Chem321:Discussion 10

THE SUSTAINABLE WORLD (Chemistry 321)
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Look at the winners of the Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge, and pick out one winner. Below (under the header with your name), describe how the technology exemplifies green chemistry, and also mention any shortcomings or limitations of the technology.

Post an answer on one such technology by 11:59pm on Wednesday, July 29th, 2015. Then post one followup comment on another student's answer by 11:59pm on Friday, July 31st, 2015.

Alexander Levitz

I chose the 2010 Small Business Award for the microbial production of renewable petroleum fuels and chemicals, which is a phenomenally awesome and laudable process. This process employs microbes to synthesize products like Ultraclean diesel and a variety of other chemicals, as it exploits their natural abilities to metabolize various fermentable sugars (this process is also tailored through the utilization of recombinant technologies, which allow for the introduction of new biochemical pathways in these various microbes). These processes are superior to the other biofuel production processes, as these microbes do not require the addition of metal catalysts, and the microbes are capable of secreting the finished fuels or chemicals into the growth media. This advent exemplifies green chemistry as it improves the efficiency of a chemical process whilst simultaneously reducing the overall environmental impact. For example, the utilization of this method in producing biofuels eliminates the benzene, sulfur, and heavy metals found in traditional petroleum-based diesel, thus reducing the amount of adverse waste produced, and improving the overall affordability. Alexanderlevitz (talk) 23:22, 29 July 2015 (EDT)

• That type of technology could turn out to be very important. I think we as a society will always need some type of chemical fuel for some purposes - e.g., for heating a house - and being able to produce fuels from renewable resources is the sensible way to do that. However, one drawback is that such biological processes (like fermentation) are very slow; that's why beer is much more expensive than soda, really! Despite that, much of our gasoline incorporates ethanol from fermentation, so it's definitely feasible. Martin A. Walker (talk) 15:20, 31 July 2015 (EDT)

Triston Riley

2015 Specific Environmental Benefit: Climate Change Award. The technology that won this award was The Algenol Biofuel Process, this process developed a blue-green algae to produce ethanol and other fuels. This exemplifies green chemistry because of the fact that this is a smart way to create a cleaner fuel. It is also a good way to reduce the carbon foot print from creating gas with ethanol thats in it. So not only does this technology reduce our environmental impact, but it is a sophisticated new method for developing and or replacing gasoline better. The only real limitation of this technology is the fact that it only converts 80% of the photosynthetically fixed carbon into ethanol, and also that they can only absorb so much photons, and actually still be able to use them for this process. Rileytc197 (talk) 08:31, 28 July 2015 (EDT)

Triston - yes, that's a really cool choice! Which green chemistry principles do you think would apply here? Martin A. Walker (talk) 16:29, 28 July 2015 (EDT)

I think that for sure the principles of preventing waste, this also creates a less hazardous chemical synthesis. It even increases the energy efficiency since instead of using energy to create the ethanol, it is made naturally. Rileytc197 (talk) 17:31, 28 July 2015 (EDT)

Alexane Rodrigue

I chose the 2013 Greener Synthetic Pathways Award because I believe it exemplifies green chemistry perfectly by finding a way to improve the manufacturing of PCR reagents so that it is more environmentally friendly. Polymerase chain reactions are used all the time in research, yet they tend to produce a lot of hazardous waste. Green chemistry is demonstrated many times with this pathway because it lowers the amount of steps in the reaction, lowers organic solvent use by 95%, lowers hazardous waste by 65%. The E-factor has been reduced from 3200 to 400, which prevents 1.5 million pounds of waste. They have also improved specificity of the reaction which is an important step when it comes to chemistry, and they minded their use of volatile solvents and reagents. I can't really find a short-coming for this process as it seems to completely incorporate most of steps of green chemistry into one process that is much more efficient than the older one. Rodrigaf197 (talk) 19:59, 29 July 2015 (EDT)

• I defenently agree with you, the process of PCR is a greatly used thing for scientists around the world who are making ground breaking discoveries. ( and even those who arnt) It is important that while we are making all of these discoveries that are helping people and changing the world, that we are not creating so much waste, and poising our world in the process. Rileytc197 (talk) 14:47, 30 July 2015 (EDT)

• The biochemists will be happy! This type of thing is big business now, and although it won't have the enormous impact you might see from a new type of gasoline, this technology is already out there and being used for full scale production. It's amazing how often something is made a certain way because "that's how it's made"; once someone takes the time to design a greener pathway they may make incredible improvements, and make the process cheaper into the bargain. Martin A. Walker (talk) 15:32, 31 July 2015 (EDT)

• I personally love this innovation, as I have performed various PCR procedures, and have probably used around half a liter of deoxynucleotide triphosphates (dNTPs), which are the “reagents” (the "building blocks" for the growing chains of DNA) that they have improved upon. A reduction of 65% of the hazardous waste generated is phenomenal, especially considering how ubiquitous and pertinent the polymerase chain reaction is (e.g. it is used in forensics, site-directed mutagenesis, diagnosing diseases, and countless other intriguing applications). Alexanderlevitz (talk) 23:58, 31 July 2015 (EDT)

Jillian Visser

Algenol is a global, industrial biotechnology company that is commercializing its patented algae technology platform for production of ethanol and other biofuels. The Company’s technology is a unique two-step process that first produces ethanol directly from the algae and then converts the spent algae biomass to biodiesel, gasoline and jet fuel. It is the only renewable fuel production process that can convert more than 85% of its CO2 feedstock into the four most important fuels. Algenol exemplifies green chemistry because it follows the principles of green chemistry. Ethanol, used in gas pumps across the country, is typically made from the fermentation of sugars produced by plants such as corn and sugar cane. But through the innovation of converting algae into a “green crude”, Algenol has successfully developed a fossil fuel replacement with yields 20 times greater than that of corn. Algenol is a unique platform by which renewable resources are used to produce biofuels and ethanol in an environmentally friendly way. "The company captures, recycles and utilizes CO2. Its pathway reduces Green House Gas Emissions by 69% compared to gasoline according to the official EPA pathway approval. A single 2,000 acre commercial Algenol module is the equivalent to planting 40-million trees or removing 36-thousand cars from the road!" One of the limitations of Algenol is that it needs to be grown in a warmer climate where the sun shines most of the day all year round. Areas like Florida and California are prime locations for the product to be grown. Here is a link that describes a little bit more about the process: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEg2HmxedDw&list=PL7Moaj2PKS929I8rNRX5cWrsjeM3yh6hJ

• Yes, this is very nice technology. We're already using bioethanol in large quantities in gasoline, but it's not really sustainable at the moment. Switching to the Algenol product would make it sustainable. Also, see Triston's post above. Martin A. Walker (talk) 15:24, 31 July 2015 (EDT)