Principles of Green Chemistry

Is Sustainable Energy Development Possible? (It’s Not Easy Being Green)

• Professor Thomas R. Marrero Ornés
• University of Missouri-Columbia

Allen, D.T. and Shonnard, D.R., 2002, Green Engineering: Environmentally Conscious Design of Chemical Processes, Prentice-Hall, p. 65

• Figure 1

The Pollution Prevention Act (PPA) states:

• Pollution should be prevented or reduced at the source whenever feasible
• Pollution that cannot be prevented or reduced should be recycled
• Pollution that cannot be prevented or reduced or recycled should be treated, and
• Disposal or other releases into the environment should be employed only as a last resort.

Principles of Green Chemistry

• Anastas, Paul T.; Warner, John C.
• Green Chemistry Theory and Practice; Oxford University Press: New York, 1998

Definition of Green Chemistry

• “The design of chemical products and processes that are more environmentally benign and reduce negative impacts to human health and the environment.”

12 Principles of Green Chemistry

• It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it is formed.
• Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product.

12 Principles of Green Chemistry

• 3. Wherever practicable, synthetic methodologies should be designed to use and generate substances that possess little or no toxicity to human health and the environment.
• 4. Chemical products should be designed to preserve efficacy of function while reducing toxicity.

12 Principles of Green Chemistry

• 5. The use of auxiliary substances (solvents, separation agents, etc.) should be made unnecessary whenever possible and, when used, innocuous.
• 6. Energy requirements should be recognized for their environmental and economic impacts and should be minimized. Synthetic methods should be conducted at ambient temperature and pressure.