Green Chemistry and Technology

This course explores the fundamental principles of sustainable chemistry and engineering, focusing on the design of products and processes that minimize environmental impact. The programme bridges theoretical foundations with industrial applications, providing doctoral candidates with the methodologies required to evaluate and implement “green” innovation in chemical production.

The curriculum provides an introduction to green chemistry and sustainable technology, examining the relationship between chemical engineering and environmental preservation. Key topics include the principles of green nanotechnology—focusing on nanomaterials derived from green sources—and sustainable approaches to energy production, such as fuel cells. A significant portion of the programme is dedicated to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and the use of green metrics to evaluate the environmental performance of chemical processes. Through laboratory sessions, students will gain hands-on experience in calculating the “greenness” of products, ensuring they are equipped with the quantitative tools necessary to support sustainable industrial workflows.

By the conclusion of the course, students will master the core principles of green chemistry and engineering. Participants will acquire the analytical capability to perform preliminary assessments of the “greenness” of materials and processes. The goal is to develop a critical understanding of sustainable development, enabling future researchers to design chemical systems that are both functionally optimized and environmentally responsible.

Anastas, P. T.; Warner, J. C.; Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice; Oxford University Press: New York, 2000 (available at Biblioteca Centrale di Ingegneria)

Lancaster, M.; Green Chemistry: an introductory text; Royal Society of Chemistry: Cambridge, 2010 (available at Biblioteca Centrale di Ingegneria)

Jiménez-González, C.C.; Constable, D.; Green chemistry and engineering: a practical design approach; Wiley: Hoboken, New Jersey, 2011 (available online at https://galileodiscovery.unipd.it)

Benvenuto, Mark A., editor.; Ruger, George, editor; Green chemistry and technology; 2021; Berlin; Boston: De Gruyter (available online at https://galileodiscovery.unipd.it)

McKeag, Thomas, Green chemistry in practice: greener material and chemical innovation through collaboration, 2023; Kidlington, England; Cambridge, MA: Elsevier (available online at https://galileodiscovery.unipd.it)

Tiwari, Vinod K., Tiwari, Vinod K., Green chemistry: introduction, application and scope, 2022; 1st ed. 2022; Singapore: Springer (available online at https://galileodiscovery.unipd.it)

The lectures’ slides will be made available to all the participants.