Green Chemistry Principles in 2020 - Essay Example

?Green chemistry of 2020 Since the inception of the modern scientific advancement, broadly since inception of 20th century, the term “Green Chemistry” was unknown to scientists, students, and other personnel, who were associated with this various departments of scientific functioning and experimentation (Lancaster, 2010). The Industrial Revolution in England, and later on throughout the Europe gradually made science as an essential part of the daily existence but at the same time, it was largely ignored by the common people and by industries that random using of science for hedonist and utilitarian purposes was largely affecting the environmental balance (Goodman, and Chant, 1999). The progress of human civilization, especially in the post Industrial Revolution era, witnessed a dynamic shift of the human race from agriculturalist approach to urbanization for the purpose of Industrial expansion. In order to secure increasing amount of place for establishing industries, more torture over environment commenced - starting from random deforestation to use of natural fuel resources in the industrial sectors, capable of emitting harmful gases and biohazards and created negative impact on the global environmental balance. During the Post World War II period, while capitalism and industrial domination became major resources for the powerful nations across the globe for their respective prosperity, the situation of environmental crisis took even more critical turn due to abundant use of nuclear elements for creating electricity (Krech, McNeill, and Merchant, 2004). In addition to this situation, most of the ruling nations of the world, in their quest to show their respective supremacy over one another, started experimental blasting of nuclear bombs and missiles, which amounted to massive destruction of natural resources, leading to one of the greatest threats against progress of the modern civilization, global warming. Once the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was over during the 80s and the world revived from the impending threat of witnessing a nuclear war, consequently, humanistic part of the scientific activism also witnessed that human arbitrariness over experimenting with nature has extended to such an extent that immediate measures, if are not adopted, then there is always a great risk that the entire human race will be exterminated due to negative effects of natural imbalance (Buell, 2003). Thus, since the later part of the 80s “several environmentally conscious terms entered the chemical arena, e.g. clean chemistry, environmental chemistry, green chemistry, benign chemistry and sustainable chemistry” (Linthorst, 2009). However, compared to other variations of environmental conscious terms in the field of chemistry, “green chemistry” received a great deal of appreciation and has become more familiar among students and aspiring scientists and one of the main reasons behind such wide acceptance of the term can be interpreted in the way that it explained the purpose of science and scientific experimentations by encompassing the ideology of environment friendly scientific approach, consequently, receiving wide range of support among various scientists and scientific associations (Linthorst, 2009). Adequate scholarly proposals have also been made to include green chemistry as a part of school curriculum. This paper will examine green chemistry principles in light of the sustainability issues of 2020. It will try to find out what kinds of changes are required to meet the sustainability challenges of 2020. it is first necessary to talk about the environmental issues and threat of 2020. Then, it will move on discussing the green chemistry principles in light of sustainability issues of 2020. Environmental issues and threats of 2020: As human race is proceeding forward, there are many thing making up the trail to our destruction as the tropical forest turning to deserts, dry wastelands and choking cities, untimely weathers and oceans heaving with oil and other non-degradable materials losing their existence. Being honest this is a landscape of tomorrow's world. (Waller-Hunter, 2008; Simon, 1999) It is not too late that the situation cannot be controlled and changed for the sake of our survival. The thing about which people should be concerned of is the increased environmental have sufficient knowledge of types and importance of the pressures, the driving force of the pressures, and the way they change. It is a very tough job to make a replica of the environment of 2010. The OECD has taken the charge of that hard job to predict an artificial environment with its replica and submit them to the environment ministers in 2001. It is absurd to think that the report will be perfect and complete but will definitely give an idea of the key areas where there should be works done. It means analyzing the recent progress, making developmental approaches related to the most tender facts of environment, along with the finding out of intrinsic social and commercial driving force of them. But of course all the projections are alterable. That is why most effective strategies keeping the dream of much more eco-friendly future being prepared. (Waller-Hunter, 2008) There are a number of environmental issues that are very much troublesome and generally need immediate action. For example, excessive fishing in many countries is a very good representation of a troublesome environmental affair which is a trivial global concern. From the database of FAO, an estimation of 70% of the earth’s connatural water bodies where fishes are farmed were exhausted, excessive-fished or going through reinstatement. As the dramatic strategy alterations are not present, worldwide fructification from the fisheries of that catagory might deteriorate qualitatively and quantitatively by more than 12% from 1997 to 2010. One of the most discussed, known but still yet to repair problem is deforestation. The total forest coverage in most of the countries across the world has been decreasing eventually in numbers and acres in recent years. Deforestation of aged tropical forests has brought them to an alarming state. Sustainable management of worldwide forestry possesses a challenge. Another affair which is top in the list is biodiversity being impossible to estimate seems under notable danger importance. (Waller-Hunter, 2008) In order to deal with the sustainability challenges in coming years, it is first necessary to identify the environmental condition and then for a much tougher job an action has to be taken to deal with the condition. Fixes done with technology are decreasing numerous environmental pressures. Almost all the measures of the technological measures are of eco-efficiency up-gradations, like reduction in energy amount or assets used to manufacture goods, or all those procedures which maitains the level of the renewable resources (e.g. increased input use in forestry & agriculture, fish feed, use of biotechnologies). Rise in aquaculture, effectively managing fish farming, can be seen to fall in that section and to provide immense help to deviate some a little demand of fish away from exhausted natural fish farms. It is being increasing randomly which is anticipated to enhance the level 35% between 1997 and 2010 across the world. Similarly, industrial planting of forests are believed to act rapidly in wood production per requirement. Nevertheless, measures by technology like these, comes with a cost. Including aquaculture and planting forests have been an assistance to decrease the worldwide pressures on nature’s assets, they can be locally damaging as well. (Waller-Hunter, 2008) Biotechnological advancements, in which genetically altered organisms (GMOs) are included and put to a use to resolve various kinds of resource use problem. Improved bio-technologies can decrease the damage input amount (pesticides, fertilizers) practiced in natural asset fields like farming, forestry, fish farming etc and level up the productions. Nevertheless, there are no plenty of researches on the impacts on biotechnological advancements. (Ehrlich, 1968) Generally, environmental degeneration got along with commercial growth so far. Although the stored energy resources, raw agricultural assets, water and metals seems to be in declination related to GDP in most of the nations. This drop in force credits to a probable decoupling with the respective ways the commerce and the eco-system are leading, along a casualty in the flow ecological plunder corresponding economic development. For a few situations, these reductions is so fast and rapid that it is large enough that can lead to complete, more than just parametric, environmental up gradation, by counterbalancing the totality of the impacts of the whole financial and population increment. Considering the minimum 9 OECD countries lowered their gross water uses significantly between 1980 and 1997. (Waller-Hunter, 2008) In spite of such eco-friendly improvements, general environmental degeneration has been found in the maximum cases. Energy intensity is decreased by the OECD countries by economies by 31% of their economy between 1973 and 1996, but the net energy uses increased by 23% in that time span. The total electricity uses is anticipated to increase furthermore 30-50% by 2020. (Waller-Hunter,2008; Kant and Berry, 2005) Effects of the greenhouse gases set out a similar plot. Though some cautious movements have succeeded to reduce the GHG effect in the many countries but the emissions have risen throughout the world in total. Under recent strategies, a number of countries have been able to maximize GHG furthermore exudation by 30% - 2010, distant to the total Kyoto Protocol mission of a 5% decrement from 1990 leveling to 2008-2012.(Waller-Hunter, 2008; Diamond, 2005) There are cases as well where there is no sign of improvements at all. Path travelled in the Motor engined vehicles in most of the countries are anticipated to increase by significantly in coming ten years and boarders' of  air travels are expected to quadruple . As the same amount of municipal desolation production in 2020 will take the place of GDP growth, almost doubling itself from the previous 1980 level (Waller-Hunter, 2008) Green chemistry principles in light of 2020 environmental challenges: Anastas and Warner codified a number of green chemistry principles in 1998. They are known as twelve principles of green chemistry. These guide the  chemists are putting hard endevour to decrease the imprint of ecosystem of the chemical waste they bring up. Initiating in the year 1996, tremendous green chemistry replicas have been found in many countries annually. These twelve principles are as follows: 1. Prevention: In light with the 2020 environmental challenges, this principle should evolve to prevent waste and to look for the solution cleaning up waste after its creation. 2. Atom Economy: To meet the sustainability challenges of 2020, this principle should identify synthetic methods that should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the process of producing the final product. 3. Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses: It implies that in coming years, wherever possible, synthetic methods should be designed in such a way that they generate those chemical substances that possess little or no toxicity to human health and the environment. 4. Designing Safer Chemicals: Given environmental hazards of future, chemical products should be manufactured in such a way that they can do desired function while minimizing their toxicity. 5. Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries: The use of auxiliary substances should be made unnecessary wherever possible. 6. Design for Energy Efficiency: Given the first rate of depletion of renewable energy in near future, energy requirements should be identified 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. 8. Reduce Derivatives: The green chemistry should evolve in such a way that unnecessary derivatization is minimized as such steps necessitate additional reagents that can produce waste. 9. Catalysis: Catalytic reagents should be used as they are superior to stoichiometric reagents. 10. Design for Degradation: The principle for designing of chemical products should be changed in such a way that at the end of their function they break down into various degradation products that do persist in the environment. 11. Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention: Analytical methodologies should be developed further in order to allow for in-process monitoring and controlling before the formation of hazardous elements. 12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention: Substances used in chemical process needs to be selected in order to minimize the chance of chemical accidents. (Anastas, N.D.; Anastas and Warner, 1998; Anastas, 2007). The EPA with the ACS showed the major role in sponsoring and promoting developmental studies, as well as researches, in the sector of green chemistry. In 2000 the GCI made a partnership with ACS. Chemical associations around the world have found the significance of this green chemistry so promoting it through various journalisms, seminars, education related workshops, forming the GCI chapters. (Clark, 2005). Around the time of 1990s numerous factories began adopting green chemistry earnestly and other retainable practices. Companies are hopeful to green chemistry that it also prove its socio-economic advantages. Aggregation of the three above said benefits is called the "triple bottom line" which gives a great encouragement to the businesses to grow significant products and the processes in coming years. The following earthly representations of green chemistry show the achievements of the achievers of the PGCC honors. They explain the mode by which green chemistry impacts a wide range of sectors including pharmaceutical field, pesticides, polymer industry, and lots of more. (Lankey and Anastas, 2002; Henderson, 2010). When a compound is taken by a chemist, he/she is interested in the chemical, biological, as well as the physical features of that compound, the process of synthesis. To gain a greater attention in the waste by-products sector, a concept developed known as atom economy by Barry Trost of Stanford University. The idea takes care of the question that how many of the atoms of that reactant incorporated to the final product longed and the numbers of atom wasted into the by-products. A replica of the process potential of this apprehension may be talked over in creating ibuprofen. Concernment for the pollution in the natural resources like the lowland in Zion National Park, Utah called forth the growth in green chemistry around the 1990s and it will continue in coming years as well given the sustainability challenges of 2020. (Dietz and Stern, 2002). Ibuprofen which is the core material in most of the analgesic and lots of inflammatory drugs substance. Starting around 1960s, this ibuprofen was prepared by a process consisting 6 steps with the atom economy just of 40 %. It means that 40 % of the total weight of the reactants was used in preparing ibuprofen, and the rest 60 % were dwindled in forming waste by- products. Annual production of almost 13636363 kilogram ibuprofen by the said method showed result in over 18181818 kilogram waste. Looking at the need for coming future, the BHC Company discovered a new process of making ibuprofen with 77 to 99 % atom economy. The preparation along with being small creates a considerably lesser amount of waste. So pharmaceuticals can manufacture much more ibuprofen with less time and energy in this process resulting in increment in profit. (Kirchhoff, 2005; Henderson, 2010). Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) is undoubtedly the most popular insecticide in time of World War II which saving thousands by destroying harmful insects, but in 1960s the drastic environmental break down caused by it was taken to the civil concern as Rachel Carson have written in the book Silent Spring. The controversial book effected so big that use of DDT was prohibited in United States in the year 1973. In the time of 1960s to 1970s the organochlorides are replaced by the organophosphate pesticides like DDT. Those pesticides randomly and very fast in the nature, which are very toxic for the mammals and also deadly for a large number of insects and destroy the beneficially utilizing insects as well, like bees , the predatory beetles, and capable bringing harm to mankind. (Hjeresen, et al 2000; Jimenez-Arias, 2008) An approach has been developed for producing less hazardous pesticides in order to use those elements that obliterate the desired organisms. One manufacturer, Rohm & Haas, put their efforts in developing insecticides that imitate a hormone that is used by molting insects only and they succeeded in their efforts. A more recent policy to safeguard greenery from diseases and pests takes into account the implementation of genetically modified plant. This is a huge debate about this method. (Hjeresen, et al 2000; Jimenez-Arias, 2008) Another initiative to protect greenery is to trigger their usual defense system. A brand new technology called harpin technology has been developed by the EDEN Bioscience Corporation. Harpin is a protein found in nature separated from genetically modified bacteria. The protein helps in activating the natural defense systems of leaves. The EPA has reserved hatpin for elements with the lowest destructive potential. On more it also promotes plant growth in a higher rate. (Hjeresen, et al 2000; Jimenez-Arias, 2008) As a known fact plastics are all around us. They are being used in almost every little or big thing that comes in our mind. Millions and millions of pounds of polymers are being prepared in the USA alone every year. The feed stocks that are put to use to produce the polymers are virtually all made from petroleum like non-renewable resources. Almost 2.7 percent of all crude oils are used to generate chemical feed stocks. (Hjeresen, et al 2000; Jimenez-Arias, 2008) In an effort to decrease human use of petroleum, chemists have invented a brand new method of producing polymers from renewable resources like biomass naturally occurring lactic acid called Polylactic acid (PLA), which can be produced from the fermented corn. The target is to use the principles of recycle and reuse. The most surprising quality of this natural polymer is that it is biodegradable. PLA and lactic acid are easy inter convertible to each other. It can be substituted with various petroleum- based polymers in lots of products (Hjeresen, et al 2000; Jimenez-Arias, 2008). Computers are going to dominate the human civilization in coming years as well. Hence, top deal with the sustainability challenges the manufacture of microchips need huge amounts of chemicals and energy. Scientists have developed a process that uses supercritical carbon dioxide in the process of making chips and it has been able to significantly reduce the amount of chemicals and energy needed to manufacture chips. Condensed form of carbon dioxide is also employed as a solvent in the process of dry cleaning of clothes. Although carbon dioxide alone cannot be high-quality solvent for compounds like oils, waxes, and greases, its use in combination with a surfactant makes it possible for the substitution of perchloroethylene (Jimenez-Arias, 2008). Other instances of green chemistry relevant meeting 2020 environmental challenges are taking toxic chromium and arsenic derived from pressure-treated wood; putting less toxic compounds for the use of bleaching paper, substituting yttrium for lead in the process of painting auto, and making use of enzymes in the place of a strong base for the dealing with cotton fibers. Overall it may be said that green chemistry should evolve  for reducing the level of toxicity, minimizing waste production, saving energy consumption, and reducing the rate of exhaustion of natural resources. It makes it possible for advances in chemistry to take place in a much more environment friendly way. In the future, when green chemistry will be utilized by all chemists and all chemical related companies, the term "green chemistry" will no longer be used as the entire chemistry becomes green. (Henderson, 2010). References: 1. Anastas, P. T.; Warner, J. C. 1998. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Oxford University Press: New York, 1998, p.30. By permission of Oxford University Press. 2. Waller-Hunter, J. 2008. 2020: a clearer view for the environment. Retrieved from http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/333/2020:__a_clearer_view_for_the_environment.html on 17th March, 2011. 3. Linthorst, J. A. 2009. "An overview: origins and development of green chemistry".Munich: Springer. 4. Krech, S. McNeill, J.R. and Merchant, C. 2004. Encyclopedia of world environmental history, Volume 3. London: Routledge. 5. Buell, F. 2003. From apocalypse to way of life: environmental crisis in the American century. London: Routledge. 6. Lancaster, M. 2010. Green Chemistry: An Introductory Text. (2nd Ed). London: Royal Society of Chemistry. 7. Goodman, D.C and Chant, C. 1999. European cities & technology: industrial to post-industrial city. London: Routledge. 8. Dietz, T. and Stern, P.C. 2002. New tools for environmental protection: education, information, and voluntary measures. Washington DC: National Academies Press. 9. Henderson, M.C. 2010. The 21st Century Environmental Revolution: A Structural Strategy for Global Warming, Resource Conservation, Toxic Contaminants, and the Environment: The Fourth Wave. (2nd Ed). Waves of the Future. 10. Kirchhoff, M.M. 2005. "Promoting sustainability through green chemistry". Resources, Conservation and Recycling 44: 237–243. Washington DC: American Chemical Society. 11. Anastas, P.T.2007. Exploring Opportunities in Green Chemistry and Engineering Education: A Workshop Summary to the Chemical Sciences Roundtable. Wasington DC: National Academies Press. 12. Hjeresen, D.L. Schutt, D.L and Boese, J.M. 2000. "Green Chemistry and Education". Journal of Chemical Education. Vol. 77 No. 12 December 2000. Washington DC: Chemical Education Today. 13. Jimenez-Arias, L.G. 2008. Bioethics and the Environment. A Brief Review of the Ethical Aspects of the Precautionary Principle and Genetic Modified Crops. Houston: LibrosEnRed. 14. Clark, J.H. 2005. "Green chemistry: today (and tomorrow)". Green Chem., 2006, 8, 17–21. London: The Royal Society of Chemistry. 15. Anastas, P.T. n.d.. "Green Chemistry: Current Status and Future Challenges". Washington DC: Green Chemistry Institute. 16. Lankey, R. L., and Anastas, P. T. 2002. Advancing Sustainability through Green Chemistry and Engineering, American Chemical Society, Washington, DC. 17. Kant, S. and Berry, A. R. 2005. Eds., Economics, Sustainability, and Natural Resources, Springer, Berlin. 18. Diamond, J. 2005. Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, Viking, New York. 19. Ehrlich, P. R. 1968. The Population Bomb, Ballantine Books, New York. 20. Simon, J. 1999. Hoodwinking the Nation, Transaction Publishers, Somerset, NJ. 1. http://books.google.co.in/books?id=VxDr44ZPOr0C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Exploring+Opportunities+in+Green+Chemistry+and+Engineering+Education:+A+Workshop+Summary+to+the+Chemical+Sciences+Roundtable&hl=en&ei=Zx6KTZjpIIPOrQfUtr3PDg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false 2. Waller-Hunter, J. 2008. 2020: a clearer view for the environment. Retrieved from http://www.oecdobserver.org/news/fullstory.php/aid/333/2020:__a_clearer_view_for_the_environment.htm l on 17th March, 2011. Read More