Green chemistry involves the use of environmentally friendly chemicals and clean technologies in industrial processes.
Green chemistry contributes to achieving sustainability through the use of renewable energy sources and replacing polluting technologies with safe alternatives. By using these green methods, we can reduce harmful and polluting chemicals and improve the quality of industrial processes.
Let's explore the importance of green chemistry in the real world.
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| Importance of Green Chemistry |
What is Green Chemistry and Why Is It So Important in the Real World?
As we know chemistry improves our quality of life and manufacturing processes. Chemical processes can also be responsible for negative environmental impacts. As a result, it is crucial to pay attention to the manufacturing processes that are used in the chemical industry. To help increase awareness and accountability in the industry, some sustainable principles and requirements have been introduced.
Green chemistry is considered one of the modern approaches in the field of chemistry. It aims to develop environmentally friendly industrial and manufacturing processes and reduce the negative effects of harmful chemicals on the environment and public health.
Green chemistry is used to improve food manufacturing processes through the use of green materials, such as natural, renewable, and environmentally friendly alternative materials, reducing the use of harmful and toxic chemicals.
Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation of hazardous substances to our environment. Green chemistry works to apply innovative scientific solutions to environmental problems, and works to reduce the negative effects of chemical products and processes on human health and the environment.
Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use and ultimate disposal. Green chemistry is also known as sustainable chemistry.
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The Importance of Green Chemistry in Sustainable Development
Green chemistry is an important part of sustainable development, and aims to develop and improve chemical processes and products in ways that reduce negative environmental impact and conserve natural resources.
Pollution resulting from chemical industries and processes is one of the most important environmental problems. This pollution causes deterioration in the quality of air, water and soil, which negatively affects the health of individuals, animals and plants and harms the surrounding environment.
Green chemistry is an important solution to overcome these environmental problems. It contributes to improving industrial processes, reducing the use of harmful and polluting materials, and promoting the use of green materials that are more environmentally friendly. By adopting green solutions, we can improve the quality of air, water and soil, thus preserving the environment and natural resources.
The technologies and solutions provided by green chemistry work to develop and manage production methods to preserve environmental resources and achieve sustainable development. As for the importance of green chemistry in this field, they are as follows:
Designing biodegradable chemicals:
Chemical products are designed to decompose into harmless substances after use, so that they do not accumulate in the environment. Green chemistry helps design chemical products that are fully effective but have little or no toxicity. By designing chemicals and their physical forms (solid, liquid or gaseous) to reduce the possibility of chemical accidents including explosions, fires and releases into the environment.
Using renewable raw materials:
Renewable raw materials are also known as feedstocks. The source of renewable raw materials is often agricultural products or other process waste.
Green chemistry promotes the use of renewable materials as resources for the production of chemicals and products, rather than relying on non-renewable fossil materials. This contributes to preserving natural resources and reducing dependence on oil, gas and coal.
Reducing waste:
Green chemistry helps transform chemical waste into value-added products, or convert them into materials that are not harmful to the environment. Thus, the amount of waste that is stored or disposed of incorrectly is reduced.
Most current chemical production processes are inefficient in the use of feedstocks and produce a large amount of waste. Clean, energy-efficient and mass-efficient processes and technologies are essential tools to achieve the goal of maximizing efficiency and minimizing waste.
Reducing toxic emissions:
Green chemistry contributes to the development of environmentally friendly production processes that reduce the emission of toxic and environmentally polluting materials. This helps maintain air, water and soil quality, and protect wildlife.
Green chemistry helps reduce the use of toxic organic solvents in chemical processes to prepare chemicals and materials. About 20 million tons of organic solvents are often released into the atmosphere every year, resulting in solvent waste and environmental pollution.
Improving the efficiency of natural resources:
Green chemistry contributes to improving the efficiency of using natural resources, whether through developing more effective production processes, or improving product design to reduce resource consumption and thus saving more resources for sustainable use in the future.
By incorporating in-process and real-time monitoring and control during installation operations to reduce or eliminate by-product formation.
Improving Health and safety:
Green chemists develop products and chemicals in a way that reduces harmful effects on public health. Applying green chemistry approaches helps reduce the risk of exposure to harmful chemicals and thus improves safety at work.
Green Chemistry Methods and Principles
There are many green chemistry techniques and principles that can be used to better understand and solve the environmental issues, including:
Recycling:
Recycling is one of the most important green technologies. It allows the reuse of biodegradable materials that can be recycled instead of being disposed of in industrial landfills.
Renewable energy:
Renewable energy such as solar, wind, water and heat are among the most important green solutions. These energies contribute to generating electricity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air and water quality.
Biomaterials:
Biomaterials include materials extracted from natural resources such as plants and aquatic organisms. We can use these materials in the manufacture of environmentally friendly products such as household appliances and food.
Clean technologies:
Clean technologies include the use of industrial processes that require less energy, chemicals and water, thus contributing to improving the quality of air, water and soil.
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Conclusion: Green chemistry and sustainable development
Green chemistry is closely related to “the design of chemical products and processes that specifically eliminate the use or generation of substances hazardous to humans, animals, plants, and the environment.
Much effort has been made to make future chemistry less toxic and less hazardous. Green chemistry aims to make chemistry more energy efficient, reduce waste disposal, and produce innovative products with less consumption of natural resources. Alternative processes and reaction pathways are designed. New materials and products are also being developed that contribute to meeting our daily needs, but with more attention to the interests of future generations.
Scientists, engineers and chemical industrialists must work together to promote the development of this field. There is no doubt that the development and implementation of green chemistry will contribute significantly to the sustainable development of our society.
Some countries have imposed strict rules on businesses, while others encourage the use of cleaner, more efficient chemicals during the manufacturing process. There are many sustainable practices that the industry and companies can follow to reduce the pollution caused by the chemical sector.
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