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Duration
Identical coursesSustainable Chemistry I (B-KUL-G0G66A)
Smet Mario (coordinator) | Smet Mario | Vaccaro Luigi | Van Aken Koen Aims
* The student is able to explain the 12 principles of green chemistry and to apply them in specific problems and case studies from industry.
* The student is familiar with the most important mechanisms of toxicity of organic compounds and is able to apply this knowledge to propose changes in the molecular structure resulting in lower toxicity with equal functionality.
* The student knows the main types of biobased polymers and is able to evaluate the biodegradability of a given polymer.
* The student can describe how biomass can be transformed into chemical building blocks and biobased polymers.
* The student is familiar with innovative techniques which can potentially enhance the sustainability on lab and industrial scale (photochemistry, electrochemistry, flow chemistry...)
Previous knowledge
The starting point of this course is the basic knowledge of analytical, physical and organic chemistry of a bachelor in sciences, engineering or bio-engineering.
Is included in these courses of study
- Courses for Exchange Students Faculty of Science (Leuven)
- Master in de chemie (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Master of Chemistry (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Educatieve master in de wetenschappen en technologie (Leuven) 120 ects.
- Master in de industriële wetenschappen: chemie (programma voor studenten gestart in 2023-2024 of later) (Leuven) 60 ects.
- Master of Chemical Engineering Technology (programme for students started in 2023-2024 or later) (Leuven) 60 ects.
Activities
3 ects. Sustainable Chemistry I (B-KUL-G0G66a)
Content
1. Introduction:
- Basic principles of sustainable chemistry: prevention, atom economy and other sustainability metrics, use of renewable resources, safety, reduction of energy requirements,...
2. Sustainable synthetic chemistry
- Environmental issues and other problems of conventional organic solvents and reagents
- Alternative reaction media (water, fluorous solvents, supercritical liquids, ionic liquids …)
- Solventless synthesis
- Alternative activation methods: photochemistry, electrochemistry, mechanochemistry, ultrasound and microwave activation…
- Reagents for sustainable chemistry, e.g. O2 and H2O2 for oxidation reactions
- (Recyclable) catalysts
- Transformation of biomass into chemicals
- Biocatalysis
3. Sustainable polymers
- Biobased polymers
- Enzymatic polymerisations
- Biodegradability of polymers
4. Toxicity and design of safer chemicals
- Most important mechanisms of toxicity and carcinogenicity of organic compounds
- Metabolism, toxication, detoxication
- Modification of the structure of organic compounds to make them less toxic with maintenance of functionality
Course material
Course slides, selected papers and chapters from textbooks
Evaluation
Evaluation: Sustainable Chemistry I (B-KUL-G2G66a)
Explanation
The final point is the sum of the points for the individual questions.