Industrial Applications of Green Chemistry
In the past, the industrial production of Adipic acid used benzene as a starting material. Benzene is one of the basic chemicals for industrial reactions and a solvent. It is known that derives mainly from the refining processes of the petrochemical industry. Benzene is also known for its carcinogenic properties (it causes leukemia to highly exposed workers). Afterwards the starting material became cyclohexanone or a mixture of cyclohexanone and cyclohexanol. For the oxidation process it was used nitric acid, producing toxic fumes of nitric oxides, NOx, which are also contributors to the greenhouse effect and the destruction of the ozone layer in the stratosphere. It was Inevitable that the method had to be changed again with more environmentally benign reactions.
- Designing of safer chemicals
- Design for degradation
- Providing energy security