Green Chemistry and Sustainability

Recommended Prerequisites

Not applicable.

Teaching Methods

The main ideas concerning Green Chemistry and Sustainability will be presented in formal lectures.

Some lectures will be allocated for analysis and discussion of type problems requiring some bibliographical review.

Individual and/or group work to solve an open-ended problem concerning the design of a sustainable process.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

- Grasp the fundamental concepts of Green Chemistry and Green Chemical Engineering;

- Use sustainability metrics to evaluate competing synthetic methods and redesign existing chemical processes ;

- Identify the role of catalysis, green solvents and alternative energy sources as a tool to develop safer and sustainable chemical products and processes;

- Apply sustainability analysis tools (e.g. life cycle analysis) and critically assess economic, environmental and social impacts of a chemical product or process.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Introduction

Green chemistry and sustainable development: objectives, indicators and legislation.

Strategies for waste prevention and valorization.

Eco-friendly technologies and products.

2. Indicators

Sustainability metrics and Green Chemistry principles.

Reaction mass efficiency, Atom economy, E Factor and the Eco-scale.

Introduction to Life Cycle Assessment.

3. Catalysis

The role of catalysis in biomass conversion.

Types of catalysis and catalysts.

Catalysis in new reaction media.

4. Green Processes and Solvents

Organic solvents and VOCs emissions.

Replacement of conventional solvents or reduction their volumes.

Water-based processes. Aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS).

Supercritical fluids (SCFs), Ionic Liquids (ILs) and alternative solvents.

5. Sustainable Process Design

Design for Safety.

Renewable raw materials and energy.

Process integration and intensification

Real-time online monitoring and control of processes.

Head Lecturer(s)

Mara Elga Medeiros Braga

Assessment Methods

Assessment 3
Synthesis work: 20.0%
Resolution Problems: 20.0%
Exam: 60.0%

Assessment 1
Resolution Problems: 20.0%
Exam: 40.0%
Synthesis work: 40.0%

Assessment 2
Synthesis work: 20.0%
Resolution Problems: 40.0%
Exam: 40.0%

Bibliography

 - M. Lancaster (2010) Green Chemistry. An Introductory Text, RSC Publishing, 2ª Ed., Cambridge, UK.

- C.A.M. Afonso, J.G. Crespo (2005) Green Separation Processes, Wiley-VCH, Germany

- A.P. Dicks, A. Hent (2015) Green Chemistry Metrics. A Guide to Determining and Evaluating Process Greenness. Springer, Netherlands.

- P.T. Anastas (Ed.) (1999-2012) Handbook of Green Chemistry, Volumes 1-9. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.