1. Green Chemistry
Yamini Karandikar
CBE 555

2. 12 Principles (EPA) Prevent waste Maximize atom economy
Design less hazardous chemical syntheses
Design safer chemicals and products
Use safer solvents and reaction conditions
Increase energy efficiency

3. 12 Principles (EPA) continued
Use renewable feedstocks
Avoid chemical derivatives
Use catalysts, not stoichiometric reagents
Design chemicals and products to degrade after use
Analyze in real time to prevent pollution
Minimize the potential for accidents

4. Green Cleaning Products
Alkyl polyglucoside (APG) vs. Alcohol Ethoxylates (AE)
Both are amphipathic non-ionic surfactants
Uses: Detergent, surface cleaning, personal hygiene, etc
Dgradation behavior of linear alkylbenzenesulfonates (LASs) degraded after life =5 days, APG 1.2 life=18 hrs
Shampoo, Bubble bath, Cleaning lotion, Skin care products, Dishwashing detergents Cosmetic emulsifiers, Hard surface cleaners, Industrial cleaners, Adjuvant for textile

5. APG Advertised as… Non-toxic, mild to skin
Safe for environment and consumers
Soluble in water
No VOCs
Obtained from renewable raw materials

6. Alkyl Polyglucoside-Synthesis
Coconut/corn instead of petroleum derivatives (renewable)

7. APG-Synthesis

8. APG Degradation possible pathways

9. Degradation in river water
Glucosides are naturally found in many plants
Hydrolyzed to form glucose
Half life of .75 days

10. Alcohol Ethoxylate-Synthesis
ROH + n C2H4O → R(OC2H4)nOH
Alcohol is treated with ethylene oxide and KOH (catalyst)
Alkyl chain and alcohol form hydrophobic part
Ethylene oxide units for hydrophilic part
Ethylene oxide is hazardous
flammable, carcinogenic, mutagenic, irritating, and anaesthetic gas
alcohol ethoxylates are derived from primary alcohols and ethylene oxide via a base catalyzed reaction of potassium or sodium hydroxide followed by treatment with a neutralizing agent such as acetic or phosphoric acid
long aliphatic alkyl chain and an alcohol, thus forming the hydrophobic portion of the molecule that is connected to a chain with several units of ethylene oxide (EO), which is characterized as the hydrophilic fraction
In industrial ethoxylation, an alcohol is treated with ethylene oxide and potassium hydroxide (KOH), which serves as a catalyst. The reactor is pressurised with nitrogenand heated to about 150 °C. Typically 5-10 units of ethylene oxide are added to each alcohol:

11. Alcohol Ethoxylate-Degradation
Half-life of 1.6 days
Dependent on degree of branching and chain length

12. Comparision Water soluble No VOC Safe product Half life of ~0.75 days
Alkyl Polyglucoside
Alcohol Ethoxylate
Water soluble
No VOC
Safe product
Half life of ~0.75 days
Less hazardous chemical syntheses
Uses renewable feedstock
Water soluble
No VOC
Safe product
Half life of ~1.6 days
Synthesis involves ethylene oxide
Reactants made from alkenes, which are petrochemical derivatives

13. Conclusions Alkyl polyglucoside is safer to manufacture
How dangerous is ethylene oxide?
Is this diluted prior to industrial use?
Alkyl polyglucoside is synthesized from renewable feedstock
Both are very biodegradable and safe for consumers