Gre chemistry can be defined as the development and implementation of more environmentally friendly methods in the laboratory, industrial workplace, and home. The University of Pittsburgh Student Affiliates chapter realizes the importance of this ever-evolving mode of thought and practice of better living through environmental improvements. It has become our goal to introduce these concepts to our undergraduate members as well as the university community as a whole: to educate and inspire everyone to live a greener life.

This decision to become actively involved as a Green Chapter has also been inspired by the dynamic contributors in the Pittsburgh community. Presidential Green Chemistry Award winners Terry Collins and Eric Beckman have shown that Green Chemistry and academia have a special symbiotic relationship allowing for many novel and exciting developments. Also PPG and Bayer have been recognized for their implementation of green practices in industry place. These can be further explored at the website links listed below.

When discussing green chemistry many people try to pinpoint one definition to the term. However, there are many points that are and should be considered. A comprehensive list has been published in Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice and is currently used on the ACS website. We list them below in the hopes that you will make an honest effort to apply at least one of these principles to your professional, and personal, life:

12 Principles of Green Chemistry:

1.  Prevention
2.  Atom Economy
3.  Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses
4.  Designing Safer Chemicals
5.  Safer Solvents and Auxiliaries
6.  Design for Energy Efficiency
7.  Use of Renewable Feedstocks
8.  Reduce Derivatives
9.  Catalysis
10. Design for Degradation
11. Real-Time Analysis for Pollution Prevention
12. Inherently Safer Chemistry for Accident Prevention

Please watch our website for upcoming green events. Currently, we are planning several initiatives this year for both our ACS-SA chapter as well as the Pittsburgh academic community at large. We ask you to join us for the first ever ACS-SA Green Chemistry Symposium scheduled for Saturday February 21, 2004. If interested please contact Matthew Lockett at mrlst40@pitt.edu.

 

Click here for links about Green Chemistry