Laptop with Biodegradable Chassis By Kristopher Just

Concept of Green Chemistry – Task 1 Concept of green chemistry 12 principles of green chemistry explained

What is the concept of Green Chemistry? Green Chemistry is the application of 12 principles aiming to reduce the use and generation of hazardous substances during the use and application of chemical products. Green Chemistry also aims to protect the environment not by cleaning it up but by not creating a mess in the first place.

12 Principles of Green Chemistry Explained 1. Prevent waste The 1 st principle mainly applies for chemists to design safer chemical transformations to minimize the hazardous wastes that are emitted into the environment. It is better and easier to not create waste then to have to clean it up later in the process while it may have already caused damage to the environment, humans and/or wildlife. 2. Design safer chemicals This principle is aimed at designing products that are safe, non-toxic and efficient. 3. Find safer ways to make synthetic products This principle is focused on how we make molecules and materials. The goal is to reduce the hazard of the chemicals that are used to make a product 4. Maximise atom economy This principle states that it is best to use all the atoms in a process and, and for those atoms that are not used end up as waste. There are atom economy calculations that are used to estimate how many atoms are needed to try and prevent the waste.

12 Principles of Green Chemistry Explained 5. Use safer solvents This principle focuses on creating products so that they use less hazardous solvents (such as water). We use solvents regularly in our daily lives (cleaning products, nail polish, cosmetics, etc.) and in the chemistry laboratory, so it is important that they don’t cause harm to our body. 6. Use renewable reactants This principle seeks to shift our dependence on petroleum and to make products from renewable materials that can be gathered and/or harvested locally. 7. Maximise energy efficiency This principle focuses on creating products and materials in a highly efficient manner and reducing the energy associated with creating the products, therefore reducing associated pollution and cost. 8. Avoid chemical derivatives This principle aims to simplify the process and to look at natural systems in order to design products in a simplified manner.

12 Principles of Green Chemistry Explained 9. Use catalysts whenever possible In a chemical process catalysts are used in order to reduce energy requirements and to make reactions happen more efficiently in speed (time). Another benefit of using a catalyst is that generally small amounts are required to have an effect and, if the catalyst is truly a ‘green’ catalyst it will have little to no toxicity and it will be able to be used over-and-over again in the process. 10. Design biodegradable products This principle seeks to design products in such a way so that they perform their intended function and then, when appropriate, will degrade into safe, harmless by-products when they are disposed of. 11. Use real-time analysis to prevent pollution This process is similar to what chemists have to do when they make products. How long do they allow the reaction to run for? When do they know it will be done? If there was a way to see inside the reaction and to know exactly when it would be done, then this would reduce waste in the process and ensure that your product is done and is the right product that you intended to make. 12. Minimise the potential for accidents This principle focuses on safety for the worker and the surrounding community where an industry resides. It is better to use materials and chemicals that will not explode, light on fire, ignite in air, etc. when making a product. When creating products, it is best to avoid highly reactive chemicals that have potential to result in accidents.

A brief explanation of exactly how the company or organization used Green Chemistry. Fujitsu have made a biodegradable notebook, called the Fujitsu LifeBook. Instead of using plastics made from petroleum they have made chassis (the main framework) derived from cornstarch. However this method does cost a lot more than the petroleum plastic, but the Earth benefits from the cornstarch and that is one of the main goals of green chemistry.

How Green Chemistry was used by the company or organization. (Which principles apply to this design). Green Chemistry was used by the following ways: Principle 2 – Designing safer chemicals. Fujitsu is doing this by using natural products, (cornstarch) to make the plastic, instead of using products that aren’t natural such as petroleum. Principle 3 – Finding a safer way to make synthetic products. Fujitsu is doing this by using plastics derived from cornstarch instead of petroleum plastics. Minimizing the toxic chemicals produced. Principle 10 – Fujitsu have designed a biodegradable product that will break down 80% or more in 21 days.

The benefits to the company and to the environment that arose from the Green Chemistry initiative. Fujitsu benefits from making natural, biodegradable products like the LifeBook in ways such as they are recognized as a company that is taking action to help save our planet from pollution. It is also a lot safer for their employers due to the natural products minimizing the toxic chemicals produced.

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