GCTLC Library

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 & ...

The medicines we rely on may look tiny when we hold them in our hands, but the manufacturing processes that create those medicines happen at a very large scale. Anything that makes those processes cleaner, safer, and more efficient can have a tremendous impact on efforts to fight climate change and create a more sustainable future.

Hear how green chemistry is helping to make those changes ...

The article discusses how chemistry fundamentals are taught using sustainable principles to address climate change. Green chemistry and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) guide educators in creating resources that connect these principles with sustainability. Systems thinking is used to design relevant lectures, activities, and assessments. A week-long stoichiometry module is ...

EmmaLee Pallai, Mikaila C. Hoffman, and Gabriela S. Schlau-Cohen (2024). "Values Are More Than Statements: Connecting Actions to Values to Build Inclusive Cultures in Chemistry Research Groups." Journal of Chemical Education Article ASAP DOI: 10.1021/acs.jchemed.4c00600

Abstract: A diverse scientific community is a strong scientific community. Innovation and progress require varied perspectives ...

This article presents the issues and barriers to retention of black talent in the field of chemistry and offers solutions and personal insights from black students, faculty, staff, and industry scientists in the chemistry space.

Voices of Black Talent in Chemistry: Retention Strategies and Personal Success Stories
Thais Scott, Davina Adderley, Yasmin Ali, Michael Amanuel, Alexis Blake, Makalya ...

This paper describes a four-hour experimental session focused on monitoring the degradation of an organic pollutant using a Fenton-like reaction. In this experiment, an aqueous solution of p-nitrophenol is treated with hydrogen peroxide and magnetite, with the reaction's progress tracked through UV–vis spectrophotometry and/or gas chromatography utilizing an internal standard. Undergraduate ...

Electrolysis of water is carried out using biobased/low hazard indicators to help illustrate the reaction.

Key Chemistry References for this activity:
1) Skinner, J. F. “Red Cabbage and the Electrolysis of Water.” J Chem. Educ., 1981, 58, 1017. https://pubs.acs.org/doi/pdf/10.1021/ed058p1017.1
2) Hugerat, M.; Abu-Much, R.; Basheer, A.; Basheer, S. “Using Inexpensive to Free Materials to do ...

This resource offers activities and directions that emphasize the role of women in chemistry in alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) focused on attaining gender equality and empowering women and girls.

Both green and sustainable chemistry and engineering can broadly reach and interconnect different aspects of our society. To promote peace and protect our planet by 2030, the systemic change enabled by the holistic and inclusive perspective of green and sustainable chemistry and engineering is essential. Within this context, women and girls occupy a unique position: (1) The consequences of climate ...

The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry guide us to use catalysts to improve the energy and atom efficiency of reactions. The principles also guide us to use renewable feedstocks. In this experiment, we can see how waste from one process can be used productively in another. Specifically, biodiesel can be made from waste vegetable oil, a renewable feedstock that was traditionally discarded by the food ...

Green chemistry focuses on developing sustainable and environmentally friendly practices within the field of chemistry. An effective approach to introducing this concept is through the exploration of the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, which serve as a guiding framework for creating safer, more efficient, and environmentally conscious chemical processes. By incorporating these principles into ...

Whether you're new to the world of green chemistry education and research or a seasoned veteran, the Green Chemistry Teaching and Learning Community (GCTLC) offers a terrific chance to connect with others in the field and access a tremendous collection of valuable resources.

The mission of this online community portal is summed up by the four main content categories: Learn, Share, Connect, Grow ...