What Is Green Chemistry?
Green Chemistry definitions change based upon focus.
To answer this elusive question it may in fact be best to
first consider what Green Chemistry is not.
Green Chemistry is often described within the context of
new technologies. But Green Chemistry is not beholden to
ionic liquids,4 microwave chemistry,5 supercritical fluids,6
biotransformation,7 fluorous phase chemistry,8 or any other
new technology. Green chemistry is outside of techniques
used but rather resides within the intent and the result of
technical application.
Some view Green Chemistry as something process
chemists do already...good process chemistry. While often
enabling “greener” synthesis, good process chemistry is not
equivalent to Green Chemistry. A robust, efficient, and costeffective
chemical process is likely accepted as good process
chemistry. The same process examined more rigorously with
regard to the twelve principles of Green Chemistry1 invariably
brings to light potential improvements relative to
environmental performance. Processes evolve and become
“greener” relative to earlier iterations, but only an ideal
process embodies Green Chemistry itself. Green Chemistry
is not simply good process chemistry; it is the highest
efficiency potential that exists for each chemical process,
serVing as both an inspiration for and a measure of the best
process chemistry.
Others feel Green Chemistry is a purely environmental
agenda, and a condemnation of industrial chemistry or of
scientists. This picture neglects the direct relationship
between Green Chemistry principles and highly efficient and
environmentally benign chemistry. Green Chemistry is a
concept for scientists enVisioned by scientists for higher