46072 - Green Chemistry

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course the student will be aware of the strategy of Green chemistry as main guideline to sustainable development in the chemical field. The student will know the principles and tool of Green Chemistry and how to assess the greenness of a chemical process, exploiting Green metrics. The student will learn some innovative green synthetic strategies and protocols safe reagents and catalysts. Among others, biocatalytic processes will be chosen as examples of important tools to be applied in the development of new chemicals and in their production. The student is expected to be able to: 1. design innovative synthetic routes and exploit alternative and benign reagents and catalysts; 2. design synthetic route tha explooit enzimes and microorganisms in place of chemicla reagents and catalysts; 3. assess the greeness of the proposed processes.

Course contents

The UC consists of three modules, with the following contents:

(1) Green synthesis and catalysis

Approaching chemical complexity in a sustainable manner as a mandatory issue in the organic synthesis

Fundamentals of organocatalysis and green chemistry to the evaluation of a chemical process in terms of safety and environmental impact.

Main concepts applicable to the design of more ecological chemical syntheses, using case examples on the use of innovative reagents/catalysts, capable of replacing obsolete methodologies in organic transformations will be studied.

Application of innovative technology for the development of alternative synthetic pathways, improving industrial processes and producing important products.

(2) Sustainability of biocatalytic processes

Basic principles of biocatalysis: enzymatic structure, origin of activity and selectivity, kinetic models. Reaction efficiency and green chemistry metrics for biotransformations. Application of biocatalysis to sustainable industrial processes: industrial biocatalytic reactions of one and several stages. Examples of biocatalysis in industrial mass production. Cascade multi-enzymatic systems. Immobilization techniques of isolated enzymes and whole cells: advantages in the recovery of environmentally friendly products. Examples of biocatalytic processes supported in nanoscale devices and enzymatic biosensors.

(3) “Green Metrics”

The module initially discusses the parameters traditionally used to define the efficiency of a synthetic transformation (yield, chemo-, regio- and stereoselectivity) and proceeds to the introduction of new concepts related to the sustainability and environmental performance of a chemical process (toxicity and availability of chemicals, hazardous reactions, waste production). Finally, based on Trost's definition of atomic economics, the principles of “green metrics” are applied in concrete case studies to assess in detail the efficiency of a synthetic transformation.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes will be available for students.

Additional bibliography:

Green Chemistry and Catalysis (Prof. Dr. Roger Arthur Sheldon, Dr. Isabel W. C. E. Arends, Dr. Ulf Hanefeld), Wiley, 2007, ISBN:9783527307159

J. A. Tao, R. Kazlauskas, “Biocatalysis For Green Chemistry And Chemical Process Development” John Wiley & Sons, Editor.

“Green Chemistry Metrics: Measuring and Monitoring Sustainable Processes”, A. Lapkin , D. Constable (Eds.), Wiley-Blackwell, 2008, ISBN: 978-1-4051-5968-5

Teaching methods

The course unit is divided in three modules. Each module is organized in theoretical classes where main concepts are explained, as well as tutorial classes with discussion of case-study examples.

 

Assessment methods

Each module is assessed through a written assignment, including a report on literature research.

Teaching tools

Multimedia supported lectures

Office hours

See the website of Marco Lombardo

See the website of Pier Giorgio Cozzi

See the website of Alessandra Tolomelli