Chemistry and Sustainable Development Goals

Study Notes

Introduction, Atom Economy, Principles of Green Chemistry, UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Presented by Dr. Waseem Abu Oun.

During the 20th century, chemistry transformed daily life.
Transportation: Gasoline and diesel production from petroleum and crops, fuel additives for improved efficiency, reduced emissions, catalytic converters, and lighter vehicles.
Clothing: Man-made fibers like rayon and nylon, dyes, waterproofing, and surface finishing chemicals.
Sports: Advanced composite materials for equipment like rackets and surfaces, weather-resistant textiles, lightweight helmets, and fire-retardant furniture.
Safety: Lightweight polycarbonate helmets, fire-retardant furniture, and airbags.
Food: Refrigerants, packaging, containers, food processing aids, and preservatives.

Aimed at promoting innovative chemical technologies that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances in chemical products design, manufacturing, and usage.
Focus areas: Waste reduction, material selection, minimizing hazard, risk management, energy efficiency, and minimizing cost.

Reduce adverse environmental impact through appropriate and innovative material choices and transformations.
Develop processes using renewable rather than non-renewable raw materials.
Create processes that minimize obnoxious chemical releases, fires, and explosions.
Redesign reactions and sequences to minimize byproducts.
Develop less toxic products.
Develop products that degrade more rapidly in the environment.
Reduce the use of hazardous solvents and extractants in chemical processes.
Improve energy efficiency by using low temperature and pressure processes with new catalysts.
Develop efficient and reliable methods to monitor chemical processes for improved controls.

1. Prevention of Waste: Preventing waste is better than treating or cleaning up waste later.
2. Atom Economy: Maximize the incorporation of reactants into the final product.
3. Less Hazardous Chemical Synthesis: Design chemical syntheses for little-to-no toxicity to humans and the environment.
4. Designing Safer Chemicals: Create chemicals that achieve their desired function while reducing toxicity.
5. Safer Solvents & Auxiliaries: Minimize or eliminate auxiliary substances wherever possible.
6. Design for Energy Efficiency: Reduce the energy requirements of chemical processes.
7. Use of Renewable Feedstock: Use renewable feedstock instead of depleting resources.

8. Reduce Derivatives: Minimize or eliminate temporary modifications to chemical processes.
9. Catalysis: Favor catalytic reagents over stoichiometric reagents.
10. Design for Degradation: Design chemical products to degrade after use.
11. Real-Time Analysis for Pollution Prevention: Implement real-time monitoring and control measures to avoid the formation of hazardous substances.
12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention: Select substances and forms that reduce the risks of accidents.

A measure of how many reactant atoms end up in the desired product rather than byproducts or waste.
Calculated as (relative molecular mass of desired product) × 100 / (relative molecular mass of all reactants).
Higher percentage indicates higher atom efficiency.
Atom economy is considered during reaction planning.

Provide example calculations for various chemical reactions, showcasing atom economy percentages.

Economic: Rearrangement reactions, addition reactions, Diels-Alder reactions.
Uneconomic: Substitution reactions, elimination reactions.

Goals for international development.
1: End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
2: End hunger, achieve food security.
3: Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.
4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.
5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
7: Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all.
8: Promote sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth.
9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization.
10: Reduced inequalities within and among countries.
11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient.