Green chemistry goals

It is important to note that these green chemistry goals are most efTectively dealt with and are easier to apply if they are considered at the design stage rather than retrospectively - green chemistry is not an end-of-pipe solution. 

The green chemistry goal of designing chemicals with little or no toxicity is a challenge because... 

In this review, the use of ultrasound to accelerate reactions has proven to be a particularly important tool for meeting the green chemistry goals of minimization of waste and reduction of energy requirements. 

Bioengineering is also seen as a promising technique for achieving green chemistry goals. A number of important process chemicals can be synthesized in engineered organisms, such as shikimate, a Tamiflu precursor which is fermented by Roche in bacteria. 

L9.96 Waste reduction is an important goal of the green chemistry movement. In many chemical syntheses in industry, not all the atoms required for the reaction appear in the product. Some end up in by-products and are wasted. Atom economy is the use of as few atoms as possible to reach an end product and is calculated as a percentage, using atom economy = (mass of desired product obtained)/(nrass of all reactants consumed) X 100%. 

Progressing toward the goal of designing safer chemicals requires that the relative safety of chemicals can be compared so that a clear decision process can be identified. The metrics to accomplish this evaluation of the relative hazards of chemicals are well estabhshed but have not been applied to the field of green chemistry, specifically, designing safer chemicals. 

Gladysz, J.A. (2001) Recoverable Catalysts. Ultimate Goals, Criteria of Evaluation, and the Green Chemistry Interface. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 73, 1319-1324. 

Nonetheless, a wide variety of potential methods are available to achieve the goal of nanoencapsulation for the purpose of facilitating the use of two or more incompatible catalysts in cascade reactions. The many multistep reactions that are of importance in the fine chemicals industry are prime targets for the application of the principles of nanoencapsulation and, therefore, of green chemistry. 

The workup for such reactions involves neutralization and concomitant generation of salts such as NaCl, Na2S04, and (NH4)2S04. The ehmination of such waste streams and a reduction in the dependence on the use of hazardous chemicals, such as phosgene, dimethyl sulfate, peracids, sodium azide, halogens, and HF, are primary goals in green chemistry. 

Recently, the power of designer acid catalysts has generally increased as a result of the development of the catalytic enantioselective versions described here. In particular, combined acid catalysis is still very much in a state of infancy, and there is still much more to learn with regard to new reactivity. The ultimate goal is a more reactive, more selective, and more versatile catalyst. We beheve that the realization of such an objective would be a tremendous benefit for the further development of organic synthesis, including green chemistry. 

In addition to the resources listed above, ACS continues to develop new resources such as new textbooks infused with green chemistiy business school case studies being conducted to emphasize the connection between green chemistry and economics and other user driven tools. Parent concluded that students are our greatest resource in green chemistry education and developing them should be our key goal. ... 

FIGURE 4.1 Chemical goals for sustainability. SOURCE Collins, T. 2005. Where Do We Go from Here to Green Our Civilization through Science Presentation at the National Academies Chemical Sciences Roundtable Green Chemistry and Engineering Education Workshop. November 8, 2005. 

The Draths-Frost method for making adipic acid illustrates a common goal in much green chemistry research, the ability to include more than one green chemistry principle at a time in new processes. Not only did Draths and Frost find a way of substituting a safer feedstock in their reaction, but they also found a safer catalyst, the simple bacterium Escherichia coli. The use of the bacterium eliminated the necessity of using hazardous metals as catalysts in the traditional reaction. 

The turn-of-the-century architect and planner Daniel Burnham is remembered for his famous quotation, Make no little plans they lack the fire to excite men s minds. Gender aside, Burnham was speaking for a revolutionary vision. The pollution prevention movement should more boldly state a vision and goals for the next century. The plans for green chemistry and green solvents are not little, and in the pages that follow we can readily see that the response of scientists has been great. 

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