In today’s world, green chemistry has become more relevant than ever. Developed by Paul Anastas in 1991, the primary objective of this concept was to minimize the impact on human health and environmental impact by developing greener chemicals, processes and products. The concept of Green Chemistry comprises 12 principles that involve designing and conducting chemical processes that use and release toxic substances. Specialty chemicals support the principles of Green Chemistry and sustainable manufacturing for a greener, healthier and safer planet for generations to come. At Mamta Polycoats, our range of specialty chemicals is meticulously designed to help manufacturers move towards sustainable practices and greener products. In this blog, we understand Green Chemistry principles and their role in specialty chemicals.
12 Green Chemistry Principles
- Waste Prevention: It is better to prevent waste than treat or clean up after it has been created.
- Atom Economy: Synthetic methods should be designed to maximize the incorporation of all materials used in the process into the final product.
- Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses: Wherever practicable, synthetic methods should be designed to use and generate substances that possess little to no toxicity to human health and the environment.
- Designing Safer Chemicals: Chemical products should be designed to preserve the efficacy of function while reducing toxicity.
- Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries: The use of auxiliary substances (eg. solvents, separation agents, etc) should be made unnecessary wherever possible and innocuous when used.
- Design for Energy Efficiency: 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.
- Use of Renewable Feedstocks: A raw material or feedstock should be renewable rather than depleting whenever technically and economically practicable.
- Reduce Derivatives: Unnecessary derivatization (use of blocking groups, protection/deprotection, temporary modification of physical/chemical processes) should be minimized or avoided if possible because such steps require additional reagents and can generate waste.
- Catalysis: atalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents.
- Design for Degradation: Chemical products should be designed so that at the end of their function, they break down into innocuous degradation products and do not persist in the environment.
- Real-time Analysis for Pollution Prevention: TAnalytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for real-time, in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.
- Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention: Substances and the form of a substance used in a chemical process should be chosen to minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions, and fire.
Role of Green Chemistry in Specialty Chemicals
The specialty chemical industry is constantly changing, moving towards sustainability and eco-friendliness. The specialty chemical companies in India employ the Green Chemistry principles to manufacture eco-friendly & non-toxic ingredients for products that are safe for the environment and human health. The introduction of biodegradable ingredients like triethyl citrate and tributyl citrate has resulted in the production of eco-friendly plasticizers, reducing the use of hazardous phthalate plasticizers.
Mamta Polycoats: Helping Manufacturers Produce Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Products
Specialty chemicals are integral in Green Chemistry. At Mamta Polycoats, as a leading specialty chemicals company for years, we have helped manufacturers make green products with our chemicals like triethyl citrate, tributyl citrate, diisopropyl adipate, acetyl tributyl citrate, & more. From food & beverages, personal care, and cosmetics, to pharmaceutical coatings, we strive to make the planet a safer and greener. Explore our range of specialty chemicals and request quotes.