UNAIR NEWS – “Developments in the chemical industry must be accompanied by efforts to protect the environment, one of which is by applying the principle of green chemistry,” said Prof. Dr. Hartati Dra., M.Si. when she was inaugurated as a Professor on Wednesday, December 8, 2021.
Green chemistry is a technique that can minimize environmental damage during material production and the disposal of waste generated from chemical processes.
“Currently, these 12 principles of green chemistry are considered as the basis for contributing to sustainable development. The principles consist of instructions for applying new chemical products, new syntheses, and new processes,” said Prof. Hartati.
The Faculty of Science and Technology (FST) professor explained that heterogeneous catalysts have met the principles of green chemistry. Catalysts can also help the environment by reducing toxic manufacturing byproducts, unlocking biofuels, and producing more efficient batteries.
“Currently, catalysts are involved in the production of more than 80 percent of all manufactured products. In addition, about 90 percent of all industrial chemicals produced in the world use catalysts in the manufacturing process,” she explained.
In her speech entitled “Synthesis and Application of Heterogeneous Catalysts that Support Green Chemistry,” she also stated that although catalysts can initiate or speed up chemical reactions and do not change either chemically or physically, environmental protection must still be considered.
“We have to avoid the formation of waste or unwanted byproducts to prevent pollution,” explained the 16th FST Professor.
As mentioned by Prof. Hartati, heterogeneous catalysts are widely used for the industry with several advantages such as cost-effective and environmentally friendly. Catalysts can also be used in a variety of environments, such as liquids, gases, or solid surfaces.
Furthermore, the lecturer born in Trenggalek said that natural heterogeneous catalysts alone are not enough, so the role of catalyst synthesis with renewable and environmentally friendly materials is needed.
Synthesis of heterogeneous catalysts that support green chemistry can be in the form of zeolite and molecular sieve for acid and metal oxide catalysts and other catalysts for alkaline ones.
Prof. Hartati also said that the catalyst synthesis should be manufactured with an environmentally friendly mold and without solvents. The raw materials for manufacture are also renewable such as industrial waste, agricultural waste, or plantation waste.
“Application of catalysts should also be able to go through multicomponent reactions without solvents, minimize the influence of supporting substances, and catalyze renewable materials,” said the professor of chemistry.
Author: Tata Ferliana W.
Editor : Khefti Al Mawalia
