YOU ARE CURRENTLY VIEWING NEWS
STORIES:
NEWS STORIES
This page was last updated April 2008.
Recent news of sustainable chemistry
issues and industrial developments.
Envision Chemistry/Peter Fisk Associates scientists have recently had a paper published on the subject of the principles of design of chemicals with low environmental hazards. This paper provides a broad summary of the issues and advantages relating to the development of environmentally-benign chemicals, from the design stage; describes issues and objectives in the context of specific chemical properties, and sets out some approaches that can help. This paper was one of several published in a green chemistry special supplement (see full reference below):
Fisk, Peter R. and Wildey, Rosalind J. (2008). Principles of design of chemicals with low environmental hazard. Supplement to Chimica Oggi/Chemistry Today, 25 (6): Green Chemistry/Ionic liquids, pp 3-6.
Please select from the following list:
SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY
INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION
REGULATORY NEWS
---
SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY
SusChem newsletter
Added February 2008
The 8th edition of the SusChem newsletter is available from http://www.suschem.org. As well as developments in the area of promoting a sustainable chemistry industry, the newsletter also includes details of the SusChem stakeholder workshop held in Berlin at the end of January 2008.
---
Household chemicals and substitution
Added April 2007
A report has been published by an NGO on substitution of toxic chemicals in household products. This report reviews progress that has been made in by companies in substitution of hazardous substances. It indicates that substitution can be done where the will to do so exists, but legislation may be required to encourage more reluctant manufacturers to take substitution seriously. The report can be accessed by clicking here.
---
SusChem work preparation
Added April 2007
SusChem, the European technology platform for Sustainable Chemistry, has published its Implementation Action Plan, available from its website. As well as research objectives, outlined in the context of eight key themes, its innovation objectives include the establishment of infrastructure for knowledge share, stakeholder dialogue, education and SME support.
---
BACK TO TOP
---
INDUSTRIAL INNOVATION
2007 Presidential Green Chemistry Award
Added February 2008
The projects that have received the 2007 Presidential Green Chemistry Award give an indication of the diversity of areas in which innovation can lead to more sustainable chemistry.
They include:
|
A soya based adhesive for plywood, as an alternative to formaldehyde based adhesives. |
| |
|
|
An advanced metal catalyst for the production of hydrogen peroxide from hydrogen and oxygen. |
| |
|
|
Vegetable-based polyols for use in polyurethane synthesis. |
| |
|
|
A technique for the elimination of by-products and waste from hydrogenation reactions. |
For more information see: http://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/past.html
---
Constructing
Alternative Chemicals
As described elsewhere in this website, an important strategy
in creating a sustainable chemical industry is in the
development of safer chemicals. Some examples of new ‘greener’
technological developments in the chemicals industry,
publicised by the relevant companies and described in
Chemistry and Industry journal (Issue No 21 - Page 19
) follow (please note that Envision Chemistry was not
involved with development of these new technologies).
---
Substituting
greener chemicals
Substitution of hazardous substances with safer alternatives
can significantly reduce the impact of the chemical industry
on the environment and human health. Sometimes regulatory
action is needed to stimulate the development of alternatives.
An example of this is the proposal by DEFRA to phase out
a substance used in non-stick coatings. Perfluorooctane
sulphonate (PFOS) was widely used in non-stick coatings
until the major manufacture voluntarily withdrew PFOS-related
compounds. In June 2004, prompted by growing evidence
that PFOS is toxic and persistent, and accumulates in
human blood, Alun Michael, the environment minister announced
the intention of the UK government to ban PFOS compounds
unilaterally. DEFRA published a risk reduction strategy
in August 2004.
It is important that substitutes for
PFOS (in fire fighting foams, for example) are properly
assessed to make sure that they really are safer. There
is still a need to develop alternatives for some of the
current applications (semiconductors, photography and
aviation). Property prediction can be very helpful in
the development of alternatives, as it can be used to
assess the likely environmental impact of an alternative
before it has been synthesized, potentially saving a great
deal of time and money.
---
Taking the initiative
Adapted from "Green initiative"
Chemisty & Industry 4 April 2005
Both cleaner processing techniques
and greener materials are available today to assist in
the transformation of the chemical industry that is needed
to improve its image with the public, as well as to comply
with increasingly stringent environmental legislation.
There can be significant economic advantages to adopting
green chemical technologies, as well as the improvement
to competitiveness resulting from a reputation for environmental
integrity.
Cleaner processing techniques
include:
| |
Process intensification using small-scale
micro-reactors which maximise mass and heat transfer
and catalytic efficiencies. They also improve product
consistency and reduce waste |
| |
|
|
Real time control: accurate measurement and control
of chemical processes reduces energy and feedstock
consumption |
| |
|
|
Process modelling: simulating effects of process
changes on efficiency can enable real time control
to be even more effective in improving efficiency
and reducing environmental impact |
| |
|
|
Alternative energy sources such as microwaves and
radio frequency heating enable heating to be more
carefully directed and controlled. Side reactions
are reduced and reaction efficiency increased |
| |
|
|
Alternative energy sources such as microwaves and
radio frequency heating enable heating to be more
carefully directed and controlled. Side reactions
are reduced and reaction efficiency increased |
| |
|
| Greener Materials |
| |
|
|
Substitution of chemicals with less hazardous alternatives |
| |
|
|
Use of modelling to predict properties and assess
environmental impact of proposed alternatives |
| |
|
|
Removal of reaction products by selective membranes
in equilibrium limited reactions improving conversion
yields |
| |
|
|
Integrating catalyst with membrane in such reactions,
further boosting yields |
| |
|
|
Nano-particle technology can be used to improve
functionality eg of metal catalysts, industrial coatings |
| |
|
|
Use of closed loop systems to recycle used solvent
in small volume and batch manufacturing systems, not
just in large-scale plants |
| |
|
|
Replacement of organic solvents e.g. by supercritical
carbon dioxide. |
---
BACK TO TOP
---
REGULATORY NEWS
REACH is now in force
Added July 2007 The REACH Regulation became law in December 2006 and came into force on June 1st 2007. It is intended that the registration, evaluation and authorisation procedures will ultimately lead to control of chemical risks to health and the environment in Europe, and promote the substitution of more hazardous substances with substances which are of less concern. The European Chemicals Agency is now operational. It will be responsible for managing the registration, evaluation, authorisation and restriction processes for chemical substances.
Sources of information include:
---
WEEE now in force in UK
Added July 2007 The long-awaited Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment regulations came into force on 1st July 2007. These Regulations implement EC Directives 2002/96/EC and 2003/108/EC which aim to minimise the impact of electrical and electronic goods on the environment. They make producers responsible for financing the collection, treatment, and recovery of waste electrical equipment. Distributors are obliged to allow consumers to return their waste equipment free of charge.
For more information see http://www.dti.gov.uk/innovation/sustainability/weee/page30269.html
---
Proposal for changes to classification, labelling and chemicals
Added July 2007
A proposal has been put forward to the EU system of classification of chemical substances and mixtures to the United Nations Globally Harmonised System (GHS). New EU legislation will replace the current law on the classification, labelling and packaging of chemical substances (Directive 67/548/EEC) and mixtures (Directive 1999/45/EC). The new legislation will integrate GHS into EU law, and will complement the REACH Regulation. The proposed Regulation will be discussed in the European Council and Parliament. After it has entered into force the deadlines for substance reclassification of substances and mixtures will be 1 December 2010 and 1 June 2015 respectively.
For more information see http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/reach/ghs_en.htm
---
BACK TO TOP
---
Photography courtesy of Steve Graham,
US Fish and Wildlife Service
|
