Role of Catalysis in Sustainable Chemistry and Conservation of Environment

Abstract

Sustainable chemistry is concerned with the development of goods that reduce the usage and generation of toxic compounds that harm the environment. Sustainable Chemistry is based on Paul Anastas and John Werner's 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, which laid out a blueprint for long-term development in the 1990s. The employment of catalysts to increase atom economy and reaction yield is the most important of them. Catalysts are the foundations of Green Chemistry, and there is an ongoing quest for new catalysts all over the world. The atom economy of a chemical reaction is a theoretical measure of the quantity of starting material converted into the desired product and is a reliable indicator of a reaction's greenness. Thus, 100% atom economy means 0% waste. Green catalysts are preferred because of their distinct advantages: better atom economy, minimum waste production, eco friendly products and emissions, reusability. Some examples of Green catalysts which are widely used are biocatalysts, enzyme catalysts, nanocatalysts and phase transfer catalysts. Toxic metal ions like Cr(VI) have been used on a large scale to catalyze organic reactions. As a green initiative, efforts have been made to catalyze reactions by using milder transition metal ions which are less hazardous to the environment. Rampart utilization of natural resources results in generation of toxic waste which leads to environmental degradation. Green Chemistry practices like use of catalysts ensure atom economy and thus help in preserving scarce resources. This article highlights the aims and salient features of Sustainable Chemistry and the pivotal role played by catalysts in Sustainable development. The different types of catalysts with special reference to green catalysts and the mechanism of catalysis are discussed with relevant examples.