Green Chemistry in Higher Education
Amy S. Cannon, Ph.D.
Executive Director
Beyond Benign
Amy_Cannon@beyondbenign.org
www.greenchemistrycommitment.org
Non-profit organization founded in 2007 by Dr. John Warner and Dr.
Amy Cannon, located north of Boston (Wilmington, MA).
Mission: Beyond Benign is dedicated to providing future and current
scientists, educators and citizens with the tools to teach and learn
about green chemistry in order to create a sustainable future.
Vision: Beyond Benign’s vision is to revolutionize the way chemistry
is taught to better prepare students to engage with their world while
connecting chemistry, human health and the environment.
www.beyondbenign.org
Beyond Benign
Organic & Polymer
Synthesis
Lab
Particle Size & Surface
Characterization Lab
Biomaterials
Lab
Chemicals &
Lab Supplies
Microscopy &
Surface Analysis
Lab
X-ray Lab
Learning
Center
Environment
& Toxicology
Lab
Analytical
Separations
Lab
Applications
and Coatings
Research Lab
…
Metal Oxide Research Labs
Fabrication &
Physical Testing,
WBI Scientists
Office Space
Thermal Analysis &
Spectroscopy Lab
NMR
Lab
Multi-use Chemistry
Lab
WBI Executive Office Space
Cafe
3
BB Programs
K-12 Curriculum &
Training
o Green Chemistry
curriculum
o Green math
curriculum
o Biotechnology
curriculum
o Teacher training
institutes/workshops
o On-line course
Green Chemistry
Outreach
Green Chemistry
Commitment
o College Student
Fellows
o On-site field trips
o Outreach experiences
and events
o Green Chemistry
Education webinar
series
o GC resources for
higher education
o Toxicology in the
chemistry curriculum
How will Green Chemistry advance
throughout the 21st century?
• R&D to Implementation
• Education
– Teach the next generation of scientists how to
design green alternatives
– Tools and resources
Design Criteria
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Solubility
Melting Point
Glass transition temperature
Mechanical Properties (Tensile Strength, Modulus, Elongation)
Refractive Index
Surface Tension
Design Criteria
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Solubility
Melting Point
Glass transition temperature
Mechanical Properties (Tensile Strength, Modulus, Elongation)
Refractive Index
Surface Tension
Toxicity
Environmental Impact
Green Chemistry Education
K-12
University
Professional
Green Chemistry in Higher Education:
Challenges
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Disconnect from industry
Individual commitments as opposed to institutional
Resource constraints
Faculty expertise (or lack there of)
Perception of green chemistry
Curriculum is out of date/not relevant
University of Oregon’s
Greener Educational
Materials for Chemists
(GEMs) database
http://greenchem.uoregon.edu/
gems.html
Green Chemistry in Higher Education:
Why?
• The transformative power of green chemistry principles and
practice
• Valued by students
• Better prepares students post-graduation
• Removing hazards from laboratories
• Doing chemistry right the first time
• It’s the right thing to do
• Valued by industry
– Environmental, economic and social benefits
Green Chemistry: Valued by Industry
http://www.sigmaaldrich.com/chemistry/greener-alternatives.html
http://www.greenchemistryandcommerce.org/projects/education
Green Chemistry Commitment
The Green Chemistry Commitment (GCC) is a consortium
program that unites the green chemistry community around
shared goals and a common vision to:
• expand the community of green chemists
• grow departmental resources
• improve connections to industry and job opportunities in
green chemistry
• affect systemic and lasting change in chemistry education
The Commitment Text:
The Green Chemistry Student Learning Objectives
Signing institutions agree that upon graduation, all chemistry majors should
have proficiency in the following essential green chemistry competencies:
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Theory: Have a working knowledge of the twelve principles of Green Chemistry
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Toxicology: Have an understanding of the principles of toxicology, the molecular
mechanisms of how chemicals affect human health and the environment, and the
resources to identify and assess molecular hazards
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Laboratory Skills: Possess the ability to assess chemical products and processes and
design greener alternatives when appropriate
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Application: Be prepared to serve society in their professional capacity as scientists
and professionals through the articulation, evaluation and employment of methods
and chemicals that are benign for human health and the environment
Green Chemistry Commitment: Why?
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A built-in support network with a flexible framework
The power of a collective voice
To share best practices
Encouragement to move forward
Developed by green chemistry practitioners
Track a department’s progress towards adoption of key
student learning objectives
Who is signing on to the GCC?
7 PhD granting institutions
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University of California, Berkeley (2014, #1, US
News & World Report)
University of California, Davis (2014, #32, US News
& World Report)
University of Minnesota (2014, #24, US News &
World Report)
Northeastern University (2014, #92, US News &
World Report)
South Dakota State University
Michigan Tech
University of Toledo
2 MS granting institutions
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Montclair State
SUNY Fredonia
16 BA or BS granting institutions
3 Community Colleges
General trends
• Organic chemistry laboratory is the first place of focus
• Green chemistry degrees and programs
– University of Toledo, School of Green Chemistry & Engineering
– Grand Valley State University, GC Certificate program
• Toxicology is being considered and tested in programs (more
resources need) – there is growing demand for more
resources!
• More resources needed for adoption across all disciplines of
chemistry
GCC Collaborations and Projects
Sharing Information: Best Practices
Collaborative Projects
Documenting Green Chemistry: Making the Case
Industrial Partnerships
Green Chemistry Education Webinar Series
• Green Chemistry Education Webinar Series
– http://www.greenchemistrycommitment.org/resources/webinar-series/
• Began in Fall of 2014
– 6 webinars during academic year
– Webinars are recorded and posted on website
• Highlights relevant topics for chemistry faculty and students looking
to adopt green chemistry
• Return in the Fall of 2015:
– September 30, 2015, 2-3pm EDT: Dr. Andy Dicks, Selected Green Chemistry
Metrics for Educators
Toxicology Working Group
• Addressing the knowledge gap of toxicology and
understanding molecular hazards in the chemistry curriculum
• Comprised of GCC signers & outside stakeholders
• Collaborate with industry experts
• Boston ACS Meeting
– Toxicology for Chemists CHED Session
• Sunday, August 16th (Full-Day) and Monday August 17th (Half-Day)
• Captured presentations and transform them in to modules that will be placed online
• Development of resources for chemistry faculty
Green Chemistry Case Studies
• EPA Region 2 Source Reduction Grant
• Environmental and Economic Benefits of Green Chemistry
• 10 Case Studies available on-line
– 5 for General Chemistry
• Green Chemistry in the General Chemistry Laboratory
• Evaluations of General Chemistry Labs
– 3 for Organic Chemistry
– 2 Activities
• Global Warming and Green House Gases Experiment
• Understanding Chemical Hazard Activity
Green Chemistry Case Studies: An Example
Traditional vs. Greener Alcohol Dehydration
Traditional Experiment Summary:
A Greener Approach Summary:
Total amounts of chemicals used and
disposed of per class of 100 students:
527.4 mL cyclohexanol (0.14 gal)
100 mL conc. Phosphoric acid (0.03 gal)
1.25 L (0.33 gal) toluene
 0.63 gallons of liquid and 0.55 lbs solid
waste
Total amounts of chemicals used and
disposed of per class of 100 students:
250 mL 2-methylcyclohexanol
12.5 grams Montmorillonite KSF clay
(can be reused)
150 mL Poly(ethylene glycol) solvent
0.07 gallons liquid waste
Total purchasing and waste disposal costs
per class of 100 students:
$187.52 in purchasing costs
$7.80 in waste disposal costs
$195.32 total cost
Total purchasing and waste disposal costs
per class of 100 students:
$78.12 in purchasing costs
$1.19 in waste disposal costs
$79.32 total cost
Sigma-Aldrich Partnership
• Working group of Organic Chemistry Faculty members
– Leaders in Green Chemistry Education
– Faculty who have little or no experience in Green Chemistry
• Development of a Green Chemistry Guide for the Organic
Chemistry Laboratory Course
– List of typical laboratory experiments in an organic chemistry lab
course
– Suggestions for greener alternatives, along with summary of
environmental and economic benefits
• Development of Laboratory Experiments for Sigma-Aldrich
Green Chemistry Education
K-12
University
Professional
Thank you!
Steering Committee:
Support:
Dr. John Arnold, University of California Berkeley
Dr. Ed Brush, Bridgewater State University
Dr. Rich Gurney, Simmons College
Dr. Jonathan Kenny, Tufts University
Dr. Dalila Kovacs, Grand Valley State University
Prof. Irv Levy, Gordon College
Dr. Anne Marteel-Parrish, Washington College
Dr. Marty Mulvihill, University of California
Berkeley
Dr. Doug Raynie, South Dakota State University
Dr. Bill Tolman, University of Minnesota
Dr. Ryan Trovitch, Arizona State University
Dr. John Warner, Warner Babcock Institute for
Green Chemistry
Dr. Wei Zhang, University of Massachusetts Boston
Dr. Nick Anastas, U.S. EPA Region 1
Argosy Foundation
Dow Chemical
Elevance Renewable Sciences, Inc.
Momentive Specialty Chemicals
Sigma-Aldrich
Strem Chemical
V. Kann Rasmussen Foundation
Contact:
Amy_Cannon@beyondbenign.org
www.greenchemistrycommitment.org
www.beyondbenign.org