Enviropreneurs – A Model for Implementing Green Chemistry

The word ‘Enviropreneurs’ itself represents Environment and the Entrepreneurs. Enviropreneurs are businessmen, researchers, scientists, chemists or chemical engineers and may be all of us. Keeping in mind that Environment is an asset and not a problem to us, we must try to bring sustainable solutions, but, the question arises how this can be achieved? To answer this question a team of technocrats from IIT Bombay passionate about nature did a research and concluded that if you want to minimize the waste of your plant or want to ensure clean & green environment we must measure the E-Factor (Environmental Impact Factor) . The E-factor is the measure of the amount of a waste generated while making a product.The simple ratio is units of waste divided by units of product tells us that the lower the E-factor, the less waste is produced. Preventing the waste clearly shows the first principle of Green Chemistry i.e. Design chemical syntheses to prevent waste, leaving no waste to treat or clean up.

The stages by which E-Factor can be reduced are as follows:
- The Diazotization – Hydrolysis
- Nitration
- Chlorination
- Reduction

Seeing this case study you can realise that  principles of green chemistry direct us to reduce waste rather than dealing with it afterwards. The best scenario is one in which no waste is produced. If all materials that go into the system are used in the final product or they are recycled, then the E-factor produced will be less. So the best way to improve the E-factor is to recycle some of the materials that go in to the process. Go and measure E-Factor of your plant, or if you already measuring it, let us know how E-Factor is playing a key role in your industry.