Green Chemistry - It's Defination , Principles and Benefits

Green Chemistry

Green Chemistry simply means Chemical should be produced , used and disposed in such a way that they have minimum effect on the environment (less hazardous to environment )

Defination of Green Chemistry 

Green Chemistry is defined as the use of chemistry for pollution prevention , by environment friendly design of Chemical products and processes  to reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous Substances .

Concept  of Green Chemistry is given by Paul . T . Anastas . Therefore he is known as " Father of Green Chemistry "

Principles of Green chemistry 

Green Chemistry follows 12 Principles to reduce or eliminate hazardous Substances 

1. Prevention of waste or byproducts

Always "prevention is better than cure " . It's better to prevent waste generation than to clean and treat waste after it has been created . It will save lots of time and money also.

2. Atom economy 

Atom economy is simply the number of reactants atoms converted into desired product . Higher the atom economy , most profitable will be the reaction and less byproducts will form .

3. Less hazardous Chemical synthesis

Designed Chemical reactions and routes should be as safe as possible , So that we 

can avoid the formation of hazardous Substances. Example : DDT , used as insecticide was very hazardous to living beings therefore it has been replaced by BHC (Benzene hexachloride)

4. Design safer Chemicals

Develop product which are less toxic or requires less toxic materials . In Chemical industries , worker are exposed to toxic Chemicals . So the raw materials used for any process should be choosen in such a way that it must be less toxic to them .

5. Use safer solvents and auxillaries

Solvent use for Chemical reaction should be as safe as possible and avoid excessive use of solvents and other auxillaries .

Water is most recommended solvent for most of reactions . It is also called as " Universal Solvent "

6. Design for energy efficiency

Chemical synthesis should be carried in such a way that it minimize the use of energy . Chemical reaction at room temperature and pressure generally requires less energy .

7. Use renewable feedstocks

Use Chemicals made of renewable Substances(For example :Plant source ) rather than non-renewable Substances(for example : Crude oil )

8.  Reduce derivatives

Unnecessary formation of derivatives should be reduced or avoided if possible . Because this steps requires addition reagents and generate more  wastes .

9 .Use catalysts

Catalysts increases the rate of reaction without being consumed . So it helps to reduce time , minimize waste and energy demand . 

10 .  Design for degradation

Design products which are easily degradable . Make sure that Chemical and  degraded products are non - toxic 

11. Real time analysis-pollution prevention

Analytical method should be developed so that proper monitoring of manufacturing products  should be done to control hazardous Substances . 

12. Safer Chemicals for accidental   prevention

The Chemicals to be used in a Chemical reactions should be choosen in such a way that it minimize accidents , fire and explosion. 

Benefits of Green chemistry 

◆Study of Chemical which are less toxic

◆Study of Chemical which are eco- friendly , not harmful to living beings .

◆Clean air - It will led to a clean and pure air free from hazardous Substances .

◆It helps to reduce to Ozone depletion (a protective layer in the atmosphere that protect us from harmful Ultraviolet Radiations ) .

◆It also helped to reduce the green house gases . These Green house gases are the main reason for Global Warming.

Rapid steps needed in the direction of Green Chemistry to due to rapid change in environment issues like environment pollution , Global Warming and Ozone depletion . 

" Apply Green Chemistry to Save Earth "