Green chemistry

Sustainability and the green chemist

• Green chemistry poses the questions:• why are we using hazardous substances

at all? Cant we use non-hazardous alternatives.

• Why are we producing waste? Why are we throwing things away that we can use else where?

• Can we carry out processes using less energy?

Green Chemists

• Chemists are working to solve these problems by researching the following

points…

… Using Renewable Resources• Using plant based substances or solar energy

instead of finite resources such as fossil fuels.

• HOWEVER, solar energy and wind power is unreliable and plant based substances are expensive compared to finite resources.

… Saving Money

• By not having to treat hazardous waste.

• By using fewer chemicals and less energy.

• HOWEVER, money will be spent developing these chemicals as there will be trial and error methods.

… Preventing Waste

• Using products that do not create waste so to save time and money, as people don’t have to clean up after.

• HOWEVER, this will take time to develop. A lot of waste could be created in the process of development.

… Maximising Atom Economy

• Using methods to use all the materials so nothing is wasted.

• HOWEVER, this is expensive and time consuming.

… Recycling and Biodegradability

• Once materials have reached the end of their life, they can be recycled or easily broken down without creating harmful substances.

• HOWEVER, this is expensive and time consuming. It will also involve a lot of materials used today being in landfill sites.

Kyoto Protocol

International Cooperation

• 11 December 1997 in Kyoto, Japan, countries governments gathered to discuss methods on combating global warming.

• The protocol was established for the reduction of four greenhouse gases (GHG) (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, sulphur hexafluoride) and two groups of gases (hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons) produced by them.

• They agreed to cut the greenhouse gases by 5.2% from the figures gathered in 1990.

• It is important for the countries to work together as this is a global problem.

• It is not possible for one country to solve the problem on its own and so countries have to work together to cut emissions.