Focus Areas
Green chemistry technologies can be categorized into one or more of the following three focus areas:
- The use of greener synthetic pathways
This focus area involves implementing a novel, green pathway for a new chemical product. It can also involve using a novel, green pathway to redesign the synthesis of an existing chemical product. Examples include synthetic pathways that:
- Use greener feedstocks that are innocuous or renewable (e.g., biomass, natural oils).
- Use novel reagents or catalysts, including biocatalysts and microorganisms.
- Are natural processes, such as fermentation or biomimetic synthesis.
- Are atom-economical.
- Are convergent syntheses.
- The use of greener reaction conditions
This focus area involves improving conditions other than the overall design or redesign of a synthesis. Examples include reaction conditions that:
- Replace hazardous solvents with solvents that have a reduced impact on human health and the environment.
- Use solventless reaction conditions and solid-state reactions.
- Use novel processing methods.
- Eliminate energy- or material-intensive separation and purification steps.
- Improve energy efficiency, including reactions running closer to ambient conditions.
- The design of greener chemicals
This focus area involves designing chemical products that are less hazardous than the products or technologies they replace. Examples include chemical products that are:
- Less toxic than current products.
- Inherently safer with regard to accident potential.
- Recyclable or biodegradable after use.
- Safer for the atmosphere (e.g., do not deplete ozone or form smog).
Read on about the Award Categories.