Skip to Main Content

Content

Course Tabs

Overview

Course Prescription

Introduction to the concepts and principles of Green Chemistry. Selected real world applications of Green Chemistry are presented to illustrate how these important guiding principles can be applied. The integral laboratory course provides valuable practical experience in relevant areas of the chemical sciences.

Course Overview

This is an introductory course in Green Chemistry. It covers topics that are central to Green Chemistry including an introduction to the development of Green Chemistry, definitions and metrics, prevention of pollution at source through new and sustainable synthetic methods, real-world case studies including the clothing industry, enzymes as biocatalysts, renewable feedstocks as well as recycling, and pure water. Innovative group and individual coursework assignments are designed to develop skills in communication and engagement and to develop an understanding of social and environmental responsibilities within the broad area of Green Chemistry.

Key Topics

(A) Introduction
The essentials of green chemistry: definitions, adverse effects of chemicals on health and the environment, history of the development of Green Chemistry, range of effects green chemists have to design against, sustainability as it relates to GC, and ethical awareness.
Green chemistry and inherent hazards: risk as a function of hazard and exposure. The Grand Challenges for Green Chemistry: Elimination of hazardous substances and pollution, renewable feedstocks, sustainable processes, and energy. Green design: toxicity and ecotoxicity, endocrine disruption, steps to design against toxicity, and test for toxicity. The definitions of Green Chemistry: implications, strengths, the context of the chemical enterprise. The 12 Principles of Green chemistry: application of principles, examples.
The metrics of Green Chemistry: Determination of whether a process is green or not, atom economy, reaction mass efficiency, environmental (E) factor, use of 12 principles to measure the sustainability of the process, full life cycle, cradle to cradle, toxicity determination for new chemicals. Designing sustainable solutions: general approaches, reducing stoichiometric waste, using catalysts, reducing energy consumption, better alternative solvents, new forms of biomass.
Real-world Green Chemistry solutions: selected examples, e.g.
•    Synthesis of Ibuprofen (atom economy and other metrics, green synthesis, application of catalysts, etc)
•    Designing an environmentally safe marine antifoulant (problems with fouling, replacement for tin compounds, bioavailability, and accumulation)
•    New insecticides that are relatively non-toxic; (mode of action of traditional insecticides, toxic to all species, molting hormone mimics give species selectivity, much less toxic)
(B) Sustainable Synthesis 
New Green and sustainable synthetic methods.  An entry-level overview of green synthetic methods, including waste reduction processes explained through the use of synthetic reactions commonly performed in industrial settings; amide bond formation, alkene reduction, and deoxychlorination.
Solvent use and alternatives to toxic solvents; mechanochemistry, ionic liquids, water, supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2), and biorenewable solvents – applications to industrial settings. Solvent selection guides.
Atom economy, principles, and examplesRaw materials from nature: Introduction, basic “biorefinery” concepts, lignin and cellulose as potential raw materials, new chemistry required for using new feedstocks (contrast with oil/alkanes)Real-world examples of the use of renewable feedstocks:  
Society-reliant chemicals – commodity and fine chemicals. Reliance on their production from fossil fuels and possible alternative sources such as biorenewable lignocellulosic biomass
Use of biorenewable platform chemicals in chemical synthesis, with case studies. Lignin and its potential.
(C) Sustainability/Real world Green Chemistry 
Real-world case study: the clothing industry
•    General introduction: True cost
•    Introduction to the Textile Industry and the Chemical Industry
•    Impacts of the global textile industry
•    Sustainability challenges in the clothing industry
•    Why is the clothing industry unsustainable?
•    Sustainability issues in the clothing industry
•    Certification and industry schemes
•    Ethical and fair trade fashion
•    Sustainable clothing: the dream
•    Stain and water-resistant materials
•    Alternative chemicals in the clothing industry
•    Jean genie
(D) Biocatalysis
Introduction: enzymes as whole-cell biocatalysts, use of microbes as environmentally benign synthetic catalysts.
Real-world examples:
•    Genetically altered e-coli to synthesize adipic acid,
•    detergent proteases,
•    healthier fats and oils by enzymatic interesterification for production oils and fats with no “trans-fats”.
(F) Pure water and Green Pharmacy
Introduction: Looming world crisis, human population, global warming, need to recycle water.  Active pharmaceutical ingredients and compounds of emerging concern in water, general properties of AIPs and CECs, current methods of removal, advanced oxidation processes, and pros and cons of all these processes from a Green Chemistry perspective.

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15-point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15-point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 36 hours of lectures, 12 one-hour tutorials, 12 hours of laboratory work, 42 hours of reading and thinking about the content, and 48 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation.

Course Prerequisites, Corequisites and Restrictions

Prerequisite

Locations and Semesters Offered

LocationSemester
City

Teaching and Learning

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including labs, tutorials and lectures to receive credit for components of the course.
Lectures and tutorials will be available as recordings. 
The course will not include live online events.
Attendance on campus is required for the test and exam.
The activities for the course are scheduled as a standard weekly timetable.

Learning Resources

Taught courses use a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas to provide students with learning materials including reading lists and lecture recordings (where available). Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Additional Information on Learning Resources

There is no required text book for this course. Individual lecturers for the course will indicate to students the appropriate reference material for each topic presented.

Copyright

The content and delivery of content in this course are protected by copyright. Material belonging to others may have been used in this course and copied by and solely for the educational purposes of the University under license.


You may copy the course content for the purposes of private study or research, but you may not upload onto any third-party site, make a further copy or sell, alter or further reproduce or distribute any part of the course content to another person.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption, we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and course assessment continues to meet the principles of the University’s assessment policy. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator/director, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the university website for information about how to proceed.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. This requirement also applies to sources on the internet. A student's assessed work may be reviewed for potential plagiarism or other forms of academic misconduct, using computerised detection mechanisms.

Similarly, research students must meet the University’s expectations of good research practice. This requires:

  • Honesty - in all aspects of research work
  • Accountability - in the conduct of research
  • Professional courtesy and fairness – in working with others
  • Good stewardship – on behalf of others
  • Transparency – of research process and presentation of results
  • Clarity - communication to be understandable, explainable and accessible

For more information on the University’s expectations of academic integrity, please see the Academic Conduct section of the University policy hub.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about taught courses is made available to enrolled students in Canvas.

Students may be asked to submit assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. In exceptional circumstances changes to elements of this course may be necessary at short notice. Students enrolled in this course will be informed of any such changes and the reasons for them, as soon as possible, through Canvas.


Assessment and Learning Outcomes

Additional Information on Assessment

A student must pass both the theory component and the practical component to gain an overall pass. The theory component is composed of quizzes, term tests, and final exams. The practical component is composed of laboratory experiments.

Special Requirements

Attendance at the laboratories is a compulsory part of this course. Students must be wearing safety glasses, covered footwear, and a lab coat before entering the laboratory and must keep these on until after exiting the laboratory. Jandals or other open shoes are not satisfactory footwear. Students who wear prescription spectacles are required to wear safety glasses over their spectacles. 

Course Learning Outcomes

CLO #OutcomeProgramme Capability Link
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9

Assessments

Assessment TypeAssessment PercentageAssessment Classification

Assessment to CLO Mapping

Assessment Type123456789

Student Feedback, Support and Charter

Student Feedback

Feedback on taught courses is gathered from students at the end of each semester through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions. Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students. In addition, class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

Additional Information on Student Feedback

It is apparent there is some overlap in  material between sections. This will be rectified in 2023

Class representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Tuākana

Tuākana is a multi-faceted programme for Māori and Pacific students providing topic specific tutorials, one-on-one sessions, test and exam preparation and more. Explore your options at Tuakana Learning Communities.

Additional Information on Tuākana

As part of the University-wide Tuākana community, The School of chemical sciences aims to provide a welcoming learning environment for and enhance the success of, all of our Māori and Pacific students. We are led by the principles of tautoko (support) and whanaungatanga (connection) and hope you find a home here at the School. Students who have identified as Māori and/or Pacific will receive an invitation to our online portal introducing the Programme, the resources we have available, and how you can get involved.

Tuākana Chemistry runs a range of activities for students enrolled in this class. This includes weekly workshops, social activities, and opportunities to engage with senior students and researchers within the School of Chemical Sciences. Tuākana-eligible students will be added automatically to the Tuākana Chemistry program when they enroll in this course. For more information, please see the Tuākana program website or email scstuakana@auckland.ac.nz.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website.

Wellbeing

We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - please see the Support Services page for information on support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed work is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due. If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page. This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter.

Student Academic Complaints and Disputes

Students with concerns about teaching including how a course is delivered, the resources provided, or supervision arrangements, have the right to express their concerns and seek resolution. The university encourages informal resolution where possible, as this is quicker and less stressful. For information on the informal and formal complaints processes, please refer to the Student Academic Complaints Statute in the Student Policies and Guidelines section of the Policy Hub.