Green Chemistry for Environmental Remediation E-Book

• Herausgeber: John Wiley & Sons
• Kategorie: Wissenschaft und neue Technologien
• Sprache: Englisch

Seitenzahl: 1176

Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2012

Beschreibung

The book explains the importance of chemistry in solving environmental issues by highlighting the role green chemistry plays in making the environment clean and green by covering a wide array of topics ranging from sustainable development, microwave chemical reaction, renewable feedstocks, microbial bioremediation, and other topics that, when implemented, will advance environmental improvement.

Green Chemistry for Environmental Remediation provides insight on how educators from around the world have incorporated green chemistry into their classrooms and how the principles of green chemistry can be integrated into the curriculum.

The volume presents high-quality research papers as well as in-depth review articles from eminent professors, scientists, chemists, and engineers both from educational institutions and from industry. It introduces a new emerging green face of multidimensional environmental chemistry. Each chapter brings forward the latest literature and research being done in the related area.

The 23 chapters are divided into 4 sections:

1. Green chemistry and societal sustainability including teaching and education of green chemistry
2. Green lab technologies and alternative solutions to conventional laboratory techniques
3. Green bio-energy sources as green technology frontiers
4. Green applications and solutions for remediation

Green Chemistry for Environmental Remediation is an important resource for academic researchers, students, faculty, industrial chemists, chemical engineers, environmentalists, and anyone interested in environmental policy safeguarding the environment. Relevant industries include those in clean technology, renewable energy, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and chemicals. Another goal of the book is to promote and generate awareness about the relationship of green chemistry with the environment amongst the younger generation who might wish to pursue a career in green chemistry.

Leseprobe

Contents

Cover

Half Title page

Title page

Copyright page

Foreword

Part 1: Green Chemistry and Societal Sustainability

Chapter 1: Environment and the Role of Green Chemistry

1.1 The Environmental Concern

1.2 The Role of Chemistry

1.3 Sustainable Development

1.4 Era of Green Chemistry

1.5 Concluding Remarks

Acknowledgement

References

Suggested Reading: Some Books on Green Chemistry

Useful Resources for Green Chemistry and their Links

Chapter 2: The Greening of the Chemical Industry: Past, Present and Challenges Ahead

2.1 Introduction

2.2 From Greening Technologies to Greening the Economy

2.3 A Brief Note on Business Strategy and Corporate Greening

2.4 The Past: An Account of the Historical Relationship Between the Chemical Industry and the Environment

2.5 The Present: From Pollution Control to Corporate Environmental Sustainability

2.6 The Future: Environmentally Sustainable Manufacturing and Eco-innovation

2.7 Conclusion: Greening or Sustainability in Chemical Manufacturing?

References

Chapter 3: Designing Sustainable Chemical Synthesis: The Influence of Chemistry on Process Design

3.1 Introduction

3.2 Green Chemistry

3.3 Green Engineering

3.4 Sustainability Metrics

3.5 Designing a Sustainable Process

3.6 Merck Case Study

3.7 Conclusion

References

Chapter 4: Green Chemical Processing in the Teaching Laboratory: Microwave Extraction of Natural Products

4.1 Introduction

4.2 Microwave versus Conventional Heating

4.3 Experimental

4.4 Advantages

4.5 Conclusion

Acknowledgements

References

Chapter 5: Ensuring Sustainability through Microscale Chemistry

5.1 Introduction to Microscale Chemistry

5.2 Development of Microscale Chemistry Experiments for Upper Secondary Schools

5.3 Teachers’ Evaluation

5.4 Students’ Feedback

5.5 Conclusion

References

Chapter 6: Capability Development and Technology Transfer Essential for Economic Transformation

6.1 Introduction

6.2 The Importance of R&D

6.3 Knowledge Creation and Technology Transfer

6.4 Technology Transfer Future

6.5 Applications to Green Chemistry

6.6 Conclusions

Acknowledgements

References

Part 2: Green Lab Technologies

Chapter 7: Ultrasound Cavitation as a Green Processing Technique in the Design and Manufacture of Pharmaceutical Nanoemulsions in Drug Delivery System

7.1 Introduction

7.2 Types of Emulsion and Principles of Nanoemulsion Formation

7.3 Formulation Aspects of Nanoemulsion

7.4 The Ultrasonic Domain

7.5 What is Ultrasound Cavitation?

7.6 Ultrasound Generation

7.7 Principle and Operation of Ultrasound Emulsification

7.8 Types of Ultrasound Emulsification: Batch and Dynamic Systems

7.9 Advantages of Ultrasound Emulsification

7.10 General Reviews of Ultrasound Emulsification

7.11 Nanoemulsion in Pharmaceutical Application

7.12 Characterization of Nanoemulsion Drug Delivery System

7.13 Practical and Potential Applications of Nanoemulsion in Different Administration Routes

7.14 Conclusion

Acknowledgement

References

Chapter 8: Microwave-Enhanced Methods for Biodiesel Production and Other Environmental Applications

8.1 Introduction

8.2 Microwave Energy

8.3 Biodiesel Production Using Different Feedstock

8.4 Energy Consumption

8.5 Analysis of Algal Biomass and Biodiesel

8.6 Current Status of the Microwave Technology for Large Scale Biodiesel Production

8.7 Other Microwave-enhanced Applications

8.8 Summary

References

Chapter 9: Emergence of Base Catalysts for Synthesis of Biodiesel

9.1 Introduction

9.2 Mechanism of Heterogeneous Catalysis

9.3 Calcium Oxide and Magnesium Oxide

9.4 Hydrotalcite Doped Compounds

9.5 Alumina Loaded Compounds

9.6 Zeolite

9.7 Conclusions

Acknowledgement

References

Chapter 10: Hydrothermal Technologies for the Production of Fuels and Chemicals from Biomass

10.1 Introduction

10.2 Thermochemical Processes for Biomass

10.3 Green Chemistry and Hydrothermal Liquefaction

10.4 Hydro-Deoxygenation Upgrading

10.5 Zeolite Upgrading

10.6 Conclusions

References

Chapter 11: Ionic Liquids in Green Chemistry - Prediction of Ionic Liquids Toxicity Using Different Models

11.1 Introduction

11.2 Conclusions

References

Chapter 12: Nano-catalyst: A Second Generation Tool for Green Chemistry

12.1 Introduction

12.2 Nanocatalyst: An Origin of a Green Concept

12.3 Recent Advances in Nanocatalysis

12.4 Challenges and Future Scope

12.5 Conclusion

Acknowledgements

References

Chapter 13: Green Polymer Synthesis: An Overview on Use of Microwave-Irradiation

13.1 Introduction

13.2 Radical Polymerization

13.3 Step Growth Polymerization

13.4 Ring Opening Polymerization

13.5 Polymer Modifications

13.6 Miscellaneous Polymer Synthesis

13.7 Conclusions and Perspectives

References

Part 3: Green Bio-Energy Sources

Chapter 14: Bioenergy as a Green Technology Frontier

14.1 Introduction

14.2 Bioenergy Life Cycles

14.3 Transportation Biofuels

14.4 Thermochemical Conversion of Biomass

14.5 Biogas

14.6 Microbial Fuel Cells

14.7 Future Prospects

References

Chapter 15: Biofuels as Suitable Replacement for Fossil Fuels

15.1 Introduction

15.2 Types of Biofuels and Technologies for their Production

15.3 Future Prospects and Conclusions

Acknowledgments

References

Chapter 16: Biocatalysts for Greener Solutions

16.1 Introduction

16.2 Enzyme-Biocatalysts in Green Chemistry

16.3 Utilization of Enzymes as Tools for Providing Greener Solutions

16.4 Conclusion

References

Chapter 17: Lignocellulosics as a Renewable Feedstock for Chemical Industry: Chemical Hydrolysis and Pretreatment Processes

17.1 Introduction

17.2 Lignocellulosic Biomass Structure

17.3 Biomass Hydrolysis Processes

17.4 Biomass Pretreatment Processes

17.5 Conclusions

References

Chapter 18: Lignocellulosics as a Renewable Feedstock for Chemical Industry: Chemicals from Lignin

18.1 Introduction

18.2 Lignin Structure

18.3 Lignin Isolation

18.4 Lignin as a Macromolecular Raw Material

18.5 Depolymerisation/Valorisation of Lignin

18.6 Conclusions

References

Chapter 19: Genome Enabled Technologies in Green Chemistry

19.1 Introduction

19.2 Microbial Communities – Teamwork in Bioremediation

19.3 Genome Sequencing

19.4 Metagenomics

19.5 Microbial Microarrays- Genome Wide Expression Studies

19.6 Future Prospects

References

Part 4: Green Solutions for Remediation

Chapter 20: Green Biotechnology for Municipal and Industrial Wastewater Treatment

20.1 Introduction

20.2 Green Biotechnology

20.3 Need for Efficient/Green Biotechnology for WWT Processes

20.4 Application of Green Biotechnology in WWT Processes

20.5 Bioconversion of Wastewater Sludge to Value Added Products

20.6 Research/Development Needs and Future Prospects

20.7 Conclusions

Acknowledgement

References

Chapter 21: Phytoremediation of Cadmium: A Green Approach

21.1 The Environmental Pollution Concern

21.2 Essentials of Bioremediation

21.3 Principles of Phytoremediation

21.4 Cadmium: Properties, Toxicity and Occurence

21.5 Phytoremediation of Cadmium

21.6 Cadmium Phtoremediation and Genetic Engineering

Acknowledgement

References

Chapter 22: A Closer Look at “Green” Glass: Remediation with Organosilica Sol-Gels Through the Application of Green Chemistry

22.1 Introduction

22.2 Green Chemistry and the Sol-Gel Materials

22.3 Organosilica Sol-Gels

22.4 Green Chemistry with Glasses–-The “Green” side of Organosilica Sol-Gels

22.5 Green Chemistry and The Potential Impact of Organosilica Sol-Gels

22.6 Conclusions and Future Perspectives

References

Chapter 23: Modification and Applications of Guar Gum in the Field of Green Chemistry

23.1 Introduction

23.2 Experimental

23.3 Applications

23.4 Conclusion

Acknowledgement

References

Index

Also of Interest

Green Chemistry for Environmental Remediation

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data:

ISBN 978-0-470-94308-3

Foreword

In the beginning there was chemistry. Some may call it physics, but within a few billionths of a second, the fundamental particles of matter began to coalesce into the building blocks that today we call atoms. If we fast forward to about 5 billion years ago when, as some believe, Earth began to form as a result of the gravitational pull of matter from that primitive beginning, our planet has been undergoing an amazing display of chemistry during its evolution. The very concept of photosynthesis is at the root of life on this pale blue oddity we call home. The very assembly of atoms that make up our photosynthesis systems allowed the capture of solar energy and its use to fuel the process of building more complex organic molecules. The sequestration of carbon dioxide (a concept mankind would like to perfect in the 21st century) evolved on our primitive planet and resulted in the release of oxygen which allowed for a more complex chemical web to evolve.

Over the millennia nature has perfected the most wonderful and elegant array of solutions to the complex challenges of energy conversion, material transport (circulation), locomotion, reproduction, and cognition. These evolutionary changes occurred over millions of years and allowed nature to perfect the elegant chemistry of life and forge a balance in what we refer to as an ecosystem, our biosphere, today. This extended time sequence allowed for adaption and the development of symbiosis among living systems.

Within the last few thousand years, things began to change as homo sapiens began to exert their influence. Once it became possible to ensure food supplies through agriculture and the use of tools, one species began to impact and control its surroundings for the first time in the history of our planet. This ability afforded the luxury of time and resulted in a quickened pace for the development of tools and understanding of nature. Eventually homo sapiens man began to unravel the secrets of nature, of the very chemistry that is its essence. That understanding blossomed and ultimately, through the process of scientific inquiry, we deciphered the code of chemistry. From that, we have learned to synthesize molecules and even design molecules and materials that do not exist in nature. With the advent of the petroleum age with its abundant building blocks, new, stronger, longer lasting, non-biodegradable substances began to be synthesized in ever-larger quantities. Through the process of waste, accidents and disposal, these new, persistent “better” molecules found their way into our environment, into the food chain, and eventually into us.

We now call this bioaccumulation. A sample of human adipose tissue, blood, or urine from anyone living any place on our planet–-even the most remote location–-will show various levels of approximately 200 or more synthetic chemicals that we have made. It is estimated there are more than 100,000 chemicals in use around our planet. Less than 10% have ever been tested for their human health or environmental impact properties. Yet we know there is a litany of examples of serious adverse impacts of these persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals. Now modern medicine and a revolution in mechanistic toxicology are providing the evidence that this collection of persistent molecules is adversely influencing life on this planet. While nature had billions of years to evolve and adapt to her expanding chemical world, people have made changes on a timescale that is impossible for biological adaptation.

Adding to the issues of persistence and bioaccumulation are the relentless demands of an expanding population and recognition that providing safe drinking water, food, shelter, energy, and transportation for developing societies is proving more and more difficult. In fact, it is quite obvious that we cannot achieve a sustainable future by the linear extension of existing technologies. Such a revelation begs the obvious questions, what should we do differently and how should we do it? These queries are the core of this publication and growing numbers like it. What we can do differently is adopt the proven systems approach we call green chemistry; how we should do it is to apply the 12 principles of green chemistry. After all, chemistry is the fundamental cornerstone of all life on Earth. It only makes sense that we return to the chemistry of nature to solve the problems we ourselves have created on this fragile planet. Only when all chemistry is green chemistry can we hope to solve these challenges.

Dr. Robert Peoples Director of the American Chemical Society’s Green Chemistry Institute

PART 1

GREEN CHEMISTRY AND SOCIETAL SUSTAINABILITY

Used with the permission of Chris Madden

Chapter 1

Environment and the Role of Green Chemistry

Rashmi Sanghi1, Vandana Singh2 and Sanjay K. Sharma3

1R-3 Media Lab, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur India

2Department of Chemistry, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India

3Department of Chemistry, Jaipur Engineering College & Research Centre, Jaipur, India

“Green Chemistry represents the pillars that hold up our sustainable future. It is imperative to teach the value of Green Chemistry to tomorrow’s chemists.”

—Daryle Busch (ACS President, 1999–2001)

Abstract

The harmful side effects of industrialization, noxious and greenhouse gas emissions, smoggy air, global warming, ozone-depletion, deforestation, threat of extinction of wildlife, and urban degradation are some of the manifestations of environmental degradation with disastrous consequences. Using science and technology as a success ladder, mankind has developed from Stone Age to present day modern civilization. The idea of progress towards a better life began with the scientific and industrial revolutions advocating the role of humans as masters of nature and causing them to live beyond their means. Is the road to such a linear and continuous progress heading towards an environmental crisis? Is there reason to worry?

Keywords: Green chemistry, environmental, renewable resources, ecofriendly, green chemistry resources and awards

1.1 The Environmental Concern

The Earth has existed for over five billion years, humanity for about five million years, and civilization for around 10,000 years. Thousands of ecological species have survived over a long period of time and consequently may be expected to continue to exist forever, but at the same time many of them have vanished due to ecological misbalances. Is there need to worry if certain species become extinct? Won’t nature take care of this crisis over a course of time?

The rising population and concurrent urbanization is proving detrimental to our natural environment. Most of the environmental problems are the result of deliberate or inadvertent misuse or overuse of the natural resources by human intervention. Humans are consistently and increasingly consuming renewable resources at a rate much faster than that at which ecosystems can regenerate them. The environment is getting polluted at a rate greater than nature’s ability to revert back for sustaining the ecosystem. Through ages, nature has been maintaining an ecological balance by absorbing the environmental disturbances so as to survive the many crises and cataclysms. The exponential rise in human population, production and consumption of goods and services, as well as increasing buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is taking a toll on the enormous restoration capacity of nature. Does this mean that the human species is facing the threat of extinction?

Since time immemorial firewood has been used by our ancestors for fuel and lumber to build homes. That is how natural gas as an alternative for fuel was discovered. True, using firewood as fuel can cause many environmental problems, including the loss of forests and damage to vegetation. But it is also true that a forest is capable of self-recovery, for after a tree is chopped down more trees will re-grow from the remaining trunk, root and seeds. However, regeneration of petroleum, natural gas, and coal take a very long time and that too under very special conditions. Based on today’s consumption rate, the known petroleum and natural gas will only last about a hundred more years, while there might be enough coal to last for about five hundred more years. Though it is difficult to predict the time range for the depletion of fossil fuels, it is high time to shift the focus from the production of energy and carbon-based chemicals from fossil fuels to renewable resources. Our excessive dependence on petroleum products for the manufacture of materials for daily use is clearly a cause of serious concern. To meet the fast growing requirements of the modern era, mimicking nature is the best option for synthesizing materials in demand, for nature makes materials by the lowest energy route without generating any waste and, in fact, recycles every bit it produces. For example, enzymatic reactions can be a good option for synthesizing materials under ambient and mild reaction environments and are thus attractive alternatives to routine chemical transformations.

The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future.

~ Marya Marines ‘More in Anger’ 1958 ~

1.2 The Role of Chemistry

The past few decades have been an era of chemistry being at the forefront in the development of clean production processes and products. In fact, chemistry plays an integral part of our lives and is everywhere around us: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the plastics we use, clothes we wear, food we eat, buildings we live in, etc. Indeed, whatsoever is present or formed on earth is due to chemistry. Chemistry is the heart of science, which is the foundation on which technology for development of any nation is based and built. The role of the chemistry in environmental sustainability is as crucial as it is diverse. The chemist is increasingly engaged in the health sector, research for recycling of waste matters and sewage, production of agrochemicals and fertilizers for forestation, production of renewable energy to replace the fossil fuels and other non-renewable energies, production and application of water treatment and sanitation chemicals, environmental chemical control, monitoring of environmental degradation, and much more. The role of chemistry is essential in ensuring that our next generation of chemicals, materials, and energy is sustainable. Worldwide demand for environment-friendly chemical processes and products requires the development of novel and cost-effective approaches for preventing pollution.

Developments in water treatment, waste disposal methods, agricultural pesticides and fungicides, polymers, materials sciences, detergents, petroleum additives, and so forth, have all contributed to the improvement in our quality of life. But unfortunately all these advances come with a price tag of pollution. Gone are the days when better living through chemistry was a promise; now it is a bitter irony that nearly everything we use depends on the petrochemical industry. If substantial damage to the environment has resulted from the actions of the chemists and chemical technologists in the 20th century, then the responsibility of global improvement will also be on them as now they are realizing the importance of preserving the natural resources, Today, with growing awareness, in industry, academia and the general public, of the need for sustainable development, the international scientific community is under increasing pressure to change current working practices and to find greener alternatives. In fact, present day chemistry is driven by an unparalleled social demand for better products and services with a growing sentiment that undue exploitations of resources must be minimized. Scientists and engineers from both the chemical industry and the academic world have made efforts to correct pollution problems by the more extensive use of “green chemistry” concepts, i.e., development of methodologies and products that are environmentally friendly. Green chemistry has essentially two parts. The first, and the most fundamental part, is the development of a principled and environmentally conscious approach to chemistry. The other is the innovative buildup of greener strategies in the chemists’ tools kit. The former aspect is not new, although it has found more support only recently [1].

The increasing importance of green chemistry is seen in the awards and honors bestowed on achievements in this field. Professor Walter Kohn was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1998 jointly with Prof. J. Pople for metathesis. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences has rewarded efforts to make the world more habitable and encouraged good and environment-friendly chemical practices. Yves Chauvin (France), Robert Grubbs (USA), and Richard Schrock (USA) shared the prize for their contribution to the development of metathesis (meaning “change places”), an energetically favored and less hazardous method in organic synthesis, which has immense industrial applications. Metathesis is an example of how important basic science has been exploited for the benefit of man, society, and environment. Apart from its applications in the polymer industry (for making stronger plastics), metathesis has also found an important role in biotechnology in recent years. It represents a great step forward for green chemistry, reducing potentially hazardous waste through smarter production.

The field of chemistry has undergone revolutionary changes and development in light of increasing awareness for environment protection. Industries and scientific organizations have put clean technology as an important research and development (R&D) concern. It is indeed a challenge before the chemists to develop synthetic methods that are less polluting, i.e., to design clean or “green” chemical transformations. Chemistry is here to stay whether to cause environmental problems or to maintain and develop our quality of life and save humanity from the doomsday. It is important for chemists to use their creativity and innovation to develop environment-friendly routes for the betterment of the world. With proper foresight and planning, the chemist can design reactions that are economically sound, environmentally compatible and socially acceptable, that is adopting greener route to chemical transformations. Green chemistry is no doubt a special contribution of chemists to the conditions for sustainable development.

1.3 Sustainable Development

According to the World Commission on Environment and development, Brundtland Commission 1987, sustainable development is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”. Sustainable development, requires doing more with lesser resource input and less waste generation. Instead of end-of-pipe technology, it requires pollution prevention philosophy which is: “First and foremost, reduce waste at the origin through improved housekeeping and maintenance, and modification in product design, processing and raw material selection. Finally, if there is no prevention option possible, treat and safely dispose of the waste”.

Sustainable development demands reducing the adverse consequences of the substances that we use and generate. But perhaps of equal significance is the need to deal with toxicities that are threatening the welfare of essentially all living things in real time. According to Martyn Poliakoff and Pete Licence, there are two main reasons for chemical manufacture becoming unsustainable. The first is that most chemical products from perfumes to plastics to pharmaceuticals are based on carbon, which currently is supplied by Earth’s finite petroleum feedstocks. Alternative carbon sources do exist; for example, coal was the basic feedstock for chemical production before oil, and could be used again. But readily accessible coal is also in limited supply, and the conversion of coal into fine chemicals requires catalysts based on metals that are themselves becoming scarce. The second issue is the safe disposal of industrial waste. In general, industrial chemical processes generate large amounts of waste which, when not disposed of properly, imposes an increasing burden on the environment [2].

The concept of environmental space per person per country measures environmental degradation due to human activities. Environmental space is the sustainable rate at which we can use environmental resources without causing irreversible environmental damage, depriving the future generations of the earth’s inhabitants of the resources they will need [3]. Clearly, such an unsustainable way of living will eventually lead to an environmental and social catastrophe. Although the society is dependent in many ways on the chemical industry to maintain the current standards of living and improve the quality of our lives, mankind has to shoulder the responsibility to preserve the world’s natural resources. The sustainability of such development at the cost of our environment needs to be questioned, and the gravity of environmental degeneration is something to be seriously thought about. Sustainability is “working in co-operation with nature and not working against the nature”.

If one way be better than another, that you may be sure is Nature’s way.

~ Aristotle - Nichomachean Ethics ~

Thus it is evident that to stem the currently unsustainable trajectory of global development, scientists and engineers are manipulating matter in new ways to create chemical products that are cleaner to manufacture, safer for people and the planet, and more economically tenable than those now in use. “There is a hunger in the marketplace for reliable, consistent, compelling information on which to base greener, more sustainable choices,” says Neil C. Hawkins, Dow Chemical’s vice president of sustainability and environmental health and safety. “Chemical companies need a life-cycle view–-greenhouse gases, water, energy, renewables, waste reduction, recyclability–-that encompasses all parts of the supply chain,” he says.

1.4 Era of Green Chemistry

In the U.S., interest in green chemistry began in earnest with the passage of the Pollution Prevention Act of 1990, which was the first environmental law to focus on preventing pollution at the source rather than dealing with remediation or capture of pollutants–-the so-called end-of-the-pipe solution. The new law led the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish its Green Chemistry Program in 1991 within the Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

Green Chemistry came into existence in early 1990’s [4] by many names, Sustainable Chemistry, Clean Chemistry, Benign by Design Chemistry, etc. [5]. The term “Green Chemistry” was coined and first used by Paul T. Anastas in 1991. It was a special program for industry, academia, and government [6]. According to the International Union for Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC), Green Chemistry is defined as “The invention, design and application of chemical products and processes to reduce or to eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances.” [7]. Another definition by Seldon [8] is “Green Chemistry efficiently utilizes (preferably renewable) raw materials, eliminates waste and avoids the use of toxic and/or hazardous reagents and solvents in the manufacture and application of chemical products”. It was also defined as eco-friendly practices with profit-making goals. Later on, the concept shaped and popularized as a bunch of alternative synthetic pathways and processes. The Italian definition of green chemistry is “Green chemistry for the environment is the use of chemistry for pollutant source reduction, the definition encompasses therefore all aspects and chemical processes that reduce impact on human health and on the environment”.

As the name implies the green chemistry movement aims to make humanity’s approach to chemicals, especially synthetic organic chemicals, environmentally benign or “sustainable”. By designing of environmentally friendly chemical reactions, green chemistry provides the alternatives to target pollution and sustainable developments at the same time [9–11]. It also makes us aware about toxic effects of a process at the designing stage of a chemical process. In a nutshell, all traditional and old synthetic routes are more or less “Gray” in their working and obviously give adverse effects to the mankind and all living beings. Green chemistry provides green paths for different synthetic routes using non-hazardous solvents and environmental-friendly chemicals [12]. Green chemistry is a central issue, in both academia and industry, with regard to chemical synthesis in the 21st century. Without this approach, industrial chemistry is not sustainable. Green chemistry covers recent trends of full range of examples such as catalysis, biocatalysis, microwave assisted organic synthesis, and photocatalytic reactions from scientific research to full industrial commercialization. The adoption of green chemistry by industry using basic science and engineering improves environmental and economic performance and motivates the implementation of green chemistry technologies [13].

1.4.1 Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry [1]

Paul T. Anastas and John C. Warner developed and announced the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry in 1998. This set of principles involves suggestions and instructions for chemists to use newer chemical compounds, eco-friendly synthetic alternatives, and low waste producing processes.

1. Prevention: It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it has been created.

2. Atom Economy: Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product.

3. Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses: Wherever practicable, synthetic methods should be designed to use and generate substances that possess little or no toxicity to human health and the environment.

4. Designing Safer Chemicals: Chemical products should be designed to affect their desired function while minimizing their toxicity.

5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries: The use of auxiliary substances (e.g., solvents, separation agents, etc.) should be made unnecessary wherever possible and innocuous when used.

6. Design for Energy Efficiency: Energy requirements of chemical processes should be recognized for their environmental and economic impacts and should be minimized. If possible, synthetic methods should be conducted at ambient temperature and pressure.

7. Use of Renewable Feedstocks: A raw material or feedstock should be renewable rather than depleting whenever technically and economically practicable.

8. Reduce Derivatives: Unnecessary derivatization (use of blocking groups, protection/deprotection, temporary modification of physical/chemical processes) should be minimized or avoided if possible, because such steps require additional reagents and can generate waste.

9. Catalysis: Catalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents.

10. Design for Degradation: Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function they break down into innocuous degradation products and do not persist in the environment.

11. Real-time Analysis for Pollution Prevention: 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. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention: Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical process should be chosen to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions, and fires.

1.4.2 Objectives of Green Chemistry

Industrial developments are the motivation to acquire more knowledge about new chemicals, synthetic processes, and their different applications. But many chemicals are very hazardous and dangerous for safety and health. It makes the use of such chemicals costlier and problematic. So it becomes the duty of local administration and government to restrict the use of such problematic substances or processes by forcing the industries to either substitute hazardous substances in their processes or reduce the volume and hazards of their waste. The costs of waste to an industry are high and diverse and it involves cost of legislation, waste disposal, hazard evaluation, health and safety, increasing supply chain pressures, inefficient use of raw materials, local authority and neighborhood pressures [14].

The main objective of green chemistry is thus, the reduction of this “Costs of Waste”. This involves a series of reductions- reduction of cost, materials, energy, non-renewable, waste and risk and hazard. All the practices that help us in reducing these costs are welcome in green chemistry. The challenges for the coming generation of chemists is to develop such products, processes, and services that achieve the goals of economic, societal and environmental benefits (Triple Bottom Line Benefits) at the same time [15, 16]. It requires a new approach to make a chemical synthesis ideal. An ideal synthesis must be simple, safe, atom efficient, one step process with 100% yield, environmentally acceptable, using available materials and without wasting reagents [14]. Some selected examples for implementing the 12 Principles are presented in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1 Examples of implementation of Green Chemistry Principles into practice [7].

Green chemistry is a philosophy to work for sustainable development following 12 principles of Anastas and Warner. In literature, we can easily find and search many interesting examples of synthetic processes with the use of green chemistry rules. It is very difficult to declare a product or process as completely green; we can just compare the alternative process with the traditional one, whether it is greener or not, this comparison has various aspects of discussion including social, economical and environmental. But great efforts are still undertaken to design ideal processes to ensure nonpolluting synthesis and productions; which require no solvents to carry out the chemical conversion or isolation of the final product. The role of green chemistry can be better visualized by Figure 1.1.

Figure 1.1 Environmental problems and green solutions

(copyright © Rashmi Sanghi).

The progress of green chemistry so far has been a matter of technical feasibility, as researchers have developed less toxic alternatives to conventional methods. A prime example is supercritical carbon dioxide: ordinary, nontoxic carbon dioxide that has been heated and pressurized above its critical point of 31.1° and 7.39 megapascals, beyond which it behaves like both a gas and a liquid, and readily serves as a solvent for a wide range of organic and inorganic reactions. Other nontoxic replacements for solvents have been found among the ionic liquids: exotic cousins to ordinary table salt that happen to be liquid at or near room temperature. The same GC approach is suggested for plastic production and other pollution generating industries. Catalyst and reagent chemistry is one of the most important steps of GC. Use of catalysts is a better option for using principles of atom economy and 100% process efficiency in practice. Similarly, for example the textile industry is one of the high revenue generating industries in India, there is need to use natural dyes and pigments to make it environmental friendly.

1.4.3 Views of Green Chemistry Experts

Robert Peoples, in the capacity of Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute, drives the implementation of the principles of green chemistry across the global chemical enterprise. According to him “companies around the world are implementing green chemistry solutions. From biodegradable packaging to recycling a cadre of petroleum based polymers, new technology is finding its way out of the laboratory and into scale-up and commercial practices. Yes, it will take time and we will make mistakes along the way, but such is the nature of scientific progress. One might think silicon based solar panels are sustainable because they capture the free solar flux. In fact, the idea is a step in the right direction, but the manufacture of such solar cells relies on traditional, non-sustainable chemistry” [27].

Dr. Paul Anastas is the Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development (ORD) and the Science Advisor to the Agency. Known widely as the “Father of Green Chemistry” for his groundbreaking research on the design, manufacture, and use of minimally-toxic, environmentally-friendly chemicals. At the time he was nominated by President Obama to lead ORD, Dr. Anastas was the Director of the Center for Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, and the inaugural Teresa and H. John Heinz III Professor in the Practice of Chemistry for the Environment at Yale University’s School of Forestry and Environmental Studies. Prior to joining the Yale faculty, Dr. Anastas was the founding Director of the Green Chemistry Institute, headquartered at the American Chemical Society in Washington, D.C.

Dr. John C. Warner is one of the founders of Green Chemistry. He co-authored the seminal book Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, which first described the Twelve Principles of Green Chemistry.’ In 2009, the Council of Scientific Society Presidents honored Dr. Warner with the Leadership in Science Award for founding the field of Green Chemistry. Dr. Warner is President, Chief Technology Officer, and Chairman of the Board of the Warner Babcock Institute for Green Chemistry, which he founded with Jim Babcock in 2007. Dr. Warner currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Green Chemistry Institute in Washington, DC and on the Science Advisory Board of Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program, the Department of Defense’s environmental science and technology program.

Dr. Robert Peoples is Director of the ACS Green Chemistry Institute. In this capacity, he drives the implementation of the principles of green chemistry across the global chemical enterprise. He served as Sustainability Director for the Carpet & Rug Institute and Executive Director of The Carpet America Recovery Effort (CARE) and Director of Sustainability and Market Development at Solutia, Inc., a spin-off of Monsanto Corporation. He is also President of the Environmental Impact Group, Inc. Dr. Peoples was a key driver in the development of the NSF 140 Sustainable Carpet ANSI Standard. He is currently facilitating the development of an ANSI standard for Greener Chemical Products and Process Information, a B2B tool.

According to Paul Anastas “since its introduction, green chemistry has been adopted at an astounding rate, both in the United States and internationally. Green chemistry now impacts every industry sector that one can name–-from the automotive industry, to energy, to materials, to agriculture, to basic chemicals and so on. But the best news is that all of this adoption–-all of these accomplishments that have been recognized and rewarded for their contributions in reducing hazards to humans and the environment–-these represent perhaps only one percent of the power and potential of green chemistry. With further and more systematic adoption, green chemistry has the potential to move us toward a more sustainable society and economy at a level that is yet to be known” [28]. In the past two decades the green chemistry movement has helped industry become much cleaner. But mindsets change slowly, and the revolution still has a long way to go [29]. The goal of green chemistry was never just clean-up and, in his conception, green chemistry is about redesigning chemical processes from the ground up. It’s about making industrial chemistry safer, cleaner, and more energy efficient throughout the product’s life cycle, from synthesis to clean-up to disposal. It’s about using renewable feedstocks wherever possible, carrying out reactions at ambient temperature and pressure and above all, minimizing or eliminating toxic waste from the outset, instead of constantly paying to clean up messes after the fact. “It’s more effective, it’s more efficient, it’s more elegant, it’s simply better chemistry,” says Anastas.

In an interview when John Warner was asked “with companies looking at green chemistry and it becoming a bigger issue, in what areas were they having the biggest impact right now?”. He felt that “At this point, green chemistry is still nascent. It’s only been around for 12 years, 13 years. It’s not something that’s mainstream, and so it’s still evolving. But every major company that I know of has a program to address certain research development and manufacturing processes around green chemistry”. On being asked about the other barriers that companies and the larger world of green chemistry are facing, he felt that the issue is perception. “It’s a very strained reality that we face, that change is a difficult thing to wrap our heads around. Historically, 10 or 15 years ago, I think it was a valid perception that green technologies were expensive and inferior. That’s no longer the case. I think that the science has evolved, but there are people still living in the past. And immediately, when they hear green, they think more expensive and less efficient. That perception is a hindrance” [30].

1.4.4 Concepts Related to Green Chemistry: Cause of Confusion

For a common person there is still confusion between Green Chemistry and Environmental Chemistry. It should be clear to all that green chemistry (also called sustainable chemistry) is a philosophy of chemical research and engineering that encourages the design of products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances [31], whereas environmental chemistry is the chemistry of the natural environment and of pollutant chemicals in nature.

Concepts related and sometimes competing with green chemistry may cause confusion to a person. These concepts are:

Pollution Prevention [32, 33]. According to the Pollution Protection Act of 1990, the term “Pollution Prevention” involves reduction or elimination of wastes and emission of chemicals to the environment. Activities such as waste treatment and source disposal fall outside the concept of green chemistry.Sustainability: It has been defined as meeting the needs of today’s human being, while not compromising with the needs of future generations [34]. The concept of sustainability led to the concept of the triple bottom line for industry, which involves economic prosperity, social well-being, and environmental protection. Green chemistry is certainly an essential part of the sustainability [35, 36].Design for the Environment: This refers to the design and manufacture of products and processes with minimal impact upon the environment.Waste Minimization: It generally refers to reduction in the amount of solid and liquid waste produced by a process (air pollution being excepted).Responsible Care: The responsible care program is an initiative that the American Chemical Society began in 1988 as a means of emphasizing the concern of the public about the use and manufacture of chemicals.Industrial Ecology: It describes the science of use and reuse of natural resources in manufacturing rather than the traditional practice of extending and using resources, then discarding and disposing.

1.4.5 International Initiatives for Green Chemistry Awareness

The green chemistry wave is spreading far and wide. It has now become a fashion and shows a lot of promise. It is being encouraged by the government as well as the industry in many ways in many countries. Research Network (Europe), Green Chemistry Institute (US), Green and Sustainable Chemistry Network (Japan), etc. are some of the recent collective initiatives. Most universities around the world have agreed to incorporate green chemistry principles into their curriculum. Various chemical societies have recognized green chemistry as a core research area for their journal. The Royal Society in the UK has a journal named Green Chemistry, exclusively to cover research in this area.

1.4.5.1 Awards

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards [37]

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has collaborated with academia, industry, and other government agencies to promote the use of chemistry to develop new technologies for pollution prevention and in 1995 instituted the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. The competitive awards program, administered by the EPA and sponsored in part by the American Chemical Society and National Science Foundation, for both academic researchers and industries that excel in the discovery and practice of environment-friendly chemistry, provides national recognition for incorporating the principles of green chemistry and green engineering into the design, manufacture, and use of chemical products and processes. President Bill Clinton’s administration announced the start of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards in 1995 and the first award was presented in 1996. In the ten years the agency has presented the Green Chemistry Awards, the companies that won them have cut the amount of hazardous material or waste they produce by about 1.5 million tonnes.

These awards are the only awards in chemistry given out on the presidential level and were established to recognize outstanding achievements in the field of green chemistry and technology. The following criteria are fixed for these awards:

Greener reaction conditions for an old synthesis (e.g., solvent free reactions or reactions in water)A greener synthesis for an old chemical (by use of some biomass or catalyst)Synthesis of a new compound that is less toxic but has the same desirable properties (e.g., harmless pesticides).

Ciba Travel Awards in Green Chemistry

The ACS Green Chemistry Institute® Ciba Travel Awards in Green Chemistry is a new annual award that sponsors the participation of students (high school, undergraduate, and graduate students) in an American Chemical Society (ACS) technical meeting, conference, or training program, having a significant green chemistry or sustainability component, to expand the students’ education in green chemistry.

Kenneth G. Hancock Memorial Award in Green Chemistry

ACS President Dr. Paul Anderson announced the Hancock Memorial Award in Green Chemistry in June of 1997 as an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students to compete for a prestigious memorial award in recognition of undergraduate and graduate studies and/or research in green chemistry. The award is in memory of Dr. Kenneth G. Hancock, Director of the Division of Chemistry at the National Science Foundation (NSF) who died unexpectedly while attending an environmental chemistry conference in Eastern Europe in the fall of 1993. Dr. Hancock was an active advocate emphasizing the role of chemists and chemistry not only in solving environmental problems of the past, but also more importantly in avoiding environmental problems in the future. Offered by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute® to just one student per year, the Hancock Award is awarded in conjunction with the annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards Ceremony at the annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference. The award provides national recognition for outstanding student contributions to furthering the goals of green chemistry.

Award for Green Product and Processes

The interuniversity consortium Chemistry for the Environment was the first in Europe to institute the award for Green Product and Processes in 1999. The consortium gives the awards following the criteria of science innovation, reduced impact on the environment, and socio-economic involvement.

UK Green Chemistry Award

It is sponsored by the Royal Society of Chemistry; Salters’ Company; Jerwood Charitable Foundation; DTI and DETR. The award of £10,000 is given to a young academic working in collaboration with industry.

RACI Green Chemistry Challenge Awards

The Royal Australian Chemical Institute Green Chemistry Challenge awards are to recognize and promote fundamental and innovative chemical methods in Australia that accomplish pollution prevention through source reduction and that have broad applicability in industry, and to recognize contributions to education in green chemistry.

The Green Chemistry Challenge Awards are open to all individuals, groups, and organizations, both nonprofit and for profit, including academia and industry. The nominated green chemistry technology must have reached a significant milestone within the past five years in Australia (for example been researched, demonstrated, implemented, applied, patented, etc.) and should be an example of one or more of the following three focus areas: use of alternative synthetic pathways, use of alternative reaction conditions, design of alternative chemicals.

Facts File

Joseph Breen of the US EPA was first who used the term ‘Green Chemistry’ in 1991.In 1995 the US Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards were announced during the tenure of Bill Clinton’s administration and in 1996 the first awards were presented to Barry M. Trost.In 1996 a working party on Green Chemistry was established under the supervision of IUPAC and in 1997 Green Chemistry Institute was formed. Two of the most prominent signatures of green chemistry were Kenneth Hancock of the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Joe Breen, who after twenty years of service at the EPA then became the first director of the Green Chemistry Institute (GCI) during the late 1990s.The first conference based on the theme of Green Chemistry was held in 1997 in Washington.In 1998 Royal Society of Chemistry, London started the journal Green Chemistry dedicated to the theme.In 1998 Paul T. Anastas teamed up with John C. Warner and announced 12 Principles of Green Chemistry.The Green Chemistry Institute officially became part of the American Chemical Society in 1991 under President Daryle Busch and Board Chair Nina McClelland.

1.4.5.2 InternationalOrganizations Promoting Green Chemistry:

Many multinational organizations, including the United Nations, are now beginning to assess the role that they can play in promoting the implementation of green chemistry to meet environmental and economic goals simultaneously. There are rapidly growing activities in government, industry, and academia in the US, UK, China, India, Australia, Spain, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Japan, and many other countries in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Green chemistry is attaining the role of central science around the world.

Royal Society of Chemistry, UK

RSC is a very well known and reputed professional society of United Kingdom for chemists the world over. In May 1998, RSC initiated a special program named Green Chemistry Network. GCN is working effectively with more than one thousand members worldwide [38]. In continuation, RSC started Green Chemistry Institute (established in USA in 1990’s and now part of American Chemical Society), which is running Chapters in several countries around the world. Green Chemistry Network helps to promote and encourage the use of green chemistry in all chemistry related fields including Training Courses for teachers, websites for schools, Technological Transfer events, Promotional events for the general public, new undergraduate course material including practicals, etc.

Around 1998, at about the same time of starting GCN, RSC introduced the research journal Green Chemistry dedicated to this sustainable stream. Currently, this journal has the highest impact factor of RSC journals, which is ample evidence of its success and of acceptability of this concept worldwide. RSC recently started publishing ‘RSC Green Chemistry Book Series’. James H. Clark (Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, UK) and George A. Kraus (Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Iowa, USA) are the Series editors for the same. Author of this chapter (Sanjay K. Sharma) has also contributed one book, entitled- ‘A Handbook of Applied Biopolymer Technology: Synthesis, Degradation and Applications’ in this series.

American Chemical Society(ACS)

American Chemical Society (ACS) jointly entered with the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1998 to support and spread the awareness about green chemistry. Real-World Cases in Green Chemistry was a book published by this team in 2000 [39]; real cases were presented in a comprehensive manner. ACS is very much involved with the promotional and educational activities related to green chemistry worldwide, and EPA continuously monitors the rules and regulations for the same.

International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC)

The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry is dedicated to chemistry and chemistry related advancements and researches. It is a professionally working non-government society, which is closely involved in the chemistry world by conducting chapters in many countries, including Australia, Brazil, China, India, Japan, UK, New Zealand, etc. IUPAC has been working on the front of green chemistry since 1996, the year of establishment of the working party on “Synthetic Pathways and Processes on Green Chemistry”.

Warner Babcock Institute of Green Chemistry

This is an organization founded by John C. Warner dedicated to the research and developments in the field of green chemistry [40]. It is working in close association with other like minded platforms including Beyond Benign, Warner Babcock Foundation, etc.

Beyond Benign

A nonprofit organization focused on promoting green chemistry across industry, academia, and the general public. Beyond Benign specializes in curriculum development, education, and training. They host a variety of green chemistry programs specifically for K-12 educators, professionals, and community members.

OECD and its Sustainable Chemistry Program

With the aim of encouraging the development of chemical products and processes that are environmentally friendly and economically viable, the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development endorsed a new activity called “Sustainable Chemistry” in Paris in February 1998. The activity started with a survey of the steering group (USA, Italy, Japan, Germany, Belgium, Canada, Mexico, Sweden, UK and BIAC) on programs and initiatives on sustainable/green chemistry launched worldwide by governments, industries, and academies.

Interuniversity Consortium “Chemistry for the Environment”

(INCA) was founded in 1993 with its administrative offices situated in Venice, Italy. The Consortium gathers 30 Italian universities in which chemists having different backgrounds (environment, physical, organic, inorganic, analytical, industrial, agro, biochemistry) and many researchers are involved in environmental issues.

It aims to involve the participation of chemists in the research for the environment through the adoption of the principles of green chemistry. Italy is among the pioneers in green/sustainable chemistry in Europe. Its goal is to improve the quality of life and the competitiveness of industry by developing alternative synthesis for important industrial chemicals. Among its objectives the consortium wants to strengthen the Italian position in the scientific programs of the European Union. One of the principal educational initiatives of INCA is the Summer School on Green Chemistry established in 1998 and held yearly in Venice. It is the first of its kind and is meant to educate young scientists in the principles of green chemistry. Funding is awarded by the European Commission and by the Italian Foreign affairs ministry.

Japan Chemical Innovative Institute

Based in Tokyo, it is involved in research and development of “green and sustainable chemistry”. Their definition is “science and technology aiming to reduce adverse effects and/or increase positive contributions to human health and the environment by chemicals in every stage of the life cycle of the raw materials, production, utilization, etc.” An alliance for a green and sustainable Japan was formed in the spring of 2000 with the motto “green chemistry will make our dreams come true in 21st century”. A new Sunshine program involves 12 organizations and 67 individuals. It evaluates green and sustainable chemistry methods, promoting research and education in this direction. Green and Sustainable Chemistry network (GSCN), consisting of 10 Japanese organizations from academia, industries, and national institutions, was launched in March 2000. Activities of GSCN include promotion of information exchange, dissemination and communication to enhance reliability of chemistry among the society, education and enlightening on GSC to students, school children, teachers, and experts in academia and industries.

The Alliance for Chemical Sciences and Technologies in Europe (AllChemE)

This was formed in 1995 and promotes chemistry and chemical technologies in Europe. AllChemE has green/sustainable chemistry as a concept that might help the image of chemistry, particularly with young people. The member organizations are FECS, EFCE (European Federation of Chemical Engineering), CEFIC (European Chemical Industry Council), COST, Chemistry and CERC3 (Chairmen of European Research Councils chemistry Committees).

UNIDO-ICS (International Center for Science and High Technology of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization)

This body is developing a global program on sustainable chemistry focusing on catalysis and cleaner technologies with particular attention to developing and emerging countries. (The program is also connected with UNIDO network of centers for cleaner production.)

European Chemistry Thematic Network (ECTN)

This is a new international non-profit association consisting of about 90 universities from 24 countries. The network has existed since 1996 and is funded by the European Commission Socrates program. Green chemistry plays a part in the work and reports from the working group on chemistry and the environment and the working group on the image of chemistry. ECTN founded a working group on green and sustainable chemistry a year ago. The task of the group has been to study the current situation with respect to both theoretical and practical teaching of green and sustainable chemistry in Europe. ECTN founded a working group on green and sustainable chemistry a year ago.

The Center for Green Chemistry is an Australian Research Council (ARC) in Melbourne University, Monash special research center. In addition to research activities the center has a commitment to education in sustainable chemistry with courses in green chemistry already included in the curriculum and further courses and educational activities planned.

Institutions like INCA, GCI, GCN, and the Japanese Chemical Innovation Institute are working to coordinate and disseminate green chemistry information around the globe. In recent years, a number of research institutes and centers have been established in the US, Italy, China, Japan, Australia, Sweden, UK, Germany, Spain, Taiwan, and other nations as well. Since 1998 China has been engaged in green chemistry activities and two major research centers located at the National Science and Technological University in Hefei and Sichuan Union University in Sichuan have been established.

1.4.5.3 Education and Green Chemistry

Worldwide, chemistry has not been a popular career choice for students in recent years. Indeed, a steady decline of chemistry students in Europe has prompted concern. But the inception of green chemistry has made the students think twice before turning away from chemistry. The promotional activities undertaken by various organizations are very encouraging and promising for most students now. According to T.J. Collins, the principles of green chemistry can energize our classrooms and bring long term meaning and direction to a major component of academic research [41].

Green chemistry is now widely recognized as being important in all of the chemical sciences and technologies, and in industry as well as in education and research. It is very important to sow the seeds of green chemistry in young minds if we want to spread and popularize the concept. The field is young, the term has been around for only a decade, and the research will take a bit longer. But the path to green chemistry is clear, smooth, and the need of the day. The elements needed for incorporating green chemistry can be visualized by fig 1.2.

Figure 1.2 The recipe for green chemistry as conceived by R Sanghi.

The common perception is why worry about toxic waste now as it’s not going to affect us directly? Getting students to think about and care about their actions and how they can make a difference can be a challenge. Green chemistry can be rewarding for students who think critically about the future, our environment, and implications of humankind’s ethical role within ecosystems. By imparting green chemistry education, the students need to understand large global problems such as climate change, energy consumption, and management of our water resources and make their contribution to protect the fragile, life-sustaining ecosystems around the world by applying the principles of green chemistry to all facets of the chemical sciences: basic and applied research, production, and education. The popularization of green chemistry in schools and among the workers of chemical industries is very important. The knowledge of green chemistry will equip us to make a balance among environment, development, and profit making. Many books and study materials, available currently on market, provide the current happenings in the field of green chemistry.

More than education, it is the awareness and attitude of the people which is important. We have to strike a balance between the luxuries offered at the cost of environmental degradation and the invisible healthy life as a gift of pristine green environment. Perhaps both are important, but where do we draw the line and say now it’s enough? Once the fear of environmental calamity sets in the minds of most people, it will not be difficult to mobilize the masses. The best medium to reach the cause of saving our planet from unwanted chemical waste and hazardous materials is, of course, education and awareness. It is high time we start implementing our ideas on how to protect the rivers from pollution, the forests from clear cutting of timber, and many other methods of man-made environmental degradation that seriously compromise the livelihood of indigenous peoples around the globe.

In 1952, when Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring was published, many did not even know the meaning of pollution and its relation to the environment. It did not take long to become an eye opener and soon after publication many environmental regulation laws came into force. But inspite of that, awareness amongst the masses was lacking. With the birth of green chemistry, eyes were turned and people put on their thinking caps and soon a shift of focus was seen from synthetic to natural’, control to prevention, and clean, biodegradable, sustainable, ecofriendly became the key issues most educators could identify with. How to educate the future generation about green chemistry was a big question [42] a decade back, but now it is no more. Green chemistry as a course curriculum is being incorporated in many educational institutes. Clearly, the need for a consortium approach of a proactive interaction of academia, technocrats, and policy-makers needs to be emphasized. Although vast advancement in green chemistry is being recognized, it further needs to widen its horizons to get acceptance and visibility by the masses. It’s a matter of time that it will be adopted by one and all, at least at the educational level. At last, the success of green chemistry depends on training of trainers and education of educators, and is the only option to make the coming generation of chemists comfortable with green chemistry.

1.4.5.4 Green Chemistry in India

India is the largest democracy and a country known for its very wide range of diversity. Its diversity lies in the variety of living styles of its population and their geographical conditions. So, one scientific approach right for one may be not suitable for others and vice-versa. Thus, there is no identical code of conduct possible for meeting the scientific needs of Indian people. It seems that in an industrially and technologically developing country, the question of grey or green may not mean much. In many cases, the things banned in the US and Europe (e.g., toxic pesticides) are still in fashion and widely used in India [43]. People in Delhi have the world’s highest level of DDT accumulated in their bodies. India, the second largest producer of pesticides and twelfth in its production, needs to pursue green chemistry along with progressive chemistry more and more, says Kidwai [44].