By Ian Mallov, Co-Chair for the GCI
Ask a scientist what their greatest satisfaction is from research. Most will probably tell you something along the lines of “the pursuit and discovery of new knowledge.”
Some will mention the parallel satisfaction of originating inventions or techniques that are broadly applicable, and seeing that work applied for the benefit of society.
Much of the challenge of moving towards a truly sustainable culture is in applying what we’ve already shown to be effective on small scales.
Two years ago, the Green Chemistry Initiative’s 2014 Workshop team developed ten recommendations entitled “Simple Techniques to Make Everyday Lab Work Greener.” Led by co-founder Laura Hoch, with important contributions from Cookie Cho and Dr. Andy Dicks, we publicized these during the workshop. So what has happened to these recommendations since? They’ve been developed – are researchers in our department incorporating them into their work habits? Are we ourselves applying what we already know to be effective?
I was pleasantly surprised to find out that a number of our researchers were in fact using these greener lab techniques. In an effort to make their use even more widespread, I’d like to highlight some examples of researchers in our department who are leading by example.
Further, next week our “Simple Techniques to Make Everyday Lab Work Greener” poster will be posted around the department!
Scientist: Karlee Bamford, Stephan lab
Technique: Recycling solvents from rotovap to use for cleaning vials and glassware
Why it’s greener: Saves solvent, reduces waste generated, and reduces energy used in production and disposal of additional solvent
Issues to Consider: Use in synthesis and purification often requires solvents to be more pure than those collected from rotovap
Scientist: Aleksandra Holownia, Yudin lab
Technique: Setting GC to stand-by mode when not in use
Why it’s greener: The GC uses much less helium gas (a rapidly diminishing resource) and reduces the temperature of the oven, saving energy
Issues to Consider: Does take a few minutes to start up again
Scientist: Karl Demmans, Morris lab
Technique: Using 2-methyl THF as a reaction solvent instead of THF
Why it’s greener: 2-methyl THF is derived from the aldehyde furfural, sourced from renewable crops. THF, on the other hand, is derived from fossil fuels. While crop-sourcing does not automatically make it “greener,” consensus in the case 2-methyl THF is that it is indeed less energy- and resource-intensive to produce than THF.
Issues to Consider: Unlike THF, it is immiscible with water. Slightly less polar than THF
Scientist: James LaFortune, Stephan lab
Technique: Isopropanol/dry ice instead of acetone/dry ice for cold baths
Why it’s greener: An Isopropanol/dry ice bath maintains a temperature of -77 oC, almost exactly the same as acetone/dry ice’s -78 oC. However, isopropanol is much less volatile (bp: 83 oC) than acetone (bp: 56 oC); practically, this allows for the recovery and reuse of the isopropanol after several hours or overnight, while acetone evaporates.
Issues to Consider: Must actually recover and reuse the isopropanol!
Scientist: Samantha Smith, Morris lab
Technique: Closing the fume hood sash when not in use.
Why it’s greener: Modern, variable-flow fume hoods – used in the Davenport wing of our building – regulate the strength of their vacuum for safety based on how far open the fume hood is. When wide open, the fume hood uses much more energy than when closed (see Just Shut It campaign!)
Issues to Consider: Is your fume hood variable-flow?
Scientist: Brian de la Franier, Thompson lab
Technique: Using a closed-loop cooling system for refluxes and distillations.
Why it’s greener: Uses much less water. While some of our undergraduate labs have built-in closed-loop cooling systems, Brian simply got a small fish tank pump from a pet store and uses a Styrofoam box with ice to keep his water cold – a very easy DIY solution!
Issues to Consider: Does water saved compensate for the extra energy for the ice/pump? Consider the energy used to purify and deliver the extra water and we can safely say yes.
Scientist: Alex Waked, Stephan lab
Technique: Reusing rubber septa used to seal Schlenk flasks
Why it’s greener: Saves materials and money
Issues to Consider: There is a limit to their reusability. At some point, if a septum has been perforated by too many needle holes it is no longer an effective seal. Must also ensure septa are kept clean.
Scientist: Molly Sung, Morris lab
Technique: Reusing gas chromatography vial caps by replacing their septa
Why it’s greener: Saves materials and money
Issues to Consider: Somewhat time-consuming to remove and replace rubber septa for each cap