Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
of dollars of capital equipment to be in compliance with stringent environmental rules,
regulations and quality standards in its role as a responsible and trusted producer of
materials for our modern society. Nanotechnology, as it is envisioned for application
to lignocellulosic products, is only expected to further enhance industry's ability to
produce consumer products from lignocellulosic-based materials in a safe, sustainable
manner in harmony with the principles of both Green Chemistry and Green Engineering.
As nanotechnology with respect to lignocellulosic-based materials moves forward, it is
important to know and adhere to the currently defined principles of both Green Chem-
istry and Green Engineering (Jenck et al . 2004, Schmidt 2007). The Principles of Green
Chemistry are as follows:
1.
Prevent waste - design chemical syntheses to prevent waste, leaving no waste to
treat or clean up.
2.
Design safer chemicals and products - design chemical products to be fully effective,
yet have little or no toxicity.
3.
Design less hazardous chemical syntheses - design syntheses to use and generate
substances with little or no toxicity to humans and the environment.
4.
Use renewable feedstocks - use raw materials and feedstocks that are renewable
rather than depleting. Renewable feedstocks are often made from agricultural prod-
ucts or are the wastes of other processes; depleting feedstocks are made from fossil
fuels (petroleum, natural gas, or coal) or are mined.
5.
Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents - minimize waste by using catalytic reac-
tions. Catalysts are used in small amounts and can carry out a single reaction many
times. They are preferable to stoichiometric reagents, which are used in excess and
work only once.
6.
Avoid chemical derivatives - avoid using blocking or protecting groups or any tem-
porary modifications if possible.
Derivatives use additional reagents and generate
waste.
7.
Maximize atom economy - design syntheses so that the final product contains the
maximum proportion of the starting materials. There should be few, if any, wasted
atoms.
8.
Use safer solvents and reaction conditions : Avoid using solvents, separation agents,
or other auxiliary chemicals.
If these chemicals are necessary, use innocuous
chemicals.
9. Increase energy efficiency - run chemical reactions at ambient temperature and pres-
sure whenever possible.
10. Design chemicals and products to degrade after use - design chemical products to
break down to innocuous substances after use so that they do not accumulate in the
environment.
11. Analyze in real time to prevent pollution - include in-process real-time monitoring
and control during syntheses to minimize or eliminate the formation of byproducts.
12. Minimize the potential for accidents - design chemicals and their forms (solid, liquid,
or gas) to minimize the potential for chemical accidents including explosions, fires,
and releases to the environment.
As mentioned, the principles of Green Engineering are also important in taking advantage
of nanotechnology with lignocellulosic products and will lead to more socially acceptable
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