Themed collection Measuring Green Chemistry: Methods, Models, and Metrics

This themed collection includes selected examples aiming to quantify the benefits and trade-offs of green chemistry by providing assessment methods, models, indicators, and metrics.

Proposal of a general set of universal rules allowing an increase in the scientific value provided by the evaluation of greenness and other “colours”.

Proposal of a general theory of greenness, connecting all chemical disciplines and not only; the description of basic concepts and relationships.

Central role of future professionals in chemistry to promote alternatives towards sustainability.

The cannabis plant is being increasingly researched due to its numerous therapeutic properties leading to the need for analytical techniques to assess substances present in extracts of the cannabis plant.

The quantitative assessment of the greenness of mechanochemical processes for green metrics were calculated is herein reported. A general introduction to the topic, variables influencing the reaction outcome and, an outlook are also provided.

This study highlights new opportunities for optimal reaction route selection from large chemical databases brought about by the rapid digitalisation of chemical data.

Green amine synthesis is assessed using the CHEM21 green metrics toolkit, offering a step-by-step guide for sustainability evaluation and promoting environmentally conscious transformations.

Within a circular approach, cost-effective, tailored and robust biomass-derived catalysts to convert biomass play a key role in biorefinery developments.

Journeying towards inherently sustainable and green synthetic chemistry. Commitment to change and (re)design of practices, processes and goals, through reflection, awareness and education.

Green resins for vat photopolymerization are critically assessed, highlighting bio-based feedstocks, synthetic trade-offs, and a unified green metric for guiding future materials design.

A design of PET mechanical recycling at the industrial scale requires the inspection of the relevance of pre-treatment steps, degradation reactions and repair potential, accounting for the impact of contamination (e.g. NIAS) and regulations.

The pharmaceutical industry plays a crucial role in enhancing life expectancy and the quality of life.

An overview of sustainability outcomes provided by flow chemistry is reviewed for a comprehensive understanding and a holistic perspective. Future trends and potential innovations are also forecast.

Indicators and methods for safe and sustainable by design chemicals and materials.

Amongst all synthetic polymers used in the clothing industry, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most widely used polyester, its fibres representing half the total PET global market (in comparison bottle PET being less than a third).

The large amount of food waste generated globally has significant adverse environmental impacts, highlighting the need for a historic resolution to achieve sustainable managment of food waste as well as its circular economy.

This review present case studies analyzed in terms of waste production and environmental/safety hazard aiming at quantify whether the adoption of C–H functionalization technology is actually the most effective strategy compared to classic approaches.

Publication of the E Factor drew attention to the problem of waste in chemicals manufacture. Thirty yeas later it is abundantly clear that waste is the underlying cause of global environmental problems, from climate change to plastic pollution.

A broad overview of the achievements and emerging areas in the field of Green Chemistry.

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) have gained attention as a viable alternative to crystalline silicon solar cells, offering comparable power conversion efficiencies exceeding 26%.

Through this research, we have established an environmentally friendly and sustainable approach for the synthesis of spirobarbiturate (SB) derivatives, which hold significant potential in the field of medicinal chemistry.

Model-based evaluation of reactor and process-level performance for electrified ethane steam cracking compared to conventional thermal cracking with and without CO₂ capture.

This article presents a comprehensive life cycle analysis of a photoelectrochemical water splitting system coupled with hydrogenation of feedstock into valorization chemicals.

SolECOs combines machine learning and sustainability metrics to enable data-driven solvent selection. Validated with four APIs, it delivers robust solubility prediction, sustainability ranking, and crystallization design support.

Measuring sustainability in international chemicals management: we present 23 indicators as a contribution to the Global Framework on Chemicals. Due to the overarching concept of sustainable chemistry, the indicators are related to several SDGs.

Metal halide perovskites (MHPs) offer a potential alternative to crystalline silicon solar cells in terms of efficiency.

This study investigates under which circumstances the common practice of using mass intensities as proxies for environmental impacts is suitable—and where it fails.

Although performing validation of an analytical method is a widely accepted standard, assessing and comparing the overall analytical potential covering all validation criteria is not straightforward.

A selective, recyclable, precipitation process for copper recovery from e-waste leachate streams using phenolic oxime and pyrazole ligands adapted from solvent extraction offers route to lower carbon emissions.

Hitting two targets with one arrow—assessing the benefit of co-producing hydrogen and acid from bio-alcohols.

Light-driven biotransformations in recombinant cyanobacteria benefit from the atom-efficient regeneration of reaction equivalents like NADPH from water and light by oxygenic photosynthesis.

We report an efficient protocol for electrochemical reductive amination. A careful combination of reaction medium and electrolyte has allowed waste minimization and improved sustainability, as detailed by the environmental assessment of the process.

In this work, we develop a novel technology for the transformation of ethanol into diesel via Guerbet coupling and etherification.

Analysis of over 700 chemical production routes showing that decision making towards more environmentally sustainable pathways is enhanced by combining mass- and energy-based process metrics with simplified life cycle impact indicators.

Green inspired synthesis of hexaaryl-substituted borazines.

Sustainable development of pharmaceuticals relies on the selection and integration of unified metrics and indicators. Herein, we present a standardized method to assess, report, and communicate environmental sustainability of development processes.

Life cycle assessment and green metrics were used to comparatively assess the synthesis of zeolites from natural minerals and chemicals in which the former exhibits a better balance between efficiency and environmental impacts than the latter.

This work evaluates the sustainability indicators of the biorecovery of platinum group metals from spent automotive catalysts with due consideration of the environment and efficiency for the evaluation of environmental sustainability.

Solvent selection combined with conceptual process design is the key to developing sustainable chemical production.

A framework integrating life cycle assessment, Green Chemistry, and techno-economic analysis to identify cost-effective, greener pathways for nanomaterial production, demonstrated with cellulose nanomaterials.

Analytical and preparative separation techniques, although perceived as less detrimental compared to industrial manufacturing processes, present a substantial concealed environmental threat.

Carbon-to-carbon (C–C) cross-coupling reaction (CCR) protocols represent a major breakthrough in synthetic chemistry.

In this work, blue applicability grade index (BAGI) is proposed as a new metric tool for evaluating the practicality of an analytical method.

Environmental footprint evaluation of representative fragrance ingredients combining 2 complementary methodologies in the aim of providing a new method to eco-design fragrances, which are materials found in many commercialized daily-life products.

The conversion of plastic waste into high-quality lubricants is more profitable than sorting the waste or converting it into liquid fuels. A life cycle assessment showed that the emissions were lower than those of petroleum lubricants of similar quality.

The techno-economic performances and life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of conventional NG-based, carbon-capturing, and nuclear-powered or renewable ammonia production are evaluated.

We provide guidelines for performing absolute environmental sustainability assessments (AESA) of chemicals based on the planetary boundaries and classifying them as sustainable or unsustainable, and use them to evaluate 492 chemical products.

Greenness metrics for comparative, comprehensive and simple assessment of organic syntheses processes.

It is not easy to find appropriate tools for the evaluation of the “green” nature of analytical methodologies which involve the use of compounds, materials, or chemicals manufactured prior to the analytical step.

Are the comparisons of PMI values fair and informative, are you making a like versus like assessment?

A cost and synthetic efficient method that enables facile reagent and solvent recycling in SPPS using cross-linked polystyrene resins in greener solvents is reported.

The application of alternative reaction media (ionic liquids, carbohydrate–urea melts, solvent-free alternative) in a Diels–Alder reaction is evaluated and compared to conventional solvents with the help of an economic and ecological screening method in order to accentuate opportunities and challenges.