Industrial Chemistry
Open Access

Green Chemistry Design of chemical products and processes that minimize or eliminate the use or generation of substances hazardous to humans, animals, plants, and the environment. Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal.  If a technology reduces or eliminates the hazardous chemicals used to clean up environmental contaminants, this technology would also qualify as a green chemistry technology. One example is replacing a hazardous sorbent used to capture mercury from the air for safe disposal with an effective, but nonhazardous sorbent. Using the nonhazardous sorbent means that the hazardous sorbent is never manufactured and so the remediation technology meets the definition of green chemistry.

Green Chemistry