GCTLC Library

In this episode, Professor Glenn Hurst takes his students at the University of York out into the world so they can see firsthand how their training in chemistry and chemical engineering can be channeled to help tackle sustainability challenges.

Along the way, the students learn the value of community engagement and evaluate their green chemistry and green engineering solutions in the context of ...

This published article looks at alternative solvent options to dichloromethane (DCM) for extraction of volatile compounds. By exploring the physico-chemical properties and hazard characteristics of the solvents and analyzing their efficiency in extracting volatile compounds from a fat-free model food product, safer options to DCM were identified.

Full citation: Cayot, N.; Lafarge, C.; Bou-Maroun ...

The Expert Committee on Sustainable Chemistry (ECOSChem)—representing a broad set of constituencies has developed a clear and actionable definition for "sustainable chemistry" along with a set of criteria that may be adopted and adapted to different constituencies and decision contexts, including in policy, education, corporate, and investment decision making.

This poster explains what biomimicry is and introduces the idea of sustainable design. It provides examples of biomimicry and mentions an innovation developed in the Pacific Northwest that won a green chemistry award. A supplemental document also mentions some lessons and resources that could be taught in the classroom. It was developed by the Washington State Department of Ecology.

*This is Module 1 of a 4 Module, multi-lesson unit. Sustainable Invention: An Exploration of Bioplastics is a unit that has been developed to introduce middle school students and educators to sustainable invention and green chemistry principles. The Sustainable Invention unit seeks to address the challenges of integrating invention education into middle school science curricula and advance STEM ...

* This is Module 2 of a 4-Module, multi-lesson unit. Sustainable Invention: An Exploration of Bioplastics is a unit that has been developed to introduce middle school students and educators to sustainable invention and green chemistry principles. The Sustainable Invention unit seeks to address the challenges of integrating invention education into middle school science curricula and advance STEM ...

*This is Module 3 of a 4 Module, multi-lesson unit. Sustainable Invention: An Exploration of Bioplastics is a unit that has been developed to introduce middle school students and educators to sustainable invention and green chemistry principles. The Sustainable Invention unit seeks to address the challenges of integrating invention education into middle school science curricula and advance STEM ...

*This is Module 4 of a 4-Module, multi-lesson unit. Sustainable Invention: An Exploration of Bioplastics is a unit that has been developed to introduce middle school students and educators to sustainable invention and green chemistry principles. The Sustainable Invention unit seeks to address the challenges of integrating invention education into middle school science curricula and advance STEM ...

This experiment highlights the synthesis of the Earth-abundant metal complex, Fe(acac)3 (acac = acetylacetonate), using an approach that is greener than traditional published syntheses. Students will also have an opportunity to determine the magnetic susceptibility of this complex and to learn about NMR spectroscopy.

This lesson introduces the global problem of plastics and sets the stage for designing a biodegradable cell phone case made from renewable materials. Students will consider their own impact on the environment through their personal choices while exploring the scale of effect that one product can have.

This project came about from a collaboration between Beyond Benign and Steelcase.

In this lesson, students will be tasked with designing a biodegradable cell phone case made with mycelium material by Ecovative Design. They will explore how Ecovative is combating the global problem of plastics by using Styrofoam-alternative materials grown from mycelium, which are the parts of a fungi analogous to the roots of a plant. They will then be introduced to the engineering design ...

In this lesson, students will take part in a very important task typical of any scientist or engineer: reviewing and revising their experimental procedure. Together, their changes will highlight the three criteria important for green chemistry technology, which allows for discussion of the sustainability of their mycelium cell phone case.

This project came about from a collaboration between ...

In this lesson, the students reflect on where their project is in the engineering design process and build their final product: a mycelium material cell phone case. They then create data tables that they will fill in throughout the growth process to help guide their product evaluation. This part of the unit takes approximately 10-15 days, depending on the growth of the mycelium which depends on ...

In this lesson, students will revise those procedures and use them to evaluate their mycelium cell phone cases. They will then use the information from their experiments to draw conclusions about their final product and choose one case to recommend.

This project came about from a collaboration between Beyond Benign and Steelcase.

This lesson challenges students to consider the information they have gathered about the cost, safety and performance of their case and communicate the details of their final product in a presentation.

This project came about from a collaboration between Beyond Benign and Steelcase.

The Sustainable STEM curriculum features a 6-lesson unit focusing on sustainable design. Students create their own cell phone case out of renewable mushroom material and see how the product aligns with the three criteria of green chemistry.
The mushroom material was developed by Ecovative as a Styrofoam replacement for packaging.
Sustainable STEM also features 3 stand-alone lessons.
- Fabulous ...

Students will consider the difference between natural and synthetic fibers and investigate the ways that a variety of fabrics will interact with both basic and acidic dyes.

This project came about from a collaboration between Beyond Benign and Steelcase.

In this lesson, students will explore the basics of polymer science, using pipe cleaners and colored penne to create models. Then, students will create two different slimes using chemical reactions and consider the difference between naturally derived and synthetic materials.

This project came about from a collaboration between Beyond Benign and Steelcase.

In this lesson, students will be introduced to biomimicry and Sharklet film. They will then investigate how Sharklet works through a hands-on experiment that simulates the accumulation of bacteria on surfaces with and without the pattern.

This project came about from a collaboration between Beyond Benign and Steelcase.

Fossil fuels (natural gas, coal, oil) are non-sustainable and non-renewable resources that our current society has become heavily dependent on. Petroleum (literally rock oil) is the source of gasoline and diesel gas, two common fuels that keep our automobiles running. Prices of these petroleum based fuel are rising due to their high demand and scarcity. In addition, the burning of these fuels ...

This is a laboratory experiment for Organic Chemistry for a greener SN2 reaction. The reaction uses a greener solvent and produces a benign product. It was published in J. Chem. Ed.

A Simple SN2 Reaction for the Undergraduate Organic Laboratory
John J. Esteb, John R. Magers, LuAnne McNulty, Paul Morgan, and Anne M. Wilson
Journal of Chemical Education 2009 86 (7), 850
DOI: 10.1021/ed086p850

This overview outlines the recent progress made in addressing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals through educators incorporating systems thinking approaches within green and sustainable chemistry education. A blend of programme-level and course-level approaches to embedding systems thinking into teaching is discussed together with more specific resources such as practical experiments ...

This article summarizes ideas of activities to help you energize your students to tackle poverty using their chemistry learning.

The significant role that chemistry plays in the battle to end global poverty is related to the potential to mediate the harmful effects of poverty. This resource highlights three key reasons we need to get comfortable talking about poverty in chemistry classrooms:

1 ...

Ingredients in nail polish and polish removers are the primary causes of occupational health problems manicurists frequently face. Several key concepts of green chemistry can be taught to an undergraduate audience using nail polish removers as a case study. Students generated green profiles of various nail polish removers available on the market based on the 12 principles of green chemistry. This ...

What should you NOT forget when going outside on a sunny day? To put sunscreen on! Sunscreen is important because it protects your skin from sunburn. But there are so many sunscreens to choose from: different methods of application (sprays and lotions), different Sun Protection Factors (SPFs), and different ingredients. Which one is best? In this science project, you will test the effectiveness of ...

This poster invites your class to learn how to design more sustainable products by thinking about a product's full life cycle using the 6 Rs of Sustainable Design. It was developed by the Washington State Department of Ecology.
Copies of this poster are also available in Spanish, Marshallese, Farsi, Ukranian, and Russian.
You can order the poster for free by going to "request a copy" or download ...

What do you think are some of the most common stains on clothes? If you thought of grass, grease, ketchup, blood, or toothpaste stains, you are correct. Everyday activities like eating, playing outside, or doing sports can result in a lot of dirty laundry. Luckily, we have laundry detergents that can get our clothes clean again! Some of these detergents contain enzymes that are intended to boost ...

It is well known that epoxides can undergo rearrangement to yield carbonyl compounds in the presence of a Lewis acid catalyst. Classically these catalysts have included a wide variety of compounds some of which are hazardous and harmful. The impetus for this experiment came from a previous lab taught by the authors in which toxic, corrosive boron trifluoride etherate was used to catalyze the ...

Alice tries to use medication and home remedies, but nothing works on her itchy skin. Then she learns a very long word called "methylisothiazolinone". This resource is a 32-page picture book for 4-8 year-olds.

The Green Soap Girl and the Itchy Allergy is the story of a lovable girl named Alice who struggles with eczema until she discovers that she has methylisothiazolinone allergy. Loosely based ...

This article explores the significant environmental impact of microplastics, tiny plastic particles less than 5mm in size. These particles originate from larger plastic debris breaking down and microbeads from cosmetic products. Microplastics are pervasive in marine environments, posing threats to wildlife through ingestion and chemical contamination. The article highlights the urgent need for ...

The Olin Chemical Superfund Site case study module consists of four lesson units and a classroom follow-up activity, designed to introduce students to the U.S. EPA’s Superfund Program and the history of the chemical industry. It also delves into the toxicology of chemicals released into the environment, while helping students explore green chemistry innovations that aim to eliminate the use of ...

This resource delves into the concept of pH changes using ocean acidification as a context. It presents questions that help students establish the connection between pH changes and their impact on marine organisms in the context of ocean acidification.

The experiment uses exhaled breath to explore the reaction between carbon dioxide and water. Students blow into a flask containing water and an indicator, causing a color change as carbon dioxide dissolves and forms carbonic acid, a weak acid. The experiment illustrates concepts of gas-liquid reactions, pH indicators, and the impact of carbon dioxide on water chemistry.

Researchers across the planet play a key role in enhancing the energy-, feedstock- and material-transition necessary to allow for circularity and thus mitigation of the climate crisis. Their contribution, education and skills are necessary to develop a sustainable future by meeting the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Scientific research is also vital for climate awareness and solutions ...

In this episode of Green Chem Essential, with host James Rea:

In 2003, Gordon College sophomore Laura Ouillette was assigned a research paper by her chemistry professor Irv Levy. Laura wanted her topic to reflect her interest in the environment, and so she chose to write her paper about research in Green Chemistry. Irv was highly skeptical... doubtful at the time that this was an area of "real" ...

This lab demonstrates a pericyclic reaction that is popular in undergraduate texts, the Diels-Alder reaction, and does so in the context of using water as a safe, alternative solvent. Adapted from work published by Larsen and Grieco in 1985, this experiment makes use of the synthesis of N-benzyl-2-azanorbornene to present green chemistry to students. Not only is this very atom-economical reaction ...

In this experiment, ZnCuInS2 quantum dots of differing sizes are prepared and analyzed by UV-Vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. The ZnCuInS quantum dot synthesis is inherently greener than common nanoparticle syntheses, e.g. CsPbX3 or CdSe, because the use of Pb and Cd is avoided. Due to their tunability and excellent optical properties, quantum dots have allowed for the development of QLED ...

Middle and and high school curricula is described based on the synthesis of biodegradable calcium alginate capsules prepared from food-safe chemicals. Green chemistry principles are shared through the use of renewable and degradable materials and the application to new innovations in the design of environmentally friendly alternatives to plastic water bottles.

Emma R. Corcoran, Cassandra Lydon ...

This resource provides activities and suggestions for incorporating UN Sustainable Development Goal 9 into the teaching of reaction kinetics, equilibrium, and catalysts.

This laboratory experiment uses tannins from acorns and iron from rusted metal to color cotton fabrics. It explores renewable dyes, oxidation and reduction reactions, and the creation of organometallic coordination polymers from waste resources. It's suited for introductory and non-major students but can be extended into upper-level undergraduate courses as well.

It's well suited for the fall ...

This review article overviews solvent selection guides and explains their role in helping to choose appropriate solvents as well as highlights their similarities and differences. Provides an overview of data from (and comparison between) solvent selection guides by GSK, Sanofi, Pfizer, ACS Green Chemistry Institute, and CHEM21.

Full citation: Byrne, F.P., Jin, S., Paggiola, G. et al. Tools and ...

This published article describes the development of a comprehensive solvent selection tool and framework at AstraZeneca, as well as the significant changes and improvements over original solvent selection efforts at the company. Through consideration of chemical functionality, physical properties, regulatory concerns, and safety/health/environmental (SHE) impact, the new and improved tool allows ...

A special topics course on "Towards the Greening of Our minds" is offered every other spring at Washington College. This course is designed for science majors who have taken general and organic chemistry and are interested in the future of the planet. The ultimate goal of the class is for students to use green chemistry as a way to critically evaluate environmental policy. Over the course of the ...

This module is part of a collection of nine green chemistry teaching modules developed in the early 2000s by a team of faculty (Donna Narsavage-Heald, Trudy Dickneider, David Marx, Timothy Foley, Joan Wasilewski) led by Michael Cann at the University of Scranton and has been migrated to the GCTLC. The subjects of the modules are based on winners of the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. The modules ...

"Plastic made from milk" —that certainly sounds like something made up. If you agree, you may be surprised to learn that in the early 20th century, milk was used to make many different plastic ornaments —including jewelry for Queen Mary of England! In this chemistry science project, you can figure out the best recipe to make your own milk plastic (usually called casein plastic) and use it to make ...

Are biofuels the wave of the future? People often talk about these plant-derived fuels as a way to someday cut down on our dependency on non-renewable carbon-based fuels, like gasoline. Ethanol (a type of alcohol) is a common biofuel used today. In the United States, ethanol is a common biofuel additive to normal gasoline. In fact, some states mandate that when you fill up your gas tank, 10 ...

This resource connects human activities to the impact they have on the environment. This activity focuses on the topic of climate change by exploring the chemistry behind climate change and its impact on the environment using a flow diagram.

If we are to meet the demands of sustainability and climate change in the time needed, green chemistry advancements will have to happen faster than traditional methods of discovery can often make possible.

In this episode of Green Chem Essential, with host James Rea, Dr. Alexi Lapkin and his fellow researchers describe how they are trying to use the combined power of machine learning & ...