GREEN CHEMISTRY

The Green Chemistry course is one of the courses of training / related activities within the Master degree of Environmental Sciences( Environmental Control and Rehabilitation Curriculum) as well as the master degree in Biotechnology for the environment and sustainable development. The objective of the course, in line with those of the CdS, is to present and critically discuss green and environmentally friendly products and industrial processes. The course addresses several current issues in the national and European industrial landscape of green chemistry: environmental disasters, Green metrics, environmentally friendly synthesis in the pharmaceutical industry, biorefinery and refinery synthetic approaches, organic pollutants, (biochemical dioxins, PCBs, PFAS, pesticides, herbicides), etc .

1. Knowledge and understanding
- Understanding of the problems that have caused the various environmental disasters.
- Understanding of thee use and limits of green metrics.
- Understanding the possible uses of a green chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry (green solvents, green synthesis of ibuprofen)
- Understanding the different synthetic approach of the refinery vs. biorefinery.
- To Know the limits and advantages of using bioplastics
- To know the chemistry of chlorine and the possible substitutes of this molecule i.e., the dialkylcarbonates
- Understand the main organic pollutants and the methods used to remove them from contaminated areas.

2. Ability to apply knowledge and understanding
- Knowing how to correctly use the knowledge acquired for the identification of environmental problems related to a synthesis conducted in the laboratory and on an industrial scale
- Knowing how to use green metrics appropriately.
- Being able to discuss the possible uses of green chemistry in the industrial field (pharmaceutical industry, biorefinery, chlorine industry).
- Know how to apply the knowledge acquired in discriminating advantages and problems in the use of plastics and bioplastics.
- Know how to recognize the main organic pollutants and correctly report some methods for their removal from contaminated areas.

3. Ability to judge
- Ability to argue the advantages of green synthesis compared to synthesis commonly used in the laboratory or in the chemical industries.
- Ability to critically argue the use of green metrics
- Ability to argue the advantages and disadvantages of chlorine chemistry compared to that of dialkyl carbonates.

4. Communication skills
- Know how to communicate the knowledge acquired on green products and processes, using appropriate terminology.
- Knowing how to interact with peers and with the tutor, in a critical and respectful way.

5. Learning skills
- Knowing how to take notes and share them in a collaborative way with your colleagues.
- Knowing how to critically consult the reference texts and the bibliography contained in them.

Chemistry and Organic chemistry

The main aims of this course are to give to students a full picture of the principles and industrial applications of the Green chemistry starting from the history of this area of interest. Thus several areas of researcher inherent to green (industrial) chemistry will be discussed. Some examples are:

1. Introduction to Green chemistry;
2. Organic Chemistry bases useful for Green Chemistry;
3. From Lab Chemistry to Industrial Chemistry: Issues related to the environment;
4. Green Metrics (Eatos, Andraos Spreadsheet);
5. Dioxins and Pesticides and possible Green substitutes (Bio pesticides);
6. Green Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Industry (examples Ibuprofen, taxol); the problem of the solvents;
7. Biopolymers;
8. Industry Chlorine Industry vs carbonates (polycarbonates and polyurethanes);
9. An overview of all the organic pollutant

There are no recommended textbooks; the topics covered by the course are taken from scientific publications or several textbooks. The slides of the lessons, as well as, some lecture notes on specific topics are present on the moodle platform dedicated to the course.

Students will undertake an oral exam with questions about the whole program dealt with during the green chemistry course.

oral

The lecturer has a duty to ensure that the rules regarding the authenticity and originality of exam tests and papers are respected. Therefore, if there is suspicion of irregular conduct, an additional assessment may be conducted, which could differ from the original exam description.

The course exam is an oral exam that deals with questions that cover all the topics covered during the course.
The evaluation of the answers takes into account:
(1) knowledge of the topic
(2) knowledge of the nomenclature of the compounds, the required reaction mechanisms and the concepts related to Green chemistry;
(3) Clarity of exposition
(4) use of appropriate scientific language.

The final score of the exam will be assigned according to the following gradation:
18-22: sufficient knowledge of the fundamental concepts of green chemistry, with correct answers only on basic concepts. Many topics have not been explored in depth, some reaction mechanisms are not treated in detail. .
23-26: fair knowledge of the notions related to Green Chemistry, with a good number of correct answers. The answers are evident inaccuracies or lack of depth.
27-30: good or excellent knowledge of the discipline. The answers are detailed and well argued.
Praise: excellent mastery of the topics, with very detailed answers to the questions and excellent presentation skills.

Oral lessons in the classroom, examples and eventually exercises on specific subjects.