The examples that struck me as the most intriguing examples of green chemistry were the Cogeneration Plant at UNH in Durham, another example that intrigued me was my wiki project with my partner, Cynthia. For our project we made all natural soap, we made the soap with only water, oils, and essential oils. The cogeneration plant at UNH in Durham was a project that students designed and made happen, the plant takes waste from a local landfill and turns that waste into heat and energy to be used to by the entire campus.
Three major principles of green chemistry that I understand now are the use of recyclable feedstocks, prevention, and the reducing the use of derivatives. Feedstocks should be recyclable so the companies are not wasting raw materials, if they become recyclable then they can be used again and again creating less waste because you are re-using the same product repetitively. Prevention is a good thing for companies to start to practice if they want to go green, they should not be creating waste to just have to clean it up later. They should be preventing waste from getting into the environment so they have nothing to clean up and do not feel guilty for making the environment unsafe. The last principle that I understand now that I did not before is reduce the use of derivatives. By eliminating derivatives companies are also eliminating the creation of waste and the use of harmful chemicals, which helps the environment and everyone around it.
If I were to describe the world of green chemistry to a friend, I would describe it as a new area in chemistry that is becoming more common. The ideas and principles of green chemistry are to prevent hazardous waste, use less harmful chemicals or not at all, and make raw materials into renewable products so they can be used again and again. Green chemistry also goes beyond this, green chemistry can even be in how the soap you use is made, is it made with chemical names that are hard to pronounce or is it made with names that you can pronounce and seem safe for the environment. Green chemistry is still new to many people and even to many companies, so there are still a lot to be researched and a lot to be learned. This is what I know about green chemistry rigth now, there are websites and resources that I can give you if you would like to dig further into the world of green chemistry.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Who would have thought, sugar cane is a renewable feedstock.
Yes, sugar cane can be used as a renewable feedstock. I was just shocked, just as you are reading this. Sugar cane is said to be a more beneficial and safer feedstock than corn. Ethanol that is produced from corn can damage the envirnoment. This type of ethanol can damage the envirnoment because this ethanol has the capability to release more gas emissions from greenhouses than regular fuels that are used daily.
The ethanol produced by sugar cane, is the most efficient and the one that is the safest for the envirnoment. Some of the many reasons why it is the safest and most efficient is because it is a raw material that is commonly used in plastics, papers, and chemicals. Another reason why it is the most efficient renewable feedstock that provides ethanol is because sugar cane is easy to grow and process and provides a high yield.
The efficiency of sugar cane ethanol is better than that of the ethanol produced by corn. A sugar cane plant can convert 2 percent of its solar energy into useable biomass. When the sugar from the sugar cane is extracted it is done with ease, so with being said the amount of energy of sugar cane is able to yield is greater than that of corn. Each ton of sugar cane has the energy of 1.2 barrels of petroleum.
In closing keeping in mind the information I have gathered about sugar cane ethanol, I would like to say that it does seem better than ethanol from corn. The sugar cane ethanol is also safer for the envirnoment since it does not produce green house gas emissions. The uses of sugar cane are in items that are used daily by many people. This is just another way that the world can go green, using ethanol produced by sugar cane instead of ethanol produced by corn.
http://www.therenewablecorp.com/eco_efficiency/sugarcane_as_feedstock.htm
The ethanol produced by sugar cane, is the most efficient and the one that is the safest for the envirnoment. Some of the many reasons why it is the safest and most efficient is because it is a raw material that is commonly used in plastics, papers, and chemicals. Another reason why it is the most efficient renewable feedstock that provides ethanol is because sugar cane is easy to grow and process and provides a high yield.
The efficiency of sugar cane ethanol is better than that of the ethanol produced by corn. A sugar cane plant can convert 2 percent of its solar energy into useable biomass. When the sugar from the sugar cane is extracted it is done with ease, so with being said the amount of energy of sugar cane is able to yield is greater than that of corn. Each ton of sugar cane has the energy of 1.2 barrels of petroleum.
In closing keeping in mind the information I have gathered about sugar cane ethanol, I would like to say that it does seem better than ethanol from corn. The sugar cane ethanol is also safer for the envirnoment since it does not produce green house gas emissions. The uses of sugar cane are in items that are used daily by many people. This is just another way that the world can go green, using ethanol produced by sugar cane instead of ethanol produced by corn.
http://www.therenewablecorp.com/eco_efficiency/sugarcane_as_feedstock.htm
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Cogeneration plant at UNH
In 2006, UNH started to use a cogeneration plant for their energy on their main campus in Durham. The plant traps heat which waste produces, the energy gained from the heat from the waste is then used as heat in the resident halls as well as the academic buildings. UNH partnered with Turnkey Recycling and Environmental Enterprise (TREE), to use their landfill for the source of the waste, that is then turned into heat. There is a 12. 7 mile pipe from the TREE plant, to the cogeneration plant at UNH Durham.
The methane gas that is used in the process of turning the waste into heat comes from TREE. TREE has more than 300 wells in whcih methane gas can be taking from to use as energy. Whatever part of the methane gas that is not methane gas has to be eliminated, the non-methane gas is most likely going to be carbon dixide.
As a UNH Manchester student, I feel like I belong to the UNH family. Knowing that UNH is the first university in the country to commit to such a GREEN project, is huge. Using other resources other than fossil fuels for energy sources is a great way in becoming greener and something that can be used to teach other colleges and people that there are other ways that you can be green.
http://unh.edu/news/cj_nr/2009/may/bp19ecoline.cfm
http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/alternative-energy/leading-campus/
The methane gas that is used in the process of turning the waste into heat comes from TREE. TREE has more than 300 wells in whcih methane gas can be taking from to use as energy. Whatever part of the methane gas that is not methane gas has to be eliminated, the non-methane gas is most likely going to be carbon dixide.
As a UNH Manchester student, I feel like I belong to the UNH family. Knowing that UNH is the first university in the country to commit to such a GREEN project, is huge. Using other resources other than fossil fuels for energy sources is a great way in becoming greener and something that can be used to teach other colleges and people that there are other ways that you can be green.
http://unh.edu/news/cj_nr/2009/may/bp19ecoline.cfm
http://www.aboutmyplanet.com/alternative-energy/leading-campus/
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Agriculture? MOOOOOOOO..........Organic milk
Even though organic milk is almost double the price of regular non-organic milk, it is safer in the end. The are more steps in the process of making organic milk than are in regular non organic milk making, which in turn raises the price of the finished product that is put on shelves. There are four criteria that 'organic milk' must or it is not considered to be organic, the four criteria are: no pesticides or fertizilers that are harmful(if these are used must be organic), no genetic alternations are allowed(BGH, bovine growth hormone which increases milk production by the bovine), no antibotics, and the final criteria is the cows must have access to pasture.
Getting back to the point of why organic milk costs more, is because it takes more money to raise organic cows than regular cows. The cost of owning an organic farm is also more and you need more land to raise organic cows since they need full access to pasture whenever they please. Having an organic farm starts from the Earth, before you get into the animals and the products produced by the animals. The farmers use herbicides instead of fertilizers, since fertilizers can be toxic to the workers and the envirnoment. The animals are also fed no animal by products, and no BGH are used in the bovines. Organic farmers do not use BGH in their cows since the cows can get an infection in their udder or can have an insulin growth factor as a side effect.
In the end is no really difference between regular milk and organic milk other than organic milk is healthier for you. Organic milk that was produced by cows that were able to graze whenever had more beneficial health effects than regular milk. The beneficial health effects of orgainc milk are the fatty acids are more helpful to the body, antioxdiants are higher as well as vitamins. So, in my opinion is up to the conusmer on which type of milk they choose to buy, spend more money and get milk that has more beneficial effects to the human body or get regular milk that has no real effects on the human body. I personal, no longer drink a alot of milk, but if I had to choose between organic or regular milk I think I would stick with regular milk since it is the type of milk that I had while i was growing up.
http://solorya.hubpages.com/hub/Organic-Milk--Is-It-Worth-Your-Money
Getting back to the point of why organic milk costs more, is because it takes more money to raise organic cows than regular cows. The cost of owning an organic farm is also more and you need more land to raise organic cows since they need full access to pasture whenever they please. Having an organic farm starts from the Earth, before you get into the animals and the products produced by the animals. The farmers use herbicides instead of fertilizers, since fertilizers can be toxic to the workers and the envirnoment. The animals are also fed no animal by products, and no BGH are used in the bovines. Organic farmers do not use BGH in their cows since the cows can get an infection in their udder or can have an insulin growth factor as a side effect.
In the end is no really difference between regular milk and organic milk other than organic milk is healthier for you. Organic milk that was produced by cows that were able to graze whenever had more beneficial health effects than regular milk. The beneficial health effects of orgainc milk are the fatty acids are more helpful to the body, antioxdiants are higher as well as vitamins. So, in my opinion is up to the conusmer on which type of milk they choose to buy, spend more money and get milk that has more beneficial effects to the human body or get regular milk that has no real effects on the human body. I personal, no longer drink a alot of milk, but if I had to choose between organic or regular milk I think I would stick with regular milk since it is the type of milk that I had while i was growing up.
http://solorya.hubpages.com/hub/Organic-Milk--Is-It-Worth-Your-Money
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Biological interaction with an envirnomental chemical....Cadmium
Cadmium is an environmental chemical that is found in the Earth's crust, naturally. Cadmium is formed as a mineral; Cadmium Oxide, Cadmium Chloride, and Cadmium Sulphate. These minerals are known to be toxic to humans and the environment. Since it is present in rocks it is less harmful, it is commonly found in soil and coal, even though toxic it is found in batteries, plastics, and metal coatings.
How is this environmental chemical related to biological interaction? There a few ways that it can be connected to biological interaction. Cadmium can get into to the environment, plants and animals can pick up Cadmium and can be taken in by humans.
Cadmium can get into the environment by the use of landfills, hazardous waste leaks, and poor waste disposal methods. It can also be released into the environment by working mines and other industrial activities including factories that produce batteries, plastics, and metal coatings. Another way that Cadmium is released into the environment is when coal is burned and used for energy and the burning of household waste. Cadmium can be discharged into the sea and ocean causing shellfish to accumulate Cadmium, whihc in turn will put it into a human body. Whenever Cadmium is present in the envirnoment animals and plants can take Cadmium in.
If Cadmium were ever to be consumed by humans the potential for complications is great. Consuming Cadmium can lead to irration of the digestive system and can cause vomitting, just to name a few of the complications that can arise. There is also a risk to your health if a human were to ever inhale Cadmium it can cause damage to the person's lung(s). Even low levels of Cadmium can be tough to get rid off, accumulated Cadmium can cause bone and kidney disease. Human intake of Cadmium can be from:
~welding and battery factories, inhaling by power stations burning fossil fuels, eating foods such as shellfish and liver, drinking water that is contaminated, and by smoking cigarettes.
Even though it occurs naturally in our envirnoment it is still toxic to the health of humans and animals that surround the envirnoment. As I see it, this element is NOT able to be "greenified" or become one that can be used and have its toxins limited.
http://www.planetagenda.com/chemicals.htm
How is this environmental chemical related to biological interaction? There a few ways that it can be connected to biological interaction. Cadmium can get into to the environment, plants and animals can pick up Cadmium and can be taken in by humans.
Cadmium can get into the environment by the use of landfills, hazardous waste leaks, and poor waste disposal methods. It can also be released into the environment by working mines and other industrial activities including factories that produce batteries, plastics, and metal coatings. Another way that Cadmium is released into the environment is when coal is burned and used for energy and the burning of household waste. Cadmium can be discharged into the sea and ocean causing shellfish to accumulate Cadmium, whihc in turn will put it into a human body. Whenever Cadmium is present in the envirnoment animals and plants can take Cadmium in.
If Cadmium were ever to be consumed by humans the potential for complications is great. Consuming Cadmium can lead to irration of the digestive system and can cause vomitting, just to name a few of the complications that can arise. There is also a risk to your health if a human were to ever inhale Cadmium it can cause damage to the person's lung(s). Even low levels of Cadmium can be tough to get rid off, accumulated Cadmium can cause bone and kidney disease. Human intake of Cadmium can be from:
~welding and battery factories, inhaling by power stations burning fossil fuels, eating foods such as shellfish and liver, drinking water that is contaminated, and by smoking cigarettes.
Even though it occurs naturally in our envirnoment it is still toxic to the health of humans and animals that surround the envirnoment. As I see it, this element is NOT able to be "greenified" or become one that can be used and have its toxins limited.
http://www.planetagenda.com/chemicals.htm
Friday, October 28, 2011
What is smog? The answer is......an air pollutant.
Some may ask what smog is, some may not. Well, smog is the mixture of smoke and fog in the air. Smog comes from a few different sources, but the ones that I found interesting were vehicle emissions(combustion engines) and the burning of coal. There are a few steps that everyone can take to reduce the amount of smog that is released into the air, I will explain these steps later.
Smog is something that can form in any climate or city where air pollution is high. The warmer and sunnier the weather is the worse the smog will be. Smog is mostly found in regions that are hilly, such as New York City, LA, Las Vegas, London, and Hong Kong. Smog is predominately high in these regions because they are surrounded by hills. Natural causes such as a volcano eruption can also cause smog, known as "vog."
Somethigns that are being done and can be done to reduce the amount of smog in the air is: do all your errands in one day instead of spreading them out over two or three days to reduce the amount of vehicle emissions that you are putting into the air, have maintance done regular on your car such as getting the oil changed every 3,000 miles can help reduce the amount of vehicle emissions being put into the air. Something that is fairly new the world of green chemistry is the use of solar energy, windturbines, and geothermal hear to generate electricity into houses, office buildings, and schools. You can also work at home a few days a week if your job allows you that option....by working from home you are saving your company electricity because you are not there to turn on your lights and your computer when many others will be on at the same time as yours. Another helpful to the reduction of smog in the air when you work at home is there is one less car on the road to allows its emissions into the air.
Smog is something that can form in any climate or city where air pollution is high. The warmer and sunnier the weather is the worse the smog will be. Smog is mostly found in regions that are hilly, such as New York City, LA, Las Vegas, London, and Hong Kong. Smog is predominately high in these regions because they are surrounded by hills. Natural causes such as a volcano eruption can also cause smog, known as "vog."
Somethigns that are being done and can be done to reduce the amount of smog in the air is: do all your errands in one day instead of spreading them out over two or three days to reduce the amount of vehicle emissions that you are putting into the air, have maintance done regular on your car such as getting the oil changed every 3,000 miles can help reduce the amount of vehicle emissions being put into the air. Something that is fairly new the world of green chemistry is the use of solar energy, windturbines, and geothermal hear to generate electricity into houses, office buildings, and schools. You can also work at home a few days a week if your job allows you that option....by working from home you are saving your company electricity because you are not there to turn on your lights and your computer when many others will be on at the same time as yours. Another helpful to the reduction of smog in the air when you work at home is there is one less car on the road to allows its emissions into the air.
Friday, October 21, 2011
A green solvent found in ourselves?! YES, WATER!
The human body is an amazing thing, if you think about it. The body has 206 bones....that's a lot if you ask me! It is also amazing for another thing, using water as a solvent! The human body is made up of more than fifty percent of water!!!! Water has a function in the human body, it is used to form tissue and acts as a solvent in body fluids........you probably did not know that before now! You learn something new ever day.
Water is used as a solvent in the human body to dissolve carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are dissolved by water because they are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates are necessary sources of energy in the human body, so for their energy to be used by the body they have to be broken down and dissolved so they can be distributed throughout the human body for use.
Water is the greenest solvent you can have in the human body! You do not have to worry about creating any hazardous waste or harming the environment. Water is a natural resource that is found in nature and the best part about this solvent that is used in the human body is that is F-R-E-E!!!! Where else can you find a free natural resource that is used a solvent in the human body besides nature? If you guessed nowhere, you are correct!
Water is used as a solvent in the human body to dissolve carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are dissolved by water because they are made up of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Carbohydrates are necessary sources of energy in the human body, so for their energy to be used by the body they have to be broken down and dissolved so they can be distributed throughout the human body for use.
Water is the greenest solvent you can have in the human body! You do not have to worry about creating any hazardous waste or harming the environment. Water is a natural resource that is found in nature and the best part about this solvent that is used in the human body is that is F-R-E-E!!!! Where else can you find a free natural resource that is used a solvent in the human body besides nature? If you guessed nowhere, you are correct!
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