Catalytic versus stoichiometric reagents as a key concept for Green Chemistry

There is no author summary for this article yet. Authors can add summaries to their articles on ScienceOpen to make them more accessible to a non-specialist audience.

Abstract

Editorial on the role of catalysis in Green Chemistry.

Abstract

25 years ago catalysis was highlighted as a main principle of Green Chemistry. Selective catalysis enables an efficient utilisation of resources and the design of benign processes. Waste formation caused by stoichiometric reagents, for instance in reduction or oxidation reactions, can be overcome using suitable catalysts and benign reductants and oxidants, respectively. Solid acidic and basic catalysts prevent prevalent salt formation associated with the use of molecular acids and bases. Catalysts allow us to decrease the activation energy of chemical transformations, enhance the reaction rate, facilitate high selectivity and are crucial to reduce the number of process steps.

Related collections

Most cited references 13

Record: found
Abstract: not found
Article: not found

The E Factor: fifteen years on

Roger A. Sheldon (2007)

0 comments Cited 300 times – based on 0 reviews      Review now

Bookmark

Record: found
Abstract: found
Article: not found

Hydrolysis of cellulose by amorphous carbon bearing SO3H, COOH, and OH groups.

Masaaki Kitano, Daizo Yamaguchi, K. Nakajima … (2008)

The hydrolysis of cellulose into saccharides using a range of solid catalysts is investigated for potential application in the environmentally benign saccharification of cellulose. Crystalline pure cellulose is not hydrolyzed by conventional strong solid Brønsted acid catalysts such as niobic acid, H-mordenite, Nafion and Amberlyst-15, whereas amorphous carbon bearing SO 3H, COOH, and OH function as an efficient catalyst for the reaction. The apparent activation energy for the hydrolysis of cellulose into glucose using the carbon catalyst is estimated to be 110 kJ mol (-1), smaller than that for sulfuric acid under optimal conditions (170 kJ mol (-1)). The carbon catalyst can be readily separated from the saccharide solution after reaction for reuse in the reaction without loss of activity. The catalytic performance of the carbon catalyst is attributed to the ability of the material to adsorb beta-1,4 glucan, which does not adsorb to other solid acids.