Chemistry M Problem-Solving a t la c When confronted with a problem in science, the way to proceed is not always obvious. k • D The problem may seem intractable or there may be many possible solutions, with ic k Exercises in Green some better than others. Problem-Solving Exercises in Green and Sustainable s Chemistry teaches students how to analyze and solve real-world problems that occur P in an environmental context, and it encourages creativity in developing solutions to r o situations based on events that have actually taken place. b and Sustainable l e m The problems described in this book are relevant and stimulating in learning and - S understanding the principles of green and sustainable chemistry. They address o Chemistry various aspects of the field, including: l v i n • Toxicity g • Waste generation and disposal E x • Chemical accidents e r c • Energy efficiency i s e • New policy development s i n The final chapter contains proposed solutions to the presented problems and pro- G r vides commentaries and references to relevant literature. e e n This book also prompts students to become more comfortable with the idea of a n multiple “correct” answers to problems. It emphasizes the reality that green d chemistry is about making practical decisions and weighing multiple factors that S u are often conflicting, thus making it difficult or impossible to apply one perfect s t solution to a given situation. Problem-Solving Exercises in Green and Sustainable a i Chemistry prepares students to solve challenging problems, whether as green n a chemists, as architects designing energy-efficient buildings, or as environmentally- b l conscious citizens. e C h e m i s Albert S. Matlack K23877 tr 6000 Broken Sound Parkway, NW y S7u1i1te T 3h0ir0d, ABvoecnau Rea ton, FL 33487 ISBN: 978-1-4822-5257-6 Edited by Andrew P. Dicks 90000 New York, NY 10017 an informa business 2 Park Square, Milton Park www.crcpress.com Abingdon, Oxon OX14 4RN, UK 9 781482 252576 w w w. c r c p r e s s . c o m K23877 cvr mech.indd 1 9/24/15 1:58 PM Problem-Solving Exercises in Green and Sustainable Chemistry Problem-Solving Exercises in Green and Sustainable Chemistry Albert S. Matlack University of Delaware, Newark, USA Andrew P. Dicks Edited by University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada CRC Press Taylor & Francis Group 6000 Broken Sound Parkway NW, Suite 300 Boca Raton, FL 33487-2742 © 2016 by Taylor & Francis Group, LLC CRC Press is an imprint of Taylor & Francis Group, an Informa business No claim to original U.S. Government works Version Date: 20150813 International Standard Book Number-13: 978-1-4822-5258-3 (eBook - PDF) This book contains information obtained from authentic and highly regarded sources. Reasonable efforts have been made to publish reliable data and information, but the author and publisher cannot assume responsibility for the validity of all materials or the consequences of their use. The authors and publishers have attempted to trace the copyright holders of all material reproduced in this publication and apologize to copyright holders if permission to publish in this form has not been obtained. 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Visit the Taylor & Francis Web site at http://www.taylorandfrancis.com and the CRC Press Web site at http://www.crcpress.com Contents Foreword ...................................................................................................................xi Preface....................................................................................................................xiii Introduction ..............................................................................................................xv Author ....................................................................................................................xvii Editor ......................................................................................................................xix Chapter 1 Toxicity, Accidents, and Chemical Waste ............................................1 1.1 General Background ..................................................................1 1.2 Toxicity of Chemicals in the Environment ................................2 1.3 Accidents with Chemicals .........................................................7 1.4 Waste and Its Minimization ....................................................10 1.5 Conclusions ..............................................................................12 Problems .............................................................................................15 1.1 Pollution Prevention at an Isocyanates Plant ................15 1.2 Curious Polar Bears .....................................................15 1.3 After an Industrial Accident .........................................15 1.4 A Mighty Safety Dilemma ...........................................15 1.5 To Burn or Not to Burn? ...............................................18 1.6 “Delacid”: A Versatile Catalyst ....................................18 1.7 The Flask Broke ...........................................................18 1.8 The Tremendous Problem of Climate Change .............18 1.9 The Chemist Talks to the Chemical Engineer .............19 1.10 Inherently Safer Chemistry ..........................................19 1.11 A Strange Malady.........................................................19 1.12 The Mysterious Case of the Disappearing Filter Paper ...................................................................19 References ..........................................................................................20 Chapter 2 The Chemistry of Longer Wear .........................................................25 2.1 Why Things Wear Out ............................................................25 2.2 Stabilizers for Polymers ..........................................................27 2.3 Lubrication, Wear, and Related Subjects .................................31 2.4 Inhibition of Corrosion ............................................................33 2.5 Mending ...................................................................................35 2.6 The Future ...............................................................................36 Problems .............................................................................................37 2.1 I Lost My Pants ............................................................37 2.2 My Pantyhose Ran Faster than the Runners in the Boston Marathon ..........................................................37 2.3 The Clothes Horse ........................................................37 v vi Contents 2.4 Tires on and in Rubber .................................................38 2.5 An Opinion Poll on Clothing and Other Items ............................................................38 References ..........................................................................................38 Chapter 3 The Chemistry of Waste Management and Recycling .......................43 3.1 Waste .......................................................................................43 3.2 Recycling .................................................................................44 3.2.1 Introduction ..................................................................44 3.2.2 Paper .............................................................................45 3.2.2.1 Recycling versus Incineration .....................45 3.2.2.2 Deinking .....................................................46 3.2.2.3 Enzymatic Repulping .................................46 3.2.2.4 Extent of Recycling of Paper ......................47 3.2.3 Plastics ..........................................................................47 3.2.3.1 Recycling Methods .....................................48 3.2.3.2 Use of Compatibilizers and Handling of Mixtures .................................................49 3.2.3.3 Use of Chemical Reactions in Recycling ....................................................49 3.2.3.4 Biodegradable Polymers .............................50 3.2.4 Metals ...........................................................................51 3.2.4.1 Methods of Recycling .................................51 3.2.4.2 Recovery of Metals from Petroleum Residues ......................................................52 3.2.5 Glass .............................................................................52 3.2.6 Miscellaneous Recycling ..............................................52 3.2.6.1 Composting .................................................52 3.2.6.2 Uses for Food-Processing Wastes ...............53 3.2.6.3 Toner Cartridges .........................................53 3.2.6.4 Use of Baths of Molten Metal and Plasma Arcs ................................................53 3.2.6.5 Uses for Inorganic Wastes (Other than Glass and Metals) ........................................53 3.3 Methods and Incentives for Source Reduction ........................54 3.3.1 Range of Approaches ...................................................54 3.3.2 Throwaway Items and the Consumer ...........................55 3.3.3 Containers and Packaging ............................................56 3.3.4 Using Less Paper ..........................................................58 3.3.5 Life-Cycle Analyses .....................................................59 3.3.6 Role of Government in Reducing Consumption ................................................................59 3.4 Overall Picture .........................................................................60 Problems .............................................................................................61 3.1 Cost-Effective Handling of Sewage Waste...................61 Contents vii 3.2 The Computer Age .......................................................61 3.3 A Printing Challenge ....................................................61 3.4 It Is Turkey Time ..........................................................62 3.5 Toys and Games from Trash .........................................62 3.6 A Problem of Waste from University ...........................63 3.7 The Three R’s of the Environment ...............................63 3.8 A Plastic Bottle Opportunity ........................................63 References ..........................................................................................64 Chapter 4 Energy and the Environment .............................................................73 4.1 Energy-Related Problems ........................................................73 4.1.1 Generation of Electric Power .......................................73 4.1.2 Transportation ..............................................................75 4.1.3 Global Warming ...........................................................76 4.2 Heating, Cooling, and Lighting Buildings ..............................77 4.2.1 Use of Trees and Light Surfaces ..................................78 4.2.2 Solar Heating and Cooling ...........................................78 4.2.3 Heat Storage .................................................................79 4.2.4 Lighting ........................................................................80 4.3 Renewable Energy for Electricity and Transport ....................80 4.3.1 Alternative Fuels ..........................................................80 4.3.2 A Hydrogen Economy ..................................................82 4.3.3 Fuel Cells ......................................................................83 4.3.4 Solar Thermal Systems ................................................84 4.3.5 Photovoltaic Cells .........................................................84 4.3.6 Other Sources of Renewable Energy ............................86 4.3.7 Energy Storage .............................................................87 4.4 Use of Less Common Forms of Energy for Chemical Reactions .................................................................................89 4.4.1 Electricity .....................................................................89 4.4.2 Light .............................................................................90 4.4.3 Ultrasound ....................................................................91 4.4.4 Microwaves ..................................................................92 Problems .............................................................................................93 4.1 A Sticky Issue ...............................................................93 4.2 A Nuclear Fantasy ........................................................93 4.3 A Hectic Life ................................................................94 4.4 What We Know How to Do but Are Not Doing ..........95 4.5 An Episode of Fracking ...............................................95 4.6 Can More Material Goods Lead to Happiness? ...........95 References ..........................................................................................95 Chapter 5 Environmental Economics ...............................................................109 5.1 Introduction ...........................................................................109 5.2 Nature’s Services ...................................................................109 viii Contents 5.3 Environmental Accounting ...................................................111 5.3.1 The Ecological Footprint ...........................................111 5.3.2 Life-Cycle Analyses ...................................................112 5.3.3 Cost–Benefit Analyses ...............................................114 5.3.4 Green Accounting ......................................................115 5.4 Corporations ..........................................................................116 5.4.1 Additional Reasons Why Pollution Prevention May Not Be Adopted ..................................................116 5.4.2 Other Aspects of Corporate Finance ..........................118 5.5 Environmental Economics of Individuals .............................119 5.5.1 Making Choices .........................................................119 5.5.2 Ecotourism .................................................................120 5.6 Government Actions Affecting Environmental Economics .............................................................................121 5.6.1 Role of Government ...................................................121 5.6.2 Regulations .................................................................122 5.6.3 Jobs and Regulations ..................................................123 5.6.4 Subsidies .....................................................................123 5.6.5 Taxes ...........................................................................124 Problems ...........................................................................................125 5.1 To Veto or Not ............................................................125 5.2 An Issue at Sea ...........................................................125 5.3 The Precious Plant......................................................125 5.4 Compound X ..............................................................126 5.5 A Valuable Community Asset ....................................126 5.6 Fast Food Litter ..........................................................126 5.7 Too Many Cars ...........................................................126 5.8 A Problem with Paper ................................................127 5.9 Should TOSCA Be Replaced or Revised? ..................128 5.10 A Downward Spiral ....................................................128 References ........................................................................................128 Chapter 6 The Greening of Society ..................................................................135 6.1 Introduction ...........................................................................135 6.2 Individuals .............................................................................135 6.3 Government ...........................................................................137 6.4 Businesses ..............................................................................138 Problems ...........................................................................................145 6.1 Manufacturing Products for a Sustainable Future .........................................................................145 6.2 Remedying a Herbal Problem ....................................146 6.3 Strong Paper Additives? .............................................146 6.4 A Strange New Disease ..............................................146 6.5 “Adhere” versus “SuperGloop” ..................................147 6.6 A Water Catastrophe ..................................................147