Chemistry Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Green Analytical Laboratory Experiments
Suparna Dutta
1
and Arabinda K. Das
2
1
Sonamukhi Girls' High School, Bankura, West Bengal, India
2
Department of Chemistry, University of Burdwan, Burdwan, West Bengal, India
In keeping with the current trend to avoid hazardous chemicals and to use environmentally clean
methods, chemists all over the world are engaged in designing and developing green schemes for
carrying out experiments in laboratory. As development of clean methods is cheaper than the cleaning
of polluted environments, Green Analytical Chemistry could be more attractive from both aesthetic and
economical viewpoints. The green analytical laboratory experiments depicted here avoid the use of
excess reagents and energy, focus on prevention and reuse of wastes. In fact, analytical chemistry is an
area in which efforts have been conducted from early times to make the newly used methods sustainable,
safe and environmentally friendly. This chapter compiles 15 such green analytical laboratory experiments
which will help students and researchers alike.
3.1
Greening the university laboratories
In the frame of an ecological paradigm, the concept of green chemistry, sustainable chemistry or
environmentally friendly chemistry appeared towards the end of the twentieth century. Generally speaking,
green chemistry seeks to reduce hazardous chemicals and chemical processes from the environment. The
most effective green method is to avoid the use or creation of toxic materials rather than relegating toxins to
post-processing cleanup. Green chemistry goes to the root of the problem and aims to eliminate the hazard
itself. It is the only science that focuses on the intrinsic hazard of chemicals or chemical processes. It seeks
to minimize or eliminate that hazard so that we do not have to worry about exposure.
According to Anastas, one of the pioneers of the green chemistry concept, 'It is the use of chemistry
techniques and methodologies that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of feed stocks, products,
