Green Chemistry Metrics

This contribution to SpringerBriefs in Green Chemistry outlines and discusses the four major green chemistry metrics (atom economy, reaction mass efficiency, E factor and process mass intensity), at a level that is comprehensible by upper-level undergraduates. Such students have previously received fundamental training in organic chemistry basics, and are ideally positioned to learn about green chemistry principles, of which metrics is one foundational pillar. Following this, other green metrics in common use are discussed, along with applications that allow important calculations to be easily undertaken. Finally, an introduction to metrics in the context of life cycle analyses is presented. It should be noted that no other available publication teaches green chemistry metrics in detail with an emphasis on educating undergraduates, whilst simultaneously providing a contemporary industrial flavour to the material.

Andrew (Andy) Dicks joined the University of Toronto Chemistry Department in 1997. After undergraduate and graduate study in the United Kingdom, he became an organic chemistry sessional lecturer in 1999, and was hired as part of the university teaching-stream faculty two years later. He has research interests in undergraduate laboratory instruction that involve designing novel and stimulating experiments, particularly those that showcase green chemistry principles. This work has lead to over twenty peer-reviewed publications in the chemical education literature. Following promotion in 2006, he became Associate Chair for Undergraduate Studies for two years and developed an ongoing interest in improving the student experience in his department. He has won several pedagogical awards, including the University of Toronto President's Teaching Award, the Canadian Institute of Chemistry National Award for Chemical Education, and most recently a 2011 American Chemical Society-Committee on Environmental Improvement Award for Incorporating Sustainability into Chemistry Education.

Andrei Hent earned a Chemistry B.Sc. with Honors in 2012 from the  University of Toronto. Between 2012 and 2014, he worked with Dr.  Andrew Dicks to design a laboratory examination for third-year  undergraduate students featuring green metrics. Most recently, he and  Dr. John Andraos have collaborated on two research papers that focus  on communicating new insights about green metrics to an academic  audience. His professional interests include effective communication  of scientific ideas, especially in the context of organic synthesis,  which he intends to pursue in a graduate program.