Green Chemistry

Green organic chemistry is a term that refers to the study of finding alternative pathways in chemical reactions to make them more safe on the environment and on the humans in lab. There are many different definitions for Green Chemistry, some referring to decreasing the environmental impact of chemical reactions and others referring to decreasing the about of harmful solvents in the lab to protect workers. Both definitions have a common trait- decreasing the amount of harmful waste from chemical reactions.

 Green chemistry is built on Twelve Principals-

1.)It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste 

after it is formed. 

2) Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the 

incorporation of all materials used in the process into the 

final product. 

3) Wherever practicable, synthetic methodologies should be 

designed to use and    generate substances that posses little or 

no toxicity to human health and the environment.  

4) Chemical products should be designed to preserve efficacy of 

function while reducing toxicity.  

5) The use of auxiliary substances (e.g. solvents, separation 

agents etc.) should be made unnecessary wherever possible 

and, innocuous when used.  

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 

7) A raw material feedstock should be renewable rather than 

depleting whenever technically and economically practical. 

8) Unnecessary derivatization (blocking group, 

protection/deprotection, temporary modification of 

physical/chemical processes) should be avoided whenever 

possible. 

9) Catalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to 

stoichiometric reagents. 

10) Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of 

their function they do not persist in the environment and 

break down into innocuous degradation products. 

11) Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to 

allow for real-time in-process monitoring and control prior to 

the formation of hazardous substances.  

12) Substances and the forms of the substance used in chemical 

reaction should be chosen so as to minimize the potential of 

chemical accidents,  including releases, explosions, and fires. 

(Twelve principles taken from-------P. Anastas and J. C. Warner, Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice; 

Oxford Science Publications, Oxford, 1998 ---- in a Monograph of Green Chemistry-----> http://www.dst.gov.in/green-chem.pdf)

  

One of the aproaches to Green Organic Chemistry is to lower the waste and to find a way to recycle the solvent. This approach is one that I plan to explore further.
Here, take a look-

This handy reference image was found on http://www.organic-chemistry.org/topics/green-chemistry.shtm