Green Chemistry Strategies

Green Chemistry: Strategies to launch a

program

Green Chemistry: Strategies to launch a

programMegan Murphy,

Green Chemistry Intern, LabRATS University of California, Santa

Barbara

Megan Murphy, Green Chemistry Intern, LabRATS

University of California, Santa Barbara

12 Principles 12 Principles Prevention Prevent waste rather than treat it or clean it up Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention

Reduce Waste Atom Economy Reduce Derivatives Use of Renewable Feedstocks

Reduce Hazards Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses Designing Safer Chemicals (Minimizing Toxicity) Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries

Prevention Prevent waste rather than treat it or clean it up Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention

Reduce Waste Atom Economy Reduce Derivatives Use of Renewable Feedstocks

Reduce Hazards Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses Designing Safer Chemicals (Minimizing Toxicity) Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries

12 Principles (continued)12 Principles (continued)

CatalysisCatalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents.

Design for Degradation

Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention

CatalysisCatalytic reagents (as selective as possible) are superior to stoichiometric reagents.

Design for Degradation

Real-time analysis for Pollution Prevention

ScopeScope

Assistance to ResearchersReduction of Unneeded ChemicalsChemical ReplacementsCurriculumPublic Education

Assistance to ResearchersReduction of Unneeded ChemicalsChemical ReplacementsCurriculumPublic Education

Who are we?Who are we?

FacultyGraduate StudentsResearch Staff

Student InternsAnd Intern Advisor

EHS Hazardous Waste ManagerEHS Staff

Choosing A CampaignChoosing A Campaign

What issues is there already buy in for?




What campaigns can you launch and succeed at within a year?






What chemicals make up the majority of waste produced on the campus?








What are the worst chemicals on your campus?




What are the worst chemicals on your campus?


What issues is there already buy in for?What campaigns can you launch and

succeed at within a year?What chemicals make up the majority

of waste produced on the campus?What are the worst chemicals on your

campus?What is your team most invested in?

What issues is there already buy in for?What campaigns can you launch and

succeed at within a year?What chemicals make up the majority

of waste produced on the campus?What are the worst chemicals on your

campus?What is your team most invested in?

Building off existing buy-inBuilding off existing buy-in

Someone on campus already wants tqo see this happen

Champions already identified Ties in with goals outside of

sustainability (safety, cost, quality, etc..)

Someone on campus already wants tqo see this happen

Champions already identified Ties in with goals outside of

sustainability (safety, cost, quality, etc..)

Room Temperature DNA/RNA Storage

Room Temperature DNA/RNA Storage

ProblemFreezer failure and associated

degradation of precious samples High energy and financial cost of

freezersThe Right Time

Other campuses initiating pilotsHigh incentive for companies to support

pilot programs

ProblemFreezer failure and associated

degradation of precious samples High energy and financial cost of

freezersThe Right Time

Other campuses initiating pilotsHigh incentive for companies to support

pilot programs

Room TemperatureDNA/RNA Storage

Room TemperatureDNA/RNA Storage

SolutionTable top

storage of samples

Technology inspired by nature

4 labs engaged

SolutionTable top

storage of samples

Technology inspired by nature

4 labs engaged

Low Hanging FruitWhat campaigns can you launch and

succeed at within a year?

Low Hanging FruitWhat campaigns can you launch and

succeed at within a year?

Easy to accomplish Quick successes Great for publicity in the first few

years

Easy to accomplish Quick successes Great for publicity in the first few

years

Low Hanging FruitLow Hanging Fruit

Mercury Thermometer ProgramSurplus Chemical Program

Mercury Thermometer ProgramSurplus Chemical Program

Mercury Thermometer Program


Problem:CostSafety



•Collected 806 thermometers and 2 barometers•Gave away 387 spirit thermometers

•Saved up to $40,000 (assuming all collected thermometers would have broken at some point in time.)•Total cost: $6,300 including intern support

Surplus Chemical ProgramSurplus Chemical ProgramWebsite which advertises chemicals188 chemicals exchanged; 38 labs, 5% of

Laboratories on campusSustainability.ucsb.edu/LARS/programs/

adopt

Website which advertises chemicals188 chemicals exchanged; 38 labs, 5% of

Laboratories on campusSustainability.ucsb.edu/LARS/programs/

adopt

Biggest waste streamBiggest waste stream

Often not the “worst” chemicals, but critical due to the scale of the waste stream

Affects a large number of laboratories across the campus and has the potential to develop a broad support base

Often not the “worst” chemicals, but critical due to the scale of the waste stream

Affects a large number of laboratories across the campus and has the potential to develop a broad support base

Flammable Solvents Flammable Solvents

Problem35 tons/yr of flammable solvents

treated as wasteNearly $44,000 spent to dispose of

solvent wasteSolution

Switch labs over to solvent free processes where possible

Problem35 tons/yr of flammable solvents

treated as wasteNearly $44,000 spent to dispose of

solvent wasteSolution

Switch labs over to solvent free processes where possible

Worst ChemicalsWorst Chemicals

Only applicable to a relatively small subset of laboratories

Risk of not being successfulTry combining campaigns where

you know you’ll be successful and riskier ones run simultaneously

Only applicable to a relatively small subset of laboratories

Risk of not being successfulTry combining campaigns where

you know you’ll be successful and riskier ones run simultaneously

HF AcidHF Acid

Strong support from faculty who would prefer an alternative

Safety and Sustainability motivationsHigh potential for no alternative to be

found, but important to ask the question

Great learning opportunity for student interns performing the research

Strong support from faculty who would prefer an alternative

Safety and Sustainability motivationsHigh potential for no alternative to be

found, but important to ask the question

Great learning opportunity for student interns performing the research

Team or Personal commitment

Team or Personal commitment

A campaign you or your team is strongly invested in that might be harder to achieve or require long-term planning

A campaign you or your team is strongly invested in that might be harder to achieve or require long-term planning

Curriculum DevelopmentCurriculum Development

Honors courses as a testing groundStep 1: Identify courses that use a

chemical you want to replace Step 2: Identify a potential alternative

(MIT Green Purchasing Wizard, great start)

Step 3: Test alternative in honors class and use the rest of the class as a control

Honors courses as a testing groundStep 1: Identify courses that use a

chemical you want to replace Step 2: Identify a potential alternative

(MIT Green Purchasing Wizard, great start)

Step 3: Test alternative in honors class and use the rest of the class as a control

Curriculum DevelopmentCurriculum Development

K-12 Outreach Developing 12 lesson plans for the 12

principles of Green Chemistry

Centered on 5th grade audience because existing chemistry outreach programs are focused on 5th grade

K-12 Outreach Developing 12 lesson plans for the 12

principles of Green Chemistry

Centered on 5th grade audience because existing chemistry outreach programs are focused on 5th grade

Expanding to larger scaleExpanding to larger scale

Bring in the experts

Utilize every opportunity to develop support of Chairs, Deans, and administration

Engage faculty

Bring in the experts

Utilize every opportunity to develop support of Chairs, Deans, and administration

Engage faculty

The ChallengeThe Challenge

We challenge you to take on the issue

We challenge you to take on the issue

Questions?Questions?

Please Contact our group at:(805)893-2003Or [email protected]

Please Contact our group at:(805)893-2003Or [email protected]

Green Chemistry Strategies

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