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Sustainable Organic Chemistry

The course deals with green and sustainable aspects in organic chemistry and covers both bulk and fine chemicals.

Societies have historically used the main energy sources as raw material for the production of chemicals; first wood, then coal and currently crude oil.

Thus, synthetic methodologies have been developed differently dependent on the raw material. This has a fundamental bearing on the coming century, when crude oil is predicted to be abandoned as the main energy source.

In development of new synthetic methods, it is important to take a holistic approach where not only yield of product is important but also energy and mass balances as well as toxicity of products and intermediates.

Benign by design strategies are important to develop products that can be recycled easily.

Catalysis is a fundamental approach to achieve green and sustainable chemical routes. 

  • Course structure

    Theoretical part (4 ECTS)

    • Feedstock and raw material biomass, coal, crude oil, natural gas.
    • Waste prevention, different types of waste sources in chemical transformations.
    • Green metrics atom economy, E factor, reaction mass efficiency, LCA
    • Catalysis homogeneous and heterogeneous, biocatalysis, transition metal catalysis, selectivity, recycling strategies.
    • Benign by design strategies prevent toxic intermediates, safer synthesis.
    • Synthetic routes taking green chemistry measures.
    • Industrial aspects of organic synthesis.

    Laboratory and exercise (3.5 ECTS)

    • Using biomass as substrate in organic transformation Pressurized reactions, catalytic fractionation, extractions, GC-MS
    • Benign synthesis using catalysis in chemical transformations, calculating mass balances, E factor and atom economy, NMR spectroscopy. 
    • Seminar and exercises to determine greener synthetic routes, group assignment, discussions on what is greener by using different metrics.
       

    Modules

    Theoretical part (4 ECTS)

    Laboratory and exercise (3.5 ECTS)

    Teaching format

    Lectures 
    Lectures will be given by professors active in green and sustainable chemistry.

    Laboratory and exercises
    Labs will be conducted individually and excerices in groups. Lab reports and written reports and seminars.
     

    Assessment

    Theoretical part (4 ECTS)

    Written exam

    Laboratory and exercise (3.5 ECTS)

    Written reports, presentations and active participation in seminars.
     

    Examiner

    Examiner
    Joseph Samec
    Phone:      +46-8-163114 (office)
    E-mail:       joseph.samec@su.se

  • Schedule

    The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.

  • Course literature

    Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

    Green Chemistry and Catalysis
    Roger A. Sheldon, Isabel W. C. E. Arends, Ulf Hanefeld
    ISBN:9783527307159

    Online ISBN:9783527611003, 2007, 400 pages

    Available through SU library as e-book (PDF)

    Scientific literature

  • Course reports

  • Contact

    Examiner
    Joseph Samec
    Phone:      +46-8-163114 (office)
    E-mail:       joseph.samec@su.se

    Chemistry Section & Student Affairs Office:
    Office:        Chemical Practice Laboratory A668
    E-mail:       chemistry@su.se
    http://www.kemi.su.se/english
     

Selected reading

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