Green chemistry. Sustainability and the green chemist Green chemistry poses the questions: why are...
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Transcript of Green chemistry. Sustainability and the green chemist Green chemistry poses the questions: why are...
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.