GREEN CHEMISTRY

DEFINITION
Green Chemistry is the utilisation of a set of principles that
reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous
substances in the design, manufacture and application of
chemical products .

GREEN CHEMISTRY IS ABOUT

Waste Minimisation at Source

Use of Catalysts in place of Reagents
Using Non-Toxic Reagents
Use of Renewable Resources
Improved Atom Efficiency
Use of Solvent Free or Recyclable Environmentally Benign
Solvent systems

Green Chemistry Is About...

Waste
Materials
Hazard
Risk

Energy
Cost

Why do we need Green Chemistry ?

Chemistry is undeniably a very
prominent part of our daily lives.
Chemical developments also bring new
environmental problems and harmful
unexpected side effects, which result in
the need for greener chemical
products.
A famous example is the pesticide DDT.

 Green chemistry looks at pollution prevention on

the molecular scale and is an extremely important
area of Chemistry due to the importance of
Chemistry in our world today and the implications it
can show on our environment.
The Green Chemistry program supports the
invention of more environmentally friendly chemical
processes which reduce or even eliminate the
generation of hazardous substances.
This program works very closely with the twelve
principles of Green Chemistry.

It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean

up waste after it is formed

Chemical
Process

Human society is constantly facing such

environmental issues and problems, air
pollution, global climate change, soil and
water pollution, acid rain, depletion of
natural resources and accumulation of
natural hazardous waste
Green chemistry preventing pollution and
sustaining the earth

Principles of Green Chemistry

Its better to develop reactions
with fewer waste products than
to have to clean up the waste.
i.e. high atom economy

Reactions that use fewer

reactants, particularly ones that
arent hazardous, are better.
Reactants from renewable sources
(e.g. plants) are preferable.

Photo credit: Lea Paterson / Science Photo Library (Ref M750/917)

Principles of Green Chemistry

Its better to develop reactions
with fewer waste products than
to have to clean up the waste.
i.e. high atom economy

Reactions that use fewer

reactants, particularly ones that
arent hazardous, are better.
Reactants from renewable sources
(e.g. plants are preferable).
Processes should rely on
renewable energy resources,
rather than fossil fuels.

Photo credit: Martin Bond / Science Photo Library (Ref G350/762)

Principles of Green Chemistry

Its better to develop reactions
with fewer waste products than
to have to clean up the waste.
i.e. high atom economy

Reactions that use fewer

reactants, particularly ones that
arent hazardous, are better.
Reactants from renewable sources
(e.g. plants are preferable).
Processes should rely on
renewable energy resources,
rather than fossil fuels.
Solvent use should be minimised,
& solvents should be benign in
their impact on the environment.

Photo credit: Keith Weller / US Dept of Agriculture / Science Photo Library (Ref G350/762)

Principles of Green Chemistry

Its better to develop reactions
with fewer waste products than
to have to clean up the waste.
i.e. high atom economy

Reactions that use fewer

reactants, particularly ones that
arent hazardous, are better.
Reactants from renewable sources
(e.g. plants are preferable).
Processes should rely on
renewable energy resources,
rather than fossil fuels.
Solvent use should be minimised,
& solvents should be benign in
their impact on the environment.
Materials produced by chemists
should be biodegradable so they
dont persist in the environment
after theyve been used.

Photo credit: Robert Brook / Science Photo Library (Ref E820/268 )

Principles of Green Chemistry

Its better to develop reactions
with fewer waste products than
to have to clean up the waste.
i.e. high atom economy

It is desirable to find ways to

use waste products in other
chemical reactions.
Alternatively, waste products that
are non-toxic and biodegradable
are favourable.

Reactions that use fewer

reactants, particularly ones that
arent hazardous, are better.
Reactants from renewable sources
(e.g. plants are preferable).
Processes should rely on
renewable energy resources,
rather than fossil fuels.
Solvent use should be minimised,
& solvents should be benign in
their impact on the environment.
Materials produced by chemists
should be biodegradable so they
dont persist in the environment
after theyve been used.

Photo credit: David Read / University of Southampton

Principles of Green Chemistry

Its better to develop reactions
with fewer waste products than
to have to clean up the waste.
i.e. high atom economy

It is desirable to find ways to

use waste products in other
chemical reactions.
Alternatively, waste products that
are non-toxic and biodegradable
are favourable.
For a more detailed treatment, see: Paul T. Anstas
and John C. Warner Green Chemistry: Theory and
Practice, New York: Oxford University Press, 1998

Reactions that use fewer

reactants, particularly ones that
arent hazardous, are better.
Reactants from renewable sources
(e.g. plants are preferable).
Processes should rely on
renewable energy resources,
rather than fossil fuels.
Solvent use should be minimised,
& solvents should be benign in
their impact on the environment.
Materials produced by chemists
should be biodegradable so they
dont persist in the environment
after theyve been used.

Yield vs Atom economy

Yield can be calculated as:
% yield = mass (g) of product obtained x 100
theoretical yield (g)

The yield tells us how efficient a reaction is in

terms of the amount of product we obtained
relative to the maximum we could get from
the amounts of reactants we used.
But it doesnt take account of waste products!

Yield vs Atom economy

Atom economy can be calculated as:
% AE =

RFM desired product

sum of RFMs of all products

x 100

A reaction may have a high % yield but a low

atom economy.

Atom economy some examples

Calculate the % atom economy of CH2Cl2:

CH4 + 2Cl2 CH2Cl2 + 2HCl

RFM: CH2Cl2 = 85, HCl = 36.5
% AE =

RFM desired product

sum of RFMs of all products

x 100

85
AE = 85 + (2 x 36.5) x 100 = 53.8 %

Atom economy some examples

CH4 + 2Cl2 CH2Cl2 + 2HCl
An atom economy of 53.8% may be
considered to be quite low. How could a
chemical company maximise their profits from
this chemical process?

The by-product is hydrogen chloride,

which can be sold as a gas or made into
hydrochloric acid. These can then be
sold.

Atom economy some examples

Calculate the % atom economy of ethylene oxide:

RFM: C2H4O = 44, CaCl2 = 111, H2O = 18

(2 x 44)
AE = (2 x 44) + 111 + (2 x 18) x 100 = 37.4 %

Atom economy some examples

Ethylene oxide A case of Green Chemistry

An atom economy of 37.4% is particularly poor, and

this is a very wasteful process.
Nonetheless, this was the preferred method for
synthesising ethylene oxide for many years.

Atom economy some examples

Ethylene oxide A case of Green Chemistry

Recently, a method of synthesising ethylene oxide

from ethene and oxygen using a silver catalyst was
developed.
Whats the atom economy of this reaction? 100 %

In this presentation the synthesis of ibuprofen by

Friedel-crafts alkylation of isobutyl benzene with
lactic acid and its derivatives was attmpted using
various acid catalysts like Zn-Zeolite-Y,
AlCl3/MCM-41, AlCl3/SiO2

Classic Route to Ibuprofen

HCl, AcOH, Al Waste

Ac2O

AcOH

HCl

H2O / H+

ClCH2CO2Et

AlCl3

NaOEt
COCH3

EtO2C

OHC

NH2OH

H2O / H+

N
HO2C

OHN

Hoechst Route To Ibuprofen

AcOH

HF

H2 / Ni

CO, Pd

Ac2O

HO

HO2C

IBUPROFEN
OH

Is this possible
and if so how to
effect this
reaction
catalytic?

CH3
+
COOH

CH3

Lactic acid

CH3
CH3

COOH

CH3

First synthezised
By the Boots company in
Nottingham England in
1960s

IBUPROFEN

The use of auxiliary substances (e.g. solvents,

separation agents, etc.) should be made unnecessary
wherever possible, and innocuous when used

Energy requirements should be

recognized for their environmental

impacts and should be minimized.
Synthetic methods should be conducted at
ambient pressure and temperature

Heating
Cooling
Stirring
Distillation
Compression
Pumping
Separation

Energy Requirement
(electricity)

GLOBAL
WARMING

Burn fossil
fuel

CO2 to
atmosphere

A raw material of feedstock should be renewable

rather than depleting wherever technically and
economically practical

Non-renewable

Renewable

Resource Depletion
Renewable resources can be made
increasingly viable technologically
and economically through green
chemistry.
Biomass, Carbon dioxide, Nanoscience,
Solar, Waste utilization

Poly lactic acid (PLA) for plastics

production

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs)

The role of catalysts

Catalysts have a crucial role to play in the
future of Green Chemistry.
They allow the development of new reactions
which require fewer starting materials and
produce fewer waste products.
They can be recovered and re-used time and
time again.
They allow reactions to run at lower
temperatures, cutting the amount of energy
required.

Catalysts in Action

Animation credit: Robert Raja / University of Southampton

The future of chemistry

We need to reconsider
the way we go about all
aspects of our lives.
The planet is feeling a
burden.
Science has the potential
to solve our problems.
Green Chemistry can
play a significant role in a
sustainable future.
Photo credit:Photo
NASA
Photo
credit:
Earth
credit:
Gusto
Simon
Observatory
John
Images
Fraser
Cole/ //Science
Science
SciencePhoto
Photo
PhotoLibrary
Library
Library(Ref:
(Ref:
(Ref:E050/708)
T820/419)
G350/433)
T602/318)

The major uses of GREEN CHEMISTRY

Energy
Global Change
Resource Depletion
Food Supply
Toxics in the Environment

ENERGY
The

vast majority of the energy

generated in the world today is from
non-renewable sources that damage
the environment.
Carbon

dioxide
Depletion of Ozone layer
Effects of mining, drilling, etc
Toxics

ENERGY
Green

Chemistry will be essential in

developing the alternatives for energy

generation (photo-voltaics, hydrogen, fuel
cells, bio-based fuels, etc.) as well as
continue the path toward energy efficiency
with catalysis and product design at the
forefront.

GLOBAL CHANGE
Concerns for climate change, oceanic
temperature, stratospheric chemistry and
global distillation can be addressed
through the development and
implementation of green chemistry
technologies

RESOURE DEPLETION
Due

to the over utilization of nonrenewable resources, natural

resources are being depleted at an
unsustainable rate.
Fossil fuels are a central issue.

RESOURCE DEPLETION
Renewable

resources can be made

increasingly viable technologically and
economically through green chemistry.

Biomass
Nanoscience & technology
Solar
Carbon dioxide
Chitin
Waste utilization

FOOD SUPPLY
While

current food levels are sufficient,

distribution is inadequate
Agricultural methods are unsustainable
Future food production intensity is
needed.
Green chemistry can address many food
supply issues

FOOD SUPPLY
Green

chemistry is developing:

Pesticides which only affect target

organisms and degrade to innocuous byproducts.
Fertilizers and fertilizer adjuvants that are
designed to minimize usage while
maximizing effectiveness.
Methods of using agricultural wastes for
beneficial and profitable uses.

TOXICS IN THE ENVIRONMENT

Substances

that are toxic to humans, the

biosphere and all that sustains it, are currently
still being released at a cost of life, health and
sustainability.

One of green chemistrys greatest strengths is

the ability to design for reduced hazard.

Pollution Prevention Hierarchy

Prevention & Reduction

Recycling & Reuse
Treatment
Disposal

CONCLUSION
Green chemistry Not a solution to all
environmental problems But the most
fundamental approach to preventing
pollution