GREEN CHEMISTRY Rhiannon Bennett

Green Chemistry follows a set of 12 Principles in order to avoid the use or generation of hazardous substances. It is used in industrial production to prevent pollution and to minimise effect on the environment. WHAT IS GREEN CHEMISTRY?

1.Prevent waste – It is better to prevent waste than to clean it up later. 2.Design safer chemicals – Design chemicals that are more suited to their desired function, and minimise toxicity. 3.Find safer ways to make synthetic products – Design methods of synthesis that minimise toxicity and harm to human health and the environment. 4.Maximise atom economy – Design methods that incorporate most materials used in the process, into the final product. 5.Use safer solvents - Minimise use of auxiliary substances. 12 PRINCIPLES OF GREEN CHEMISTRY

6. Use renewable reactants – Use of renewable reactants should be used wherever possible, rather than ones that deplete. 7.Maximise energy efficiency – Minimise energy requirements where possible. 8.Avoid chemical derivatives – Avoid unnecessary derivatives, which creates extra waste. 9.Use catalysts whenever possible – Catalytic reagents are superior to stoichiometric reagents. 10.Design biodegradable products – Create products that easily break down in nature, rather than ones persist. 11.Use real-time analysis to prevent pollution – Further develop methods that allow for “real-time” monitoring and control of hazardous chemicals. 12.Minimise the potential for accidents – Be safe and avoid risky chemicals or behaviour.

The BHC Company created and implemented a greener industrial synthesis of ibuprofen. The traditional synthesis of ibuprofen was designed in the 60’s and involves 6-steps and creates large quantities of waste chemical by-products. – Large amounts of waste – Poor atom economy The company’s new process involves only 3-steps. It incorporates most of the materials into the final product, thus lessoning the amount of waste. CASE STUDY: THE BHC COMPANY

principles.htm Principles.pdf odules/Modulenaam/Files/case.pdf BIBLIOGRAPHY