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CHEM40960

Academic Year 2024/2025

Green and Sustainable Chem (CHEM40960)

Subject:
Chemistry
College:
Science
School:
Chemistry
Level:
4 (Masters)
Credits:
5
Module Coordinator:
Dr Andrew Phillips
Trimester:
Autumn
Mode of Delivery:
On Campus
Internship Module:
No
How will I be graded?
Letter grades

Curricular information is subject to change.

This module covers advanced topics related to green and sustainable chemistry. In particular, this module goes into more in-depth aspects of the 12 principles of green chemistry, which are the core concepts for green transformation of chemistry, The course begins with an introduction to the history and development of industrial chemistry, leading to the current status and production of crucial fundamental chemicals. The sustainable section of the module includes the development of the application of alternative and renewable energy sources, including the creation of fuels (methanol and hydrogen) and platform chemicals from biomass and artificial photosynthesis. Importantly, a detailed discussion of the current technology which is used to convert and store solar energy along with energy derived from nuclear reactions. An essential aspect of sustainable are the challenges, issues and solutions related to element sustainability. The environmental section discusses advanced aspects of air pollution and current methods in pollution remediation. The green chemistry section is divided into two major topics, including the application of catalysis enabling them to function under mild conditions and in non-toxic, alternative media (in comparison to traditional organic-based solvents). Specific examples of the green transformation of fundamental industry reactions in synthetic chemistry, including oxidation and reduction, carbon-carbon bond formation, and carbon-hydrogen bond activation are outlined. Importantly, tools to understand the greenness of a reaction are introduced termed green metrics. Finally the course introduces the concept of process intensification and includes a discussion on reactor design, such as the use of flow- and membrane-based reactors. Additionally, cutting-edge synthesis techniques (process intensification) such as micro-reactors, mono-lithic supported catalysis and reactive distillation demonstrate how traditional large scale polluting chemical factories are replaced by small foot-print and environmental compatible modulator reactors.

About this Module

Learning Outcomes:

Industrial chemistry including history, post-war development, the modern era of materials, drugs and food. The petroleum industry, synthesis and application of top platform chemicals. Environmental impact of different chemical industries with an emphasis on the European region. Natural and sustainable replacement of platform chemicals, agricultural-based production, bio-derivatisation. Biological and artificial methods of defunctionalising molecules from biomass, including lactic acid and glycerol. Fundamental aspects of homogeneous catalysis, an overview of the major reactions used in industry. An in-depth examination of oxidation, reduction, hydrogenation and C-C bond formation. Catalysis and green chemistry metrics including E-factors, space-time yields and TON/TOF. Process intensification definitions and classifications. Batch and flow reactors with emphasis on reaction engineering. Structured and micro-reactors. Integrated reactions with membrane reactors. Solar light harvesting and water splitting using homogenous catalysts. Energy derived from nuclear power, fossil fuel combustion and climate/radiation budgets. Biomass/Biorefining with heterogeneous catalysts. Solar photovoltaics with emphasis on silicon-based technology and batteries. Photocatalysts and hydrogen production. Element sustainability and looping including current strategies on carbon capture from power plants and the atmosphere.

Indicative Module Content:

Industrial chemistry including history, post-war development, the modern era of materials, drugs and food. The petroleum industry, synthesis and application of top platform chemicals. Environmental impact of different chemical industries with an emphasis on the European region. Natural and sustainable replacement of platform chemicals, agricultural-based production, bio-derivatisation. Biological and artificial methods of defunctionalising molecules from biomass, including lactic acid and glycerol. Fundamental aspects of homogeneous catalysis, an overview of the major reactions used in industry. An in-depth examination of oxidation, reduction, hydrogenation and C-C bond formation. Catalysis and green chemistry metrics including E-factors, space-time yields and TON/TOF. Process intensification definitions and classifications. Batch and flow reactors with emphasis on reaction engineering. Structured and micro-reactors. Integrated reactions with membrane reactors. Solar light harvesting and water splitting using homogenous catalysts. Energy derived from nuclear power, fossil fuel combustion and climate/radiation budgets. Biomass/Biorefining with heterogeneous catalysts. Solar photovoltaics with emphasis on silicon-based technology and batteries. Photocatalysts and hydrogen production. Element sustainability and looping including current strategies on carbon capture from power plants and the atmosphere.

Student Effort Hours:
Student Effort Type Hours
Lectures

24
Small Group

12
Autonomous Student Learning

80
Total

116

Approaches to Teaching and Learning:
Student learning consists of different approaches including several enquiry & problem-based assignments and group/individual presentations based on topics in green and sustainable chemistry. Additionally, some continuous assessment involves research and writing on topics related to industrial chemistry and process intensification. Problem-solving topics include green chemical reactions and catalytic metric (in-class assignment) with specific emphasis on developing an understanding of green metrics. A variety of topics related to group presentation work includes new methods in process intensification and alternative reaction media. Individual assignment and presentation are based on the annual American presentational green challenge.

Requirements, Exclusions and Recommendations
Learning Requirements:

CHEM20110


Module Requisites and Incompatibles
Pre-requisite:
CHEM20110 - Env & Sustainable Chem.


 

Assessment Strategy
Description Timing Component Scale Must Pass Component % of Final Grade In Module Component Repeat Offered
Group Work Assignment: A group presentation on a selected topic within the field of solar-based fuels or biorefining.
 Week 10 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
6.67
 No
Individual Project: A individual presentation on a selected topic with the scope of the presidential green challenge. Week 12 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
13.32
 No
Exam (In-person): Final exam based parts A and B of the course. End of trimester
Duration:
2 hr(s)
 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
60
 No
Individual Project: Presentation and Handout on a selected industrial chemical production process. Week 2 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
6.67
 No
Assignment(Including Essay): An assignment on green chemical reactions and metrics. Uploaded to brightspace. Week 5 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
6.67
 No
Group Work Assignment: A group presentation and handout on a selected process intensification method. Week 6 Standard conversion grade scale 40% No
6.67
 No

Carry forward of passed components
No
 

Resit In Terminal Exam
Spring Yes - 2 Hour
Please see Student Jargon Buster for more information about remediation types and timing. 

Feedback Strategy/Strategies

• Feedback individually to students, post-assessment
• Group/class feedback, post-assessment

How will my Feedback be Delivered?

Students receive individual indicators on their performance in the problem sets and group/individual presentations. Solution documents to problem sets are made available online through Brightspace. Students receive feedback and additional practice through the in-class work sessions held during the trimester.

Green Chemistry: An Introductory Text, Lancaster Mike, Royal Chemistry Society, 2016
Handbook of Green Chemistry, Tools for Green Chemistry, Beach, Kundu, Anastas, Wiley, 2017
Green Catalysis: Homogeneous Catalysis, Crabtree, Wiley, 2014
Green Chemistry Metrics: A Guide to Determining and Evaluating Process Greenness, Dicks and Hent, Springer, 2014
Green Extraction of Natural Products: Theory and Practice, Chematm Strube, Wiley 2015
The Fundamentals of Process Intensification, Stankiewicz, Van Gerven, Wiley, 2017
Process Synthesis and Process Intensification: Methodological Approaches, Guang Rong, Aguilera, De Gruyter, 2017

Name Role
Professor James Sullivan Lecturer / Co-Lecturer

Timetabling information is displayed only for guidance purposes, relates to the current Academic Year only and is subject to change.
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Fri 14:00 - 14:50
Autumn Lecture Offering 1 Week(s) - Autumn: All Weeks Mon 14:00 - 15:50
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