Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice [Paperback]

Paul T. Anastas (Author), John C. Warner (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0198506988 | ISBN-13: 978-0198506980 | Publication Date: May 25, 2000

This book provides the first introductory treatment of the design, development, and evaluation processes central to Green Chemistry. As s comprehensive textbook, it takes a broad view of the subject and integrates a wide variety of approaches. Topics include alternative feedstocks, environmentally benign syntheses, the design of safer chemical products, new reaction conditions, alternative solvents and catalyst development, and the use of biosynthesis and biomimetic principles. It introduces new evaluation processes that encompass the complete health and environmental impact of a synthesis, from the choice of starting materials to the final product. Throughout, the text provides specific examples which compare the new methods with classical ones.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"What is green chemistry? In Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, Paul T. Anastas and John C. Warner provide a concise and comprehensive answer: 'Green chemistry is the utilization of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products.' . . . Measure by measure, [Anastas] and Warner fill this abstract and fairly broad definition with life. Their short book provides a framework for the pursuit of environmentally compatible chemistry. This introductory text is intended to provide a basis for teaching and includes a collection of exercises for the topics of each chapter. . . . [This book] should be consulted by anyone who wants to know about environmentally benign chemistry and, especially, by scientists who contemplate adopting its principles in their own research or teaching efforts."--Science

"Historically, as Paul Anastas and John Warner point out in Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, synthetic chemists have not been particularly environmentally conscious, since their involvement was at the beginning of the chemical synthetic chain whereas problems were mostly encountered at its end. The solution is the replacement of these technologies with cleaner catalytic alternatives. The emphasis is on eliminating waste at source--primary pollution prevention--rather than finding incremental end-of-pipe solutions. This has now become known as green chemistry, and is defined by Anastas and Warner as: 'The utilization of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products'. The tools of green chemistry are alternative feedstocks, solvents and reagents, and catalytic versus stoichiometric processes."--Nature

"Anastas from the US Environmental Protection Agency and Warner (chemistry, U. of Massachusetts-Boston) introduce the design, development, and evaluation processes of a currently active area of research that concentrates on the handling and use of chemicals to ensure efficiency but also human and environmental compatibility. They take a wide view and integrate such topics as alternative foodstocks, environmentally benign synthetic methodologies, designing safer chemical products, new reaction conditions, alternative solvents and catalyst development, and the use of biosynthesis and biomimetic principles. They also describe a new evaluation process that encompasses the health and environmental impact of a synthetic pathway from the choice to starting materials to the target molecule. They write for graduate and professional chemists, and include exercises for classroom or individual study."--SciTech Book News

About the Author

Dr Paul T. Anastas Prof. John C. Warner Chief, Industrial Chemistry Branch Department of Chemistry U.S. Environmental Protection Agency University of Massachusetts Boston 401 M St S.W. 100 Morrissey Blvd Mail Code 7406 Boston Washington M.A. 02125-3393 D.C. 20460 U.S. U.S.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (May 25, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0198506988
• ISBN-13: 978-0198506980
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #499,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seminal Work: The Principles of Green Chemistry, November 18, 2003

By 

Kevin Dye (Quincy, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice (Hardcover)

This is the seminal reference on the widely invoked "12 Principles of Green Chemistry." This book is written by cofounders of the EPA Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award,": a Synthetic Chemist and an expert in Environmental Policy. This book is unique in delivering a broad purview of industry practices as it pertains to the environment in a succinct manner. This is enabled by the distillation of the "12 Principles" which is an excellent organizing scheme. A key finding is the interdependency of the Principles and how they drive improved business performance for adopters.

"The 12 Principles of Green Chemistry" is invoked as a mantra for a revolution in the practice and methodologies of synthetic chemistry by research centers and innovators throughout the world. Driving even a few of these principles into practice has become a furtive source of product and process innovations in the field. The text is often cited in technical papers and thus a key reference book.

The narrative is accessible while providing rich examples ripe for follow-up investigation by technical readers.

As a technology strategist I highly recommend "Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice" for its insight regarding the drivers of the future development of the chemical and materials industries.

5.0 out of 5 stars Nice Handbook, November 2, 2011

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Reviewer (Near Columbus, OH United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice (Paperback)

This should be the book in a class required for all chemical engineers, and they should be bound to the equivalent of an engineer's Hippocratic Oath after reading it.

Do not expect detailed process diagrams on how to sustainably produce plastics and other products, but do expect short and concise guidelines and considerations for the production of things from a life cycle perspective. An engineer might be deeply interested in producing a material with some key ingredients to make it stronger and cheaper, but the last 60 years have shown us that this kind of myopic progress leaves a trail of waste and health hazards behind it. This book addresses that concern by outlining considerations for making things, achieving the purpose of their manufacture, yet also considering the lasting impact in a cradle-to-grave life cycle. The principles are sound and do not interfere with the engineering process, but instead add to it.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction to green chemistry, December 14, 2009

By 

skiwhiz - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice (Paperback)

This book is a good introduction to green chemistry. It is fairly concise and direct and gives an overview of the concepts one can use to make chemistry better for the environment. For most technical applications of the techniques described in the book, additional sources will need to be consulted, however.