Greening chemistry at McGill

McGill-sponsored workshop on green chemistry offers solutions to polluting processes

Green chemistry might seem like a contradiction in terms. We hear the word chemical and we think pollutants. Initially, the challenge for industry was to contain or neutralize hazardous waste. Then came the concept of green chemistry — a term coined by Paul Anastas in 1991.

Now employed by the White House Office of Science and Technology, Anastas is one of 21 speakers taking part in the Canada-U.S. Joint Workshop on Innovative Chemistry in Clean Media held at McGill University May 20 and 21. The two-day workshop will feature lectures and panel discussions by leading academic and industrial scientists from the U.S., Canada and Europe. They will discuss the use of "greener" solvents in science and technologies. Talks will also feature academic and industrial scientists from the pharmaceutical, pulp and paper, and office machinery sectors. The McGill workshop will be the first involving both Canada and the United States and will be of interest to business, science, energy or environment reporters.

One of the green chemicals to be discussed is carbon dioxide. Now considered a culprit in global climate change because of its status as a greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, the basic constituent of all plant life, is far easier to recycle than chlorine, a common element in many industrial solvents. Carbon dioxide, in its liquid form, is used in dry cleaning instead of the highly polluting tetrachlorethylene.

Carbon dioxide and plain water are two of several green solvents to be discussed this week. The former has attracted a lot of interest because of its vast, non-polluting qualities. "The carbon dioxide generated, for instance, in a power plant can be captured, liquefied under pressure, then used as a solvent in many industrial processes," says Chao-Jun Li Chan, McGill professor of organic chemistry, Canada Research Chair in green chemistry, and conference co-organizer. He believes that in time, many industries will convert to carbon dioxide once they have the means to re-engineer.

For more information on green chemistry and a schedule of the conference, please consult the website. The Canada-U.S. Joint Workshop on Innovative Chemistry in Clean Media will be held in the McConnell Engineering Building (3480 University St.). When: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm on May 20 and 21. Information: Please call 514-398-8457 to register or to arrange interviews with any of the speakers.