PrintLesson 4 introduced a very wide topic - green chemistry - which covers numerous innovations in chemical process design, manufacturing, and materials. Chemistry penetrates almost every aspect of modern technology, so such questions as how the technological components are made, where the starting materials come from, and what happens to them through the lifecycle are pivotal points for decision makers looking for increasing sustainability. There are ongoing efforts in both the US and Europe to develop guidance for assessment of chemical technologies, and a variety of methodologies have been tested so far. There is no unified system of assessment, which is understandable considering the diversity of subjects within the area of green chemistry. What you should take home from this lesson is the understanding of main steps and principles, plus a list of key resources which can help with consistent analysis of emerging chemical technologies. This lesson activity provides you with hands-on practice of examination of a real-life case and should stimulate some critical thinking with respect to what works and what does not in the recommended assessment protocols.
| Type | Assignment Directions | Submit To |
|---|---|---|
| Reading | Complete all necessary reading assigned in this lesson. | |
| Discussion | Chemical exposure: All of us are routinely exposed to a variety of chemicals every day. Some of those exposures are mild and barely noticeable; some are more harmful, but we get used to them anyway; but some of the cases are on the extreme side and pose significant health and life threats. For this discussion, try to recall the worst chemical exposure experienced, either by you or your province or state. Describe briefly your case and try to address the two questions: (1) What was the cause of the exposure (unknown risk, human error, negligence, terror, etc.)? and (2) What prevention measures or green chemistry principles could have been applied to avoid the situation you described? Please read others' posts and comment on at least two of them. Follow up on any questions to your post. Deadline for initial posting – this Sunday; reply to other posts by Wednesday |
Canvas: Lesson 4 Discussion |
| Activity | For this activity, you are asked to conduct quick research on a specific example related to the topic of green chemistry and advanced materials. The main goal of this activity is to develop skills for search of relevant information for understanding technological ideas. Directions:
Please see more guidance on this assignment in the Lesson 4 Activity Sheet posted on Canvas Deadline: Wednesday (before midnight) |
Canvas: Lesson 4 Activity |
References for Lesson 4:
Anastas, P.T., Zimmerman, J.B., Innovations in Green Chemistry and Green Engineering, Springer 2013.
Nemat-Nasser, S., Nemat-Nasser, Sy., Plaisted, T., Starr, A., and Amirkhizi, A.V., Multifunctional Materials, in Biomimetics: Biologically Inspired Technologies, Bar-Cohen, Y., Ed., CRC Press, 2005.
UCLA Sustainable Technology & Policy Program, Developing Regulatory Alternatives Analysis Methodologies for the California Green Chemistry Initiative, Final Report, 2011.
Gao, Y., Wei., Z., Yang, Z.M., Chen, Y.M., Zrinyi, M., and Osada, Y., Green Chemistry, 2014, advance article.