25.2 Nanotechnology and Nanobiotechnology – The Green Processes and Technologies

383

Table 25.1

Twelve principles of green chemistry.

Number

Principle

Description of principle

1

Prevention

Prevention of waste generation is better rather

than to treat it after its generation

2

Atom economy

Developing synthetic schemes so that the final

product incorporates as much of the reagents used

during the process as possible. This will help to

minimize waste generation

3

Safer chemical

synthesis

Designing of synthetic methods to generate

products that are environmentally benign

4

Safer chemical

design

Selection and designing of chemicals should be

such that they obviously fulfill their functions but

must be ecofriendly and non toxic

5

Use of safer

solvents and

auxiliaries

Use of other solvents or additional reagents are to

be avoided wherever possible; when the use of

auxillary reagents is necessary then care is to be

taken that they are non-hazardous

6

Design for energy

efficiency

Energy requirement is a vital issue while running

chemical processes from the point of economy and

environment; for minimizing energy expenditure

synthetic schemes should be designed to conduct

at ambient room temperature and pressure

7

Use of renewable

raw materials

If technically feasible, renewable raw materials

should be preferred over non-renewable

8

Reduction of

derivatives

Unwanted derivatization processes should be

avoided so as to minimize additional use of

reagents and waste generation

9

Catalysis

Catalytic reagents are to be preferred over

stoichiometric reagents so as to minimize waste

generation

10

Degradation

products design

Chemicals should be designed so that after their

use they completely degrade to harmless products

and do not persist in the environment

11

Real time analysis

for pollution

prevention

Analytical methods should be monitored in real

time to avoid the formation of hazardous

substances

12

Inherently safer

chemistry for

accident prevention

Choice of substances and their forms in chemical

processes should be such that it minimizes the

risk of potential hazards of chemical accidents,

chances of explosions, fire break outs, etc.

Source: Anastas and Warner [10].

“IMPROVEMENTS” can be spelled out as, I stands for “inherently non-hazardous

and safe,” M – “minimize material diversity,” P – “prevention instead of treatment,”

R – “renewable materials and energy inputs,” O – “output let design,” V – “very

simple,” E – “efficient use of mass, energy, space, and time,” M – “meet the need,”