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Green Chemistry for a Sustainable Future
  
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Recent Group News-

Paul Anastas was recently nominated by President Obama to lead the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) Office of Research and Development. Read More

Paul Anastas was recently listed as one of the ICIS Top 40 Power Players. The ICIS Top 40 Power Players highlights the most influential people impacting the global chemical industry.

Paul Anastas was recently named by the Yale Corporation the inaugural Teresa and John H. Heinz III Chair for Chemistry for the Environment.

 

"Green Chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances."
-Paul Anastas

The Anastas Research Group focuses on the design of target molecules and synthetic methods through the Principles of Green Chemistry (see table below). The target areas for research include:


Anastas Group January 2009

  • Green Organic Synthesis

  • Framework for Design of Safer Chemicals

  • Utilization of carbon dioxide

  • Green Polymer additives

  • Biomaterials and biofuels

  • Green catalysis and nanomaterials

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    We are located on the second floor of the Kline Chemistry building on Prospect Street.

    12 Principles of Green Chemistry
    1. It is better to prevent waste than to treat or clean up waste after it is formed.
    2. Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product.
    3. Wherever practicable, synthetic methodologies should be designed to use and generate substances that possess little or no toxicity to human health and the environment.
    4. Chemical products should be designed to preserve efficacy of function while reducing toxicity.
    5. The use of auxiliary substances (e.g. solvents, separation agents, etc.) should be made unnecessary wherever possible and innocuous when used.
    6. Energy requirements should be recognized for their environmental and economic impacts and should be minimized. Synthetic methods should be conducted at ambient temperature and pressure.
    7. A raw material or feedstock should be renewable rather than depleting wherever technically and economically practicable.
    8. Unnecessary derivatization (blocking group, protection/deprotection, temporary modification of physical/chemical processes) should be avoided whenever possible.
    9. Catalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents.
    10. Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function they do not persist in the environment and break down into innocuous degradation products.
    11. Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for real-time, in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.
    12. Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical process should be chosen so as to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions, and fires.