Green chemistry is a list of 12 Principles that were created in 1998 at Yale University to proactively build in environmental practices to nation-wide chemical industries. According to the American Chemical Society, “Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances. Green chemistry applies across the life cycle of a chemical product, including its design, manufacture, use, and ultimate disposal." To put it simply, green chemistry is a set of guiding principles to reduce environmental impacts of chemical industries and is synonymous with safety. While the 12 Principles were founded with all chemical using industries in mind, there are six that intersect with the brewing industry. Table 1 highlights the six principles that have been implemented into the ASBC Mastering the Methods supplemental information where applicable due to their relevance to the brewing industry and brewing quality labs. For an indepth look at how green chemistry intersects with the brewing industy, check out the ASBC Webinar,
Green Chemistry & Beer: Implementing Green Chemistry in Beer Quality with Dana Garves.
Implementing green chemistry into the brewing lab will save breweries time, money, energy, and help prevent accidents and injuries. Share additional ways to incorporate green chemistry principles into ASBC Methods of Analysis on the
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The 12 Green Chemisty Principles1
- *Prevention: Avoid creating, treating, or cleaning-up waste
- *Atom Economy: Minimize or eliminate byproducts
- Less Hazardous Chemical Syntheses: Synthetic methods should be designed to use and generate substances that possess little to no toxicity to humans & the environment.
- Designing Safer Chemicals: Chemicals designed to maximize desired function while minimizing toxicity.
- *Safer Solvents: Select solvents and cleaners that are safer for humans and the planet.
- *Energy Efficient: Utilize methods that run at room temperature and ambient pressure.
- *Renewable Feedstock: Procure raw materials from sustainable sources.
- Reduce Derivaties: Avoid use of blocking groups, protection/deprotection, temporary modification of physical and chemical processes which require additional reagents and generate waste.
- Catalysis: Selective catalytic reagents are superior to stoichiometric reagents.
- Degradation: End-of-product life should break down and not persist in the environment.
- Real-Time Pollution Prevention: Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for real-time, in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.
- *Accident Prevention: Analytical methodologies need to be further developed to allow for real-time, in-process monitoring and control prior to the formation of hazardous substances.
*Denotes the principles most relevant to the brewing industry
Table 1. The Six Green Chemistry Principles of Brewing
| Principle | Description | Pictogram |
| Prevention | Avoid creating, treating, or cleaning-up waste |  |
| Atom Economy | Minimize or eliminate byproducts |  |
| Safer Solvents | Select solvents & cleaners that are safer for humans and the planet |  |
| Energy Efficient | Utilize methods that run at room temp & pressure |  |
| Renewable Feedstocks | Procure raw materials from sustainable sources |  |
| Accident Prevention | Minimize the potential for chemical accidents, including releases, explosions, and fires.
|  |
Image credit: iconsmind.com
Resources
- Basics of Green Chemistry. United States Environmental Protection Agency. May 17, 2022.
