5. Green Disposal of Waste Bisphenol A
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Lesley Putman
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an important precursor for polycarbonates and epoxy resins that are used to make products that many would consider essential for modern living. Unfortunately, BPA is an endocrine disrupter and more and more evidence is being uncovered about its negative effects on humans as well as on organisms in the environment. Sustainable chemistry means we take everything into account in designing a chemical process: the risks, the costs, the benefits, and so on. BPA is not likely to be replaced by a less toxic chemical in the foreseeable future, nor is our society willing to give up valuable polycarbonate products. As part of sustainable green chemistry, we want to assure that any toxic chemicals that leave a manufacturing plant pose a minimal risk to the environment. Using a green method to clean up effluent before it is released into the environment would be ideal. In this report, little bluestem seeds are shown to be capable of degrading BPA in aqueous solutions. This gives them the potential to be used in reducing the amount of BPA that may be in effluent. Additionally, an enzyme was isolated that was responsible for degrading BPA and this could also have potential for the treatment of effluent.
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an important precursor for polycarbonates and epoxy resins that are used to make products that many would consider essential for modern living. Unfortunately, BPA is an endocrine disrupter and more and more evidence is being uncovered about its negative effects on humans as well as on organisms in the environment. Sustainable chemistry means we take everything into account in designing a chemical process: the risks, the costs, the benefits, and so on. BPA is not likely to be replaced by a less toxic chemical in the foreseeable future, nor is our society willing to give up valuable polycarbonate products. As part of sustainable green chemistry, we want to assure that any toxic chemicals that leave a manufacturing plant pose a minimal risk to the environment. Using a green method to clean up effluent before it is released into the environment would be ideal. In this report, little bluestem seeds are shown to be capable of degrading BPA in aqueous solutions. This gives them the potential to be used in reducing the amount of BPA that may be in effluent. Additionally, an enzyme was isolated that was responsible for degrading BPA and this could also have potential for the treatment of effluent.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- List of Contributing Authors IX
- Where We Are and Where We Are Going with Green Chemistry 1
- 1. Upon Further Review: A Commodity Chemist on Green Chemistry 7
- 2. Green Chemistry: Progress and Barriers 17
- 3. Switchable Polarity Solvents: Are They Green? 29
- 4. Toward a Greenish Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Ionic Liquids as Solvents for Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing and Other Decontamination Processes for Contaminated Metal Waste 35
- 5. Green Disposal of Waste Bisphenol A 53
- 6. Green Chemistry Pedagogy 67
- 7. How the Principles of Green Chemistry Changed the Way Organic Chemistry Labs Are Taught at the University of Detroit Mercy 95
- 8. Greening the Curriculum: Traditional and Online Offerings for Science and Nonscience Majors 103
- Index 115
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- List of Contributing Authors IX
- Where We Are and Where We Are Going with Green Chemistry 1
- 1. Upon Further Review: A Commodity Chemist on Green Chemistry 7
- 2. Green Chemistry: Progress and Barriers 17
- 3. Switchable Polarity Solvents: Are They Green? 29
- 4. Toward a Greenish Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Ionic Liquids as Solvents for Spent Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing and Other Decontamination Processes for Contaminated Metal Waste 35
- 5. Green Disposal of Waste Bisphenol A 53
- 6. Green Chemistry Pedagogy 67
- 7. How the Principles of Green Chemistry Changed the Way Organic Chemistry Labs Are Taught at the University of Detroit Mercy 95
- 8. Greening the Curriculum: Traditional and Online Offerings for Science and Nonscience Majors 103
- Index 115
