Green Chemistry

by Mina Marie Mitani

Topics of Discussion

Environmental Movement Green Chemistry Importance Areas of Research Programs and Partnerships Conclusions

Environmental Movement Public Awareness

• No regulations• Publications of effects and consequences

Pattern• Effects• Outcry• Laws and regulations

Environmental Movement

“Dilution is solution” Pollution Prevention Act

– option of first choice– national policy of US

“Alternative Synthetic Pathways for Pollution Prevention”– design synthesis of chemicals for PP– collaborations, voluntary partnerships

Environmental Movement

Approaches in recent past:– Reduction of risk of manufacturing and use– Innovative chemistries to treat wastes and

remediate sites– New monitoring and analytical tools for detection

in air, water, soils – New handling and containment procedures to

minimize exposure

Green Chemistry

Carrying out chemical activities, including chemical design, manufacture, use, and disposal, such that hazardous substances will not be used and generated

Tool in accomplishing Pollution Prevention Encompasses all aspects and types of chemical

processes to reduce impacts

Green Chemistry

Green chemistry is the use of chemistry for pollution prevention

Design of chemical products and processes that are more environmentally benign

Reduction or elimination of the use or generation of hazardous substances associated with a particular synthesis or process

Importance of Green Chemistry 2 billion lbs. of chemicals were released to air land and

water (USEPA) in 1994 Data includes only 365 of 70,000 chemicals available in

commerce Environmental and hazardous wastes operations =>

economic burden– environmental expenditures : cost of doing business– 100-150 billion $ / year for remediation in US alone – shift financial resources from costs to research &

development Promise of Green Chemistry to lower overall costs

associated with environmental health and safety

Areas of Research

Feedstocks / Starting Materials Reagents or Transformations Reaction Conditions Final Product

– inter-related, separated for incremental improvements

Feedstocks / Starting Materials

select and utilize more benign starting materials– reduction in amount used– reduction of intrinsic toxicity through structural

modification / replacement

risks can be reduced through protective gear and control techniques, but GC may be more cost effective and safer

Examples

Alternative Synthetic Pathways AwardFlexsys America L.P.New Process for 4-Aminodiphenylamine

Academic AwardTerrence J. CollinsCarnegie Mellon UniversityTAML™ Oxidant Activators: General Activation of Hydrogen Peroxide for Green Oxidation Technologies

Eliminate use of acids to break initial bonds Phosgene replacement

Alternative Reagents

Assessment of the hazard of reagent Evaluation of synthetic transformation

associated with use of specific reagents– determine product sensitivity– reaction efficiency

Improve reaction efficiency Reduce needed quantity

– eg. Choose catalytic reagent to stoichiometric reagent

Examples Use of visible light as reagent Alternative Synthetic Pathways Award

Lilly Research LaboratoriesPractical Application of a Biocatalyst in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing

Dr. Karen M. DrathsProfessor John W. FrostMichigan State UniversityUse of Microbes as Environmentally-Benign Synthetic Catalysts

Academic AwardTerrence J. CollinsCarnegie Mellon UniversityTAML™ Oxidant Activators: General Activation of Hydrogen Peroxide for Green Oxidation Technologies

Alternative Reaction Conditions

Reduce or eliminate solvents used in reaction media, separations, formulations– use of supercritical fluids as solvents– able to tune supercritical fluids by choosing critical

region to conduct chemistry Use aqueous solvent systems in place of organic

solvents in chemical manufacturing Use Supercritical CO2 as a solvent Reduce operating temperatures Must evaluate impact on case by case basis

Alternative Reaction Conditions Alternative Solvents and Reaction Conditions Award

Nalco Chemical CompanyThe Development and Commercialization of ULTIMER®®: The First of a New Family of Water Soluble Polymer Dispersions

Alternative Solvents/Reaction Conditions AwardArgonne National LaboratoryNovel Membrane-Based Process for Producing Lactate Esters. Nontoxic Replacements for Halogenated and Toxic Solvents

Alternative Solvents/Reaction Conditions AwardImationDry View™ Imaging Systems

Alternative Solvents/Reaction Conditions AwardThe Dow Chemical CompanyThe Development and Commercial Implementation of 100 Percent Carbon Dioxide as an Environmentally Friendly Blowing Agent for the Polystyrene Foam Packaging Market

Alternative Products

Identify part of molecule that is providing intended use and part of molecule responsible for toxicity or other hazards

Reduce toxicity w/o sacrificing efficacy of function– eliminate toxic functional groups– make molecule less bioavailable

Pharmaceutical and pesticide manufacturing Change or replace products

Alternative Products

Designing Safer Chemicals AwardRohm and Haas CompanyDesigning an Environmentally Safe Marine Antifoulant

Small Business AwardLegacy Systems IncorporatedColdstrip™, A Revolutionary Organic Removal and Wet Cleaning  Technology

Designing Safer Chemicals AwardAlbright and Wilson AmericasTHPS Biocides: A New Class of Antimicrobial Chemistry

Designing Safer Chemicals AwardRohm and Haas CompanyThe Invention and Commercialization of a New Chemical Family of Insecticides Exemplified by CONFIRM™ Insecticide

Program

EPA Green Chemistry Program– fosters research, development, implementation of

innovative chemical technologies for pollution prevention in BOTH a scientifically sound and cost effective manner

– Supports fundamental chemical research, educational activities, international meetings and conferences, toll development, in partnership with academia, industry and other agencies

Partnerships

Scientific organizations Industry Trade associations Academia Government National Labs Research centers Environmental groups International organizations

GCES

Identifies opportunities to reduce or eliminate hazardous substances

Suggests molecular modifications to minimize toxicity

Technical information on green synthesis Database of useful green chemistry

references

Conclusion

Goal of benign chemistry– synthesizing classes of chemicals– developing reaction types (stereo-specific)

Dramatic increase in funding, with support expected to continue

Green chemistry research conducted in labs in academia, industry, and government around the world