the reuse or recycle of chemicals; (3) treatment processes for the wastes so as to
recover some of the hazardous pollutants and; (4) the proper disposal of chemicals.

Figure 1. The hierarchy in pollution prevention [1].

In source reduction, the wastes are being minimized by manipulating the different inputs of raw
materials in the general process [2]. Also, changes in the different industrial processes done as well
as the procedures can be considered for the minimization of the wastes. For reuse or recycle, waste
is being minimized by reusing some of the chemicals or materials that have not been utilized or in
excess, through incorporating recycle/reuse streams. Treatment process must be done when the
wastes are inevitable, so as to reduce its hazards. Finally, proper disposal and discharge of these
wastes are being done at the lowest priority.
What is the importance of the established principles in green chemistry and green process
engineering?
The concepts of green chemistry and green process engineering are two important concepts
to deal with in order to attain a process which complies to sustainable development, wherein the
goal is to comply to the present needs of the people without compromising the ability of the future
generation to meet their own needs. Green chemistry by definition, is a way to address problems
regarding to the pollution generation. Its concept ponders the pollution prevention, which is highly
important. The transport of these different pollutants is being prevented through the design of
chemicals used in different processes with less harmful impact to the environment. Green process
engineering involves the three dimension of sustainability: (1) environmental, (2) economic and
(3) social dimensions. Its concept allows the design of feasible processes so as to improve the
economic aspect while considering the less risk to human and environmental elements of
sustainability.

Differentiate the principles of green chemistry with that of green process engineering.
Green chemistry principles consist of 12 guidelines. These include the pollution
prevention, atom economy, less hazardous chemical syntheses, designing of safer chemicals, safer
solvents and auxiliaries, design for energy efficiency, use of renewable feedstocks, reduce
derivative, catalysis, design for degradation, real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention and
inherently safer chemistry for accident prevention. In summary, these principles tackle the
manipulation of different chemical processes that can reduce the rise of producing pollution. Green
process engineering focus on the application of the principle of green chemistry in industrial
applications. It uses different tools in the assessment of systems, processes and environmental
impacts of such industry.

Discuss the importance of an environmental impact and risk assessment in the development
of an industrial project.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and environmental risk assessment (ERA) are two
important that should be produced by different industrial projects. These are the interdisciplinary
and multi-step procedures that shows the environmental consideration of industrial projects. It
determines the different environmental impacts of different industrial activities before and after
the industry was built and the possible mitigating measures pondered by such industry [3]. EIA
informs the public and consultants or decision-makers if the proposed industrial project should be
permitted to operate. As aforementioned, it states the different impacts of the proposed project in
social, cultural and environmental dimension and how are these problems be mitigated. As that of
the EIA, ERA summarizes the different environmental risks of the industrial projects. ERA suggest
an appropriate approach to manage environmental risks [4].

Why does an EIA should be followed by an Audit?

It is important for an environmental impact assessment should be followed by an audit is
because of the following reasons: (1) to ensure that the required mitigating measure are being
complied and implemented; (2) to check whether these implemented mitigating measures are
working efficiently through the process and; (3) to validate the effectiveness of different models
and projections used during the impact assessment procedures [3]. Auditing allows the assessment
whether how the environmental instruments worked well as well as it enables us to verify the
efficiency of the environmental mitigating measure and functioning of monitoring mechanisms
used. It also checks the accuracy of the predictions and assumptions used when compared to the
actual environmental impacts [5].

Discuss the biogeochemical cycle.

Biogeochemical cycle is simply the study between the interaction of the biotic and abiotic
components in the environment. It is also described as the transport of different elemental and
chemical substances through the biotic and abiotic components of the Earth. Biogeochemical
involves the biological, geological and chemical factors in the transport of these elements and
substances. Common elements addressed in the biogeochemical cycles are the carbon (C), nitrogen
(N), sulfur (S), oxygen (O) and as well as phosphorus (P). These elements are typically involved
in organic processes of photosynthesis and respiration [6].
 Figure 2. Sample biological cycle [6].
In the figure above, the transport of the different chemical release at any starting point can go
further, for example, from the tree going up the atmosphere and through water cycle, those
chemicals could go down the soil and rocks, where the tree extract it nutrients, and therefore these
chemical can go back to its starting point. These processes are continuously and simultaneously
happening. The transport of these chemicals can be in physical transport or sometimes, chemical
reactions are included.

What do you think is the significance of knowing the environmental issues such as smog
formation, ozone depletion, and global warming in the making of EIA?
Environmental impact assessment stipulates the different environmental impacts of
industrial projects before and after that proposed projects have been implemented. It is one of the
important considerations to evaluate the environmental conditions where a certain project should
be built because if there be any environmental issues already present even before the plant has
been built, should that be indicated in the EIA report so as to justify that they have nothing to do
with the present impact of the industrial project being implemented. It is also important to know
these issues because a certain process in the proposed industrial project could contribute to one of
these issues, which can give a loophole to the project itself, just in case if there be any.
Discuss the issues being disputed in the global warming debate.
Different global warming controversies are already present nowadays. These constitute to
the quests on the nature, the causes and the consequences of the global warming. One of the
disputed issues in the global warming controversy is the increased global average air temperature.
The issue starts on identifying whether humankind has an effect to this specific scenario, and
conflicts with the accuracy of the measurements. Also, climate sensitivity is also one of the topics.
It has been suspected that climate sensitivity could be the manifestation of the global warming.
Human-induced emissions of greenhouse gases are also suspected as one of the reasons to the
causes of global warming. Unfortunately, there is no scientific body that focuses on the discussion
about global warming.

Describe the three type of toxic entities.

The three types of toxic entities are the chemical, biological and physical. Chemical toxic
entity includes inorganics (lead, mercury, asbestos, hydrofluoric acid and chlorine gas), organics
(methyl alcohol), medications and even poisonous substances from different living things. Bacteria
and viruses that cause the formation of various diseases which have direct effects on human health
are included in the biological toxic entity. Physical toxic entity includes such physical hazards
such as explosion and pyrotechnics.

What is your position on the global warming issue?

Global warming issues is very diverse in nature. There are complex and numerous reasons
and arguments to ponder when dealing with this topic. Many believe that global warming is really
existing in nature. On contrary, there are some who are unsure whether global warming really
exists, or it is just a concept that is circulating in the minds of the many, especially the
environmental specialists, because we are experiencing various environmental issues nowadays.
My stand in this topic doesn’t have to do with its relation with other arguments. What I see is that,
it has something to do with everyone, especially those people who lived from the industrial
revolution up to my generation. I believe that we are contributors to the global warming. All of the
processes we do, contributes to this emerging problem. As I quote from one of the speakers in Zero
Waste Seminar held at University of Santo Tomas, “We, our generation, has failed you (referring
to the youth audiences) because of the things that we have done in the past.” This quote from the
speaker had made me realized the things that people in the past should have done and considered,
so that even up to this day, we can live a lukewarm world. As a future engineer and
environmentalist, I want to use this opportunity to somehow correct what has not been done in the
past. I want for the people to realize that we should not neglect this problem everyone is making
arguments about, because all of us have no right to steal the environment that the future generation
should be experiencing in the future. I want for my grandest children to still experience that our
world is the best place to live in.
REFERENCES
[1] Phipps, E. 1995. Pollution prevention concepts and principles. National Pollution Prevention
Center for Higher Education, University of Michigan.

[2] Constable, D. J. C. 2015. Green chemistry best practices by global environmental authorities.
ACS Green Chemistry Institute.

[3] Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide. 2010. Guidebook for Evaluating Mining Project
EIAs. ELAW. ISBN# 9788-0-9821214-36.

[4] Gormley, A., Pollard, S. and Rocks, S. 2011. Guidelines for Environmental Risk Assessment
and Management-Green Leaves. Collaborative Centre of Excellence in Understanding and
Managing Natural and Environmental Risks, Cranfield University, Bedfordshire, UK.

[5] Roy, R. 2002. Environmental Audit Study of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Implementation of different Projects with Special Emphasis on Forest Resources. Department of
Environment Management, School of Environmental Management and Sustainable Development
(SchEMS), Pokhara University.

[6] Mackenzie, F. T. 1999. Understanding Global Change: Earth Science and Human Impacts,
Global Biogeochemical Cycles and the Physical Climate System. University Corporation for
Atmospheric Research.