Green Chemistry: Sustainability as a
Tool for Economic Development
AEED Sustainability Subcommittee
June 17, 2004
Kenneth M. Doxsee
Department of Chemistry
University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403 doxsee@oregon.uoregon.edu

What is Green Chemistry?
Green chemistry is the design and use of methods that eliminate health and environmental hazards in the manufacture and use of chemicals.
• Clean technology – prevent formation of waste
• Environmentally-benign chemistry
• Rational, deliberate design at the molecular level
• Consideration of health and environmental effects of both the process and the product

Why is Green Chemistry Important?
Global change - global warming and ozone depletion
Accumulation of toxins in the environment and humans
Resource depletion - a serious problem given population growth and industrial development
Developed countries
Resource use
Developing countries year

What Can We Do?
Risk is a function of hazard and exposure
Risk = f [hazard, exposure]
By reducing intrinsic hazard, risk can be minimized even in the event of accidental exposure.

Why Should We Care?

Why Should We Care?
• A growing (inter)national reputation for research and education in sustainability is attracting students to UO
• This emphasis exploits the great depth of the UO and the region in sustainability research and education: public policy, law, business (UO) engineering (OSU, PSU) environmental science (PNNL)
• The current Oregon business community is supportive and in need: trained, stable workforce technical expertise and consultation (e.g., CAMCOR)
• Sustainability represents a critical mechanism for attraction to and growth of the Oregon business community

Sustainability = Economic Advantage
By representing the best possible science, green chemistry is not just a way to remain in legal compliance, but a way to obtain a competitive edge.
vs

Green Chemical Research at the
University of Oregon
• Materials synthesis
Alternative solvents
Reduced energy processes
Next-generation materials
• Degradable polymers
• Alternative energy sources
Thermoelectrics
Water splitting
• Catalysis
• Remediation
• Educational materials development

Green Chemical Education at the
University of Oregon
• Green Research
• Organic Chemistry Laboratory
• Green Chemistry in Education Workshop
• General Chemistry Laboratory

Green Organic Chemistry
Laboratory Manual
• Introduction
• Identification of Chemical Hazards
• Chemical Exposure and Environmental
Contamination
• Evaluation of Chemical Hazards
• Introduction to Green Chemistry
• Alternative Solvents
• Alternative Reagents
• Reaction Design and Efficiency
• Alternative Feedstocks and Products
• The Big Picture: Green Chemistry
Metrics
• Experiments (19 at present)
Brooks/Cole (2003)

The Green Chemistry Lab

Annual Green Chemistry in
Education Workshop
Albion College
Antioch College
Briar Cliff College
Colgate University
Davidson College
Drury University
Fort Hays State University
Hendrix College
John Carroll University
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Lane Community College
Le Moyne College
Marygrove College
Middlebury College
Miles College
Millikin University
Minnesota State University at Mankato
National Taiwan University
New College of Florida
Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Oregon Institute of Technology
Pepperdine University
San Diego State University
Southeast Missouri State University
Spelman College
St. Joseph's College
St. Olaf College
Tennessee Technological University
Texas A & M University-Kingsville
Texas Tech University
Tribhuvan University, Nepal
Universidad Iberoamericana, Mexico
Universidade do Porto, Portugal
University of California, Riverside
University of Miami
University of Nebraska at Kearney
University of North Carolina at Wilmington
University of Nottingham, England
University of Portland
University of Southern Indiana
University of the Pacific
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Green Chemistry in Education
Workshop

General Chemistry Laboratory
Dr. Deborah Exton
“Down-the-Drain” Lab Experiments
Pearson Custom Publishing
Boston, MA
ISBN 0-536-70567-4

Sponsors
Alice C. Tyler Perpetual Trust

Take-Away Points
• UO is a world leader in green chemical research and education
• Sustainability is a central UO research focus
• Research includes vital collaborations throughout the State and region
UO – Law, Business, Public Policy
OSU – Engineering
PSU – Engineering
PNNL – Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Take-Away Points
• UO sustainability efforts can play a key role in Statewide competitiveness and economic development
Meeting needs of current regional industries
&
Facilitating location of new industries
Attracting students to State universities
Providing trained, stable workforce
Serving as “high tech extension service”
(consulting, CAMCOR, etc.)
Fostering collaborative, mutually beneficial research
(ONAMI “megamixer,” Kinetics, Inc.)

Oregon Center for Sustainable
Research and Education