June 2014 – Green Chemistry Blog

Archive for June, 2014

New articles added to 15 years of Green Chemistry web collection

25 Jun 2014

To mark the occasion of Green Chemistry completing fifteen years of publication we invited contributions from authors who have had highly cited articles from each of the past 15 years. The result is a growing web collection covering topics of current importance in green chemistry from those who have contributed to developing the field. Details of the contributors, their highly cited article from the year they are representing, and their recent contribution are below.

Two recent additions to the collection are from Professor Chinzia Chiappe (University of Pisa), and Dr Peter Dunn (Pfizer).

Professor Chiappe’s 2006 article ‘Acute toxicity of ionic liquids to the zebrafish (Danio rerio)‘ is amongst the highest that year. She has continued on this ionic liquids theme by contributing to the 15 years of Green Chemsitry collection a Critical Review asking ‘Are ionic liquids a proper solution to current environmental challenges?‘

In 2007, Dr Dunn was the lead author on a Perspective article produced from the ACS GCI Pharmaceutical Roundable entitled ‘Key green chemistry research areas—a perspective from pharmaceutical manufacturers‘. His contribution to the 15 years of Green Chemistry collection is another Perspective with an Industrial theme ‘Pharmaceutical Green Chemistry process changes – how long does it take to obtain regulatory approval?’.

All of these articles are free to access until the end of July 2014. The 15 Years of Green Chemistry collection will be added to throughout 2014 and you can access the articles by clicking on the titles below, or look at the full collection of recent articles online here.

Year	*15 Years of Green Chemistry* Contribution**	Original Highly Cited Article
1999	Journey on greener pathways: from the use of alternate energy inputs and benign reaction media to sustainable applications of nano-catalysts in synthesis and environmental remediation Rajender S. Varma, 2014, Perspective	Solvent-free organic syntheses. using supported reagents and microwave irradiation, Rajender S. Varma, 1999, Paper
2000	Food waste biomass: a resource for high-value chemicals Lucie A. Pfaltzgraff, Mario De bruyn, Emma C. Cooper, Vitaly Budarin and James H. Clark, 2013, Perspective	Preparation of a novel silica-supported palladium catalyst and its use in the Heck reaction James H. Clark, Duncan J. Macquarrie and Egid B. Mubofu, 2000, Paper
2001	Mixing ionic liquids – “simple mixtures” or “double salts”? Gregory Chatel, Jorge F. B. Pereira, Varun Debbeti, Hui Wang and Robin D. Rogers, 2014, Critical Review	Characterization and comparison of hydrophilic and hydrophobic room temperature ionic liquids incorporating the imidazolium cation, Jonathan G. Huddleston, Ann E. Visser, W. Matthew Reichert, Heather D. Willauer, Grant A. Broker and Robin D. Rogers, 2001, paper
2005	Green and sustainable manufacture of chemicals from biomass: state of the art Roger A. Sheldon, 2014, Critical Review	Green solvents for sustainable organic synthesis: state of the art Roger A. Sheldon, 2005, Critical Review
2006	Are ionic liquids a proper solution to current environmental challenges? Giorgio Cevasco and Cinzia Chiappe, 2014, Critical Review	Acute toxicity of ionic liquids to the zebrafish (Danio rerio) Carlo Pretti, Cinzia Chiappe, Daniela Pieraccini, Michela Gregori, Francesca Abramo, Gianfranca Monni and Luigi Intorre, 2006, Communication
2007	Pharmaceutical Green Chemistry process changes – how long does it take to obtain regulatory approval? Peter J. Dunn, 2013, Perspective	Key green chemistry research areas—a perspective from pharmaceutical manufacturers David J. C. Constable, Peter J. Dunn, John D. Hayler, Guy R. Humphrey, Johnnie L. Leazer, Jr., Russell J. Linderman, Kurt Lorenz, Julie Manley, Bruce A. Pearlman, Andrew Wells, Aleksey Zaks and Tony Y. Zhang, 2007, Perspective
2008	Towards resource efficient chemistry: Tandem reactions with renewables Arno Behr, Andreas Johannes Vorholt, Thomas Seidensticker and Karoline Anna Ostrowski, 2013, Critical Review	Improved utilisation of renewable resources: New important derivatives of glycerol Arno Behr, Jens Eilting, Ken Irawadi, Julia Leschinski and Falk Lindner, 2008, Critical Review
2009	Conversion of glucose and cellulose into value-added products in water and ionic liquids Jinliang Song, Honglei Fan, Jun Ma and Buxing, 2013, Tutorial Review	Efficient conversion of glucose into 5-hydroxymethylfurfural catalyzed by a common Lewis acid SnCl₄ in an ionic liquid Suqin Hu, Zhaofu Zhang, Jinliang Song, Yinxi Zhou and Buxing Han, 2009, Communication
2011	Conversion of biomass platform molecules into fuel additives and liquid hydrocarbon fuels Maria J. Climent, Avelino Corma and Sara Iborra, 2014, Critical Review	Converting carbohydrates to bulk chemicals and fine chemicals over heterogeneous catalysts Maria J. Climent, Avelino Corma and Sara Iborra, 2011, Critical Review
2012	Continuous process technology: a tool for sustainable production Charlotte Wiles and Paul Watts, 2014, Tutorial Review	Continuous flow reactors: a perspective Charlotte Wiles and Paul Watts, 2012, Tutorial Review

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Wool Keratin Solubility in Ionic Liquids

19 Jun 2014

Wool waste from the manufacturing of textiles is a renewable source of the biopolymer, keratin. The cysteine building blocks of keratin give rise to hydrogen bonding and covalent disulfide bonds; thus, harsh conditions or toxic reagents are required for its processing in conventional solvents. Alternative media, such as ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents, have been investigated for the processing of cellulose and lignin. Polypeptide-based keratin from Merino wool, on the other hand, may be used to produce protein fiber, but is less widely studied. In this paper, ILs and deep eutectic solvents were evaluated for their ability to dissolve wool keratin, and the regenerated material was characterized.

The researchers discovered that the wool did not appreciably dissolve in any of the deep eutectic solvents tested. In contrast, ILs were effective solvents and the solubility of wool was enhanced by adding 2-mercaptoethanol as a reducing agent. Characterization data revealed that the structure of the regenerated wool was altered from the raw material by a loss of crystallinity. Breakdown of the protein into smaller, water-soluble fragments also occurred, but this material could not be separated from the ILs.

Dissolution and regeneration of wool keratin in ionic liquids
Azila Idris, R. Vijayaraghavan, Usman Ali Rana, A.F. Patti, and D. R. MacFarlane
Green Chem. 2014, 16, 2857.
DOI: 10.1039/C4GC00213J

Jenna Flogeras obtained her B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Chemistry from the University of New Brunswick (Fredericton), Canada. Currently a Ph.D. student at Memorial University of Newfoundland, she is excited to spend some time outside the laboratory this summer to explore Thailand and Southeast Asia.

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5th International IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry

16 Jun 2014

The 5th IUPAC International Conference on Green Chemistry will be taking place August 17–21 2014, in Durban, South Africa.

The main objective of the conference is to emphasize the importance of green chemistry for sustainable development, and to promote novel research and collaborations, by bringing together experts and interested parties from all over the world and from diverse bodies – from the academia to the industry and to governments.

The conference will be a multidisciplinary event considering all the major areas of green chemistry, including green synthesis processes, catalysis, environmentally benign solvents, energy storage, biofuels, green chemistry education, policies, and many other interesting topics. Interfaces with other sciences and other research areas will be actively encouraged. Special attention will also be given to the roles of green chemistry in fast-growing economies and to the promotion of green chemistry in the African continent.

Confirmed plenary speakers include:

Peter Mahaffy, King’s University College, Canada
Claudio Mota, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bruno Pollet, University of the Western Cape, South Africa
Pietro Tundo, Ca’Foscari University, Italy
Tao Zhang, Institute of Chemical Physics, China

The conference will also feature a special keynote talk and medal presentation to our 2014 Green Chemistry Award winner, Professor Mike North from the University of York.

The conference is being supported by the RSC‘s Pan Africa Chemistry Network, which aims to help African countries to integrate into regional, national and internation scientific networks. The PACN has awarded a number of bursaries for African scientists to attend this conference. It is also sponsoring a number of plenary speakers.

The deadline for registration is June 30 2014.

For more information and to register, please visit the website: www.saci.co.za/greenchem2014

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A cellulose/superbase catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates

12 Jun 2014

A wide variety of metal complexes act as efficient catalysts for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates from carbon dioxide and epoxides; organic bases, such as pyridine, are often useful co-catalysts in the reaction. Metal-free catalyst systems are also effective, and polymers having abundant hydroxyl groups, such as cellulose, are known to catalyze cycloaddition when combined with an alkali metal halide. Building upon these findings, researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences have developed a metal-free and halide-free catalyst system using a combination of a superbase and a hydrogen bond donor.

Among the bases and hydrogen bond donors investigated, a cellulose-DBU catalyst system exhibited the highest conversion to propylene carbonate. Optimization of the reaction conditions led to a further study using an array of terminal epoxides; the highest yield and selectivity was observed for ethylene oxide, with lower yields for more sterically hindered substrates. The catalyst system also proved to be recyclable for up to four trials without an appreciable loss of activity or selectivity.

Read the full article now:

Superbase/cellulose: an environmentally benign catalyst for chemical fixation of carbon dioxide into cyclic carbonates
Jian Sun, Weiguo Cheng, Zifeng Yang, Jinquan Wang, Tingting Xu, Jiayu Xin and Suojiang Zhang
Green Chem. 2014, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C3GC41850B

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“Sustainability in Chemistry” – September 28-30, 2014, Erlangen, Germany

04 Jun 2014

In their biannual meeting, the division “Sustainable Chemistry” within the German Chemical Society (GDCh) will discuss all topics related to sustainable and green chemistry, methodology, synthesis and processes. In the upcoming meeting autumn 2014, the scientific focus will lie on:

Sustainable Synthesis Including Catalysis and Biotechnology
Green solvents
Renewable Feedstocks
Sustainable Macromolecular Chemistry
“Assessment and politics”, Green chemistry education

The submission of both poster and oral contributions via the conference website is now open

https://www.chemie.uni-erlangen.de/suschem2014/

Invited lectures

Shu Kobayashi, Tokyo, J
Ulf Hanefeld, Delft, NL, “From sp2 to sp3 utilising enzymes”
Konrad Hungerbühler, ETH Zürich, Ch, “Sustainability Indicators in Chemistry”
Cor Koning, Eindhoven, NL, “New developments in sustainable and renewable coating materials”
Bert Sels, Leuven, BE, “A lignocellulosic biorefinery concept in Leuven: a chemist’s view”
Matthias Beller, Rostock, D, “Chemistry goes Green: Technologies for the Development of a Sustainable Society “
Michael Dreja, Henkel AG & Co KGaA, Düsseldorf, D, “Sustainable detergents – where are we on our way towards 2030?”
Harald Gröger, Bielefeld, D, “Combination of the two “worlds” chemo- and biocatalysis towards one-pot processes in water”
Burkhard König, Regensburg, D, “Chemical photocatalysis using visible light”
Andreas Künkel, Biopolymers , BASF, D, “Symbiosis of Chemistry and Biology: BASF’s Biodegradable and Renewable Polymers”
Uwe Lahl, Darmstadt, D, “Indirect Land Use Change ( iLUC)”
Alexander Vyhnal, STAEDTLER Mars GmbH & Co. KG, D, “WOPEX – A sustainable materials innovation by STAEDTLER”

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Inexpensive ionic liquids: Process intensification the key to affordability

04 Jun 2014

Green Chemistry DOI: 10.1039/C4GC00016A Ionic liquids have been touted as green solvents since even before the definition of green chemistry was presented in Anastas and Warner’s seminal text. Academic research on ionic liquids, across many varied applications, is a strong and still growing area of interest. Despite this, the commercialisation of ionic liquid products, and their utilisation as solvents in manufacturing processes, has been limited because of their high costs.

In this latest work from Jason Hallett and colleagues from Imperial College London, the economic feasibility of two ionic liquids synthesized by acid–base neutralization has been assessed. It was found that process intensification dramatically reduces the end cost of these ionic liquids, and is recommended in this latest work as a means of reducing the cost of ionic liquids so that their potential in commercial applications may be realised.

The prices of triethylammonium hydrogen sulfate and 1-methylimidazolium hydrogen sulfate produced with optimised manufacturing methods are estimated to be as little as $1.24 kg⁻¹ and $2.96 kg⁻¹ respectively, which are largely dictated by the raw material costs. These prices are similar to conventional organic solvents such as acetone, while at present typical ionic liquid prices can be two orders of magnitude greater than this. The authors conclude that more effort should be dedicated to developing new ionic liquids that can be synthesised from affordable raw materials in very few steps.

Inexpensive ionic liquids: [HSO₄]⁻-based solvent production at bulk scale

L. Chen et al., Green Chem., 2014. DOI: 10.1039/C4GC00016A

http://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlelanding/2014/gc/c4gc00016a#!divAbstract

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Green Chemistry Blog

Archive for June, 2014

New articles added to 15 years of Green Chemistry web collection

Wool Keratin Solubility in Ionic Liquids

5th International IUPAC Conference on Green Chemistry

A cellulose/superbase catalyst for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates

“Sustainability in Chemistry” – September 28-30, 2014, Erlangen, Germany

Inexpensive ionic liquids: Process intensification the key to affordability

Inexpensive ionic liquids: [HSO₄]⁻-based solvent production at bulk scale

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