Green chemistry provides an important framework for promoting sustainability and reducing environmental impact in chemical education; however, its integration into undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory curricula remains limited. While previous work ¹ “Small Changes, Big Impact: Integrating Green Chemistry into the Organic Chemistry Laboratory Through Optimized Experimental Methods,” described integrating green chemistry principles into an undergraduate lab course through optimized experimental method , the present study evaluated the educational impact of that implementation on student awareness, perceptions, and self-efficacy. A pretest-posttest survey consisting of Likert-scale and open-ended questions was administered to students enrolled in an undergraduate organic chemistry laboratory course to assess changes in awareness, perceptions, and self-efficacy toward green chemistry concepts and sustainable laboratory practices. Quantitative analysis revealed measurable increases in students’ self-reported understanding of green chemistry principles, confidence in assessing the environmental impact of organic reactions, and recognition of sustainability considerations in laboratory work. Qualitative responses further demonstrated a shift from viewing green chemistry as an abstract concept to recognizing its practical relevance in laboratory practice and future professional applications. These findings suggested that incorporation of a single, well-designed green chemistry laboratory intervention could reinforce core organic chemistry concepts while promoting sustainability awareness, perceptions and student self-efficacy. This study provided an assessment framework and supporting evidence for broader integration of green chemistry principles into undergraduate laboratory instruction.

Over the past five years, Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) has undertaken a sustained effort to integrate green chemistry and sustainability into chemistry education. This work began with the formation of a Green Chemistry Task Force to identify opportunities for incorporating green chemistry principles across the curriculum and engaging faculty in this effort. Since then, faculty have developed and implemented new curricular materials, laboratory activities, and student learning experiences (research) that connect fundamental chemistry concepts with environmental, health, and sustainability challenges. These efforts have been strengthened through faculty collaboration, professional development, and the successful acquisition of competitive grant funding to support awareness of Green Chemistry on our campus. Together, these activities have helped move green chemistry from individual classroom efforts toward a more coordinated program within the chemistry curriculum. This poster highlights GGC’s progress over the past five years, examples of curriculum innovations, lessons learned during implementation, and opportunities for expanding green chemistry education in the future.

The proposed undergraduate research explores potential water conservation in chemistry laboratories by implementing the use of recirculating pumps. Throughout the project, simple and fractional distillation, and reflux condensation of alkanes, aromatics, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes, esters and binary mixtures are conducted comparing traditional water-intensive methods with a water-saving pump apparatus. Through the collection of water usage, time each experiment takes, and collection of volume in both systems, the research aims to quantify potential water savings and determine feasibility of the new method. As a continuing project from undergraduate general and organic chemistry classes, these findings provide valuable insights into sustainable laboratory practices.

Green chemistry provides a framework for designing safer and more sustainable chemical processes, yet its integration into undergraduate curricula stays limited. In large laboratory courses, inefficient reactions can generate significant chemical waste, conflicting with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry, (Figure 1). In this study, a traditional low-yield synthesis of 3,5-diarylisoxazole derivatives (Figure 3, Route 1) was redesigned into a more efficient one-pot method (Figure 3, Route 2). The improved approach significantly increased yields (from 5.8–39.9% to 36.75–71.01%) while reducing chemical waste, proving a practical application of greener laboratory practices. ​Incorporating this case study improved reaction efficiency while serving as an effective tool for teaching sustainability in the laboratory. Students demonstrated increased understanding of green chemistry principles and greater awareness of preventative practices, with many expressing commitment to applying these concepts in future settings. Overall, small, strategic modifications enhanced both environmental outcomes and student learning, providing a scalable framework aligned with the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry.​

Green chemistry extends beyond the application of its 12 Principles; it represents a proactive design approach that emphasizes waste prevention, hazard reduction, and improved efficiency. Building on a previously reported optimized experimental framework, five undergraduate organic chemistry experiments were redesigned using a green chemistry lens, focusing on solvent selection, energy use, reaction efficiency, safety, and waste reduction. The experiments included carbon–carbon bond formation, electrophilic addition, oxidation, and heterocycle synthesis using a common chalcone scaffold. The redesigned experiments were implemented in a CHEM 3110 Organic Chemistry Laboratory course during Spring 2026. Laboratory waste was measured and compared with waste generated in courses using traditional, non-greenified experiments. The redesigned experiments resulted in an overall 64% reduction in liquid laboratory waste while maintaining instructional value. These findings demonstrate that green chemistry can be integrated into undergraduate laboratory education through practical experimental redesign, substantially reducing the environmental impact of laboratory activities, and providing a transferable framework for advancing sustainability in chemistry curricula.

Green chemistry is more than a set of principles for reducing waste and hazardous substances in the laboratory – it is a mindset for designing safer, more sustainable, and more efficient solutions from the start. It is a way of thinking about how science, technology, and everyday choices can contribute to a more sustainable future. This poster introduces green chemistry as an interdisciplinary approach that can be applied across scientific fields, educational settings, industry, and everyday life. It highlights how the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry provide a practical framework for preventing waste, reducing hazards, improving energy and resource efficiency, and designing safer and more sustainable products and processes. Examples from laboratory education and everyday activities demonstrate how small changes in materials, methods, and decision-making can lead to meaningful sustainability improvements. By connecting green chemistry to experiences beyond the chemistry laboratory, this work emphasizes that green chemistry is for everyone. Ultimately, the 12 Principles can serve not only as guidelines for chemical practice, but also as a mindset for thinking, designing, and making informed choices that contribute to a more sustainable future.

Atlanta’s air quality has improved over time, but air pollution remains an important public health concern. Based on 2020–2022 monitoring data, the fine particulate matter (PM2.5) design values were 9.4 µg/m3 in Fulton County and 9.0 µg/m³ in DeKalb County, compared with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s revised annual standard of 9.0 µg/m³ and the World Health Organization’s 2021 guideline of 5 µg/m³. Countywide averages, however, may obscure substantial spatial variation in exposure associated with highways, industrial facilities, rail corridors, and other local emission sources. Guided by the pollution-prevention principles of green chemistry, this study examines geographic variation in air quality and respiratory health across an urban-rural gradient in the Atlanta metropolitan region and evaluates whether spatial patterns in air pollution correspond with respiratory disease burden. Annual and daily concentrations of PM2.5, nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), and ozone were obtained from EPA Air Quality System monitoring sites spanning the region. Respiratory disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence data were obtained from CDC PLACES, while respiratory emergency department visit rates were obtained from Georgia OASIS. Pollutant concentrations were compared across monitoring locations and examined in relation to geographic patterns of respiratory disease prevalence. The analysis highlights spatial differences in pollutant exposure across the Atlanta region and explores their potential relationship with respiratory health outcomes. By connecting air quality, human health, and pollution prevention, this work illustrates how green chemistry principles can extend beyond the laboratory to address environmental challenges at their source. Reducing combustion-related emissions can simultaneously decrease air pollutants that harm human health and greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change, supporting cleaner air, healthier communities, and more sustainable chemical practices.

Green hydrogen is produced by splitting water through electrolysis using renewable electricity. Since seawater makes up most of Earth’s water, direct seawater electrolysis seems like an attractive option for hydrogen production, especially in coastal areas where freshwater may be limited. However, seawater contains chloride, magnesium, calcium, and other dissolved species that can interfere with electrolysis, cause corrosion, and form deposits on electrode surfaces. This poster will focus on the question of whether direct seawater electrolysis is actually a practical option for green hydrogen production, or whether desalinating and purifying seawater before electrolysis is still the better approach. The poster will also look at how much energy hydrogen can store, how water electrolysis converts electrical energy into chemical energy stored in hydrogen, and why hydrogen has not yet become a more common energy carrier. The goal is to compare the main benefits and drawbacks of direct seawater electrolysis with conventional purified water electrolysis. Particular attention will be given to the chemical problems created by seawater, the additional treatment or equipment needed to overcome them, and whether avoiding desalination provides enough benefit to make direct seawater electrolysis worthwhile.

Food for Fuel Enterprises is a mock business proposal for a company supplying anaerobic digestors to industrial restaurants in the rural south. Anaerobic digestion is process in which bacteria break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen, releasing biogas as well as digestate outputs. Biogas is primarily composed of methane, the main component of natural gas used to provide heat, generate electricity, and power cooling systems, among other uses. The digestate produced can also be sold for use as animal bedding and nutrient-rich fertilizer. A custom anaerobic digestion system is designed with each restaurant’s resources and desired energy output in mind. Using a theoretical startup fund, the complete company model includes location, departments, finances, and chemical processes that are profitable and desirable to our partners. Food for Fuel Enterprises is divided into four departments: Research and Development, Quality Control / Post Treatment, Manufacturing and HR. Business contributions on-site involve consultation, digestion components and catalyst manufacturing, while the off-site factors include maintenance, energy output and digestate removal. The aim of this study is to propose an industrial business model and, complete with chemical considerations, demonstrate a sustainable and economical solution for food waste. Our mission is to develop and propose a functioning business which can allow sustainable energy to be more accessible and become a practiced reality within the food industry.

Plastic pollution has become one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges. Because conventional plastics are designed to be durable, they can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, gradually breaking down into microplastics that contaminate oceans, freshwater, soil, wildlife, and even the food we eat. Green chemistry offers an opportunity to address this issue by developing safer, more sustainable materials that reduce environmental harm without sacrificing functionality.  This project explores the chemistry behind traditional plastics, explains how microplastics are formed, and examines their environmental impact. It also highlights innovative alternatives being developed through green chemistry, including mushroom (mycelium)-based packaging, plant-based bioplastics, seaweed-derived packaging, and other biodegradable materials. These sustainable materials have the potential to reduce plastic waste, decrease dependence on fossil fuels, and support a circular economy.  Through creative science communication, visual comparisons, and real-world examples, this project demonstrates how chemistry is driving innovative solutions to one of today’s greatest environmental challenges. Rather than focusing only on the problem, the project encourages viewers to consider how scientific research and sustainable material design can transform the future of packaging and waste management.  By showcasing the connection between chemistry, sustainability, and everyday consumer choices, this project aims to inspire greater awareness of green chemistry and its role in creating a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable world.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are produced when petroleum and coal products undergo partial combustion. These compounds are released into the environment primarily through the inefficient burning of fuels, particularly diesel, via vehicle exhaust emissions. Rainfall then transports these contaminants into bodies of water such as lakes, rivers, and oceans, where they pose significant ecological risks to aquatic organisms. When PAHs are activated by ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun, they generate short-lived, DNA-damaging reactive oxygen species (ROS). The formation of these highly reactive molecules increases toxicity and represents a serious threat to marine life and ecosystems. Our preliminary results have shown that UV irradiation of certain synthetic, charged PAH derivatives in neutral aqueous solutions containing chloride at seawater concentrations produces elevated levels of ROS compared to freshwater chloride concentrations. These findings suggest that chloride ions present in marine environments may enhance PAH phototoxicity. The aim of our research is to use UV-visible spectrophotometry in combination with a fluorescence-based microplate assay to determine whether 9,10-anthraquinone, a toxic PAH found in marine organisms, seawater, and marine sediments, exhibits the same dangerous chloride “salt effect.” Uncovering mechanisms that underlie the phototoxicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is an essential step toward reversing the harm that these compounds cause to bacteria, algae, and fish in marine environments. We seek to contribute to future efforts aimed at mitigating the harm these compounds cause to bacteria, algae, and fish in marine environments.

Amphibians possess physiological characteristics that make them highly susceptible to environmental contamination and pollution. Consequently, amphibians can serve as bioindicators, organisms used to assess ecosystem health, by revealing the presence and ecological effects of environmental stressors. Observing amphibian responses to chemical exposure can provide insight into environmental quality and inform more sustainable chemical practices.  This science education and outreach presentation explores the role of amphibians in assessing environmental contamination and demonstrates how amphibian monitoring aligns with the principles of green chemistry. To support this discussion, findings from primary literature examining amphibian populations’ responses to environmental contaminants, including persistent and emerging pollutants, were synthesized and evaluated in the context of pollution prevention and environmental stewardship. In doing so, this presentation highlights how amphibian monitoring can support early detection of environmental impacts and guide efforts to reduce ecological harm from chemical practices.   By integrating ecological biomonitoring into broader discussions about chemical practice, amphibians offer a practical and interdisciplinary perspective for evaluating the environmental outcomes of green chemistry initiatives. This presentation aims to increase awareness of amphibian conservation while showing the value of preventative approaches to environmental protection. 

Mycelium (fungus-based) materials and algae-based bioplastics are both marketed as eco-friendly replacements for plastic foam and plastic film. This project reviewed published research and real-world case studies to see whether that “green” label holds up against the specific plastics each material is meant to replace, looking at strength, carbon footprint, and how each material breaks down at the end of its life. Mycelium performs well against foam plastic like expanded polystyrene plastic, matching or exceeding its strength and lowering carbon emissions under the right production process, making it fairly close to being a real substitute. Algae bioplastics are more inconsistent: some versions cut emissions significantly, but at least one type produced more emissions than the plastic it replaced once processing was factored in. Overall, mycelium looks closer to ready for real-world use, while algae shows real promise but needs more consistent, standardized research before its claims can be fully trusted.

Conventional elastomers are renowned for their exceptional mechanical performance but remain challenging to recycle because of their chemically robust carbon–carbon backbones and permanent crosslinked networks. Here, we present a family of ultra-high-molecular-weight muconate–isoprene copolymers designed to combine strong elastomeric performance with chemical recyclability. Muconate incorporation introduces weakened bonds into the polymer backbone that can provide preferential sites for thermal cleavage and subsequent monomer recovery. Electronic effects promote a preferred alternating arrangement of muconate and isoprene, distributing these weakened junctions throughout the polymer while suppressing muconate-to-muconate incorporation. By controlling monomer composition and polymerization temperature, molecular weights exceeding 1.6 MDa were achieved under additive- and solvent-free conditions. The resulting materials exhibit rubber-like mechanical behavior without permanent crosslinking, while minimal crosslinking provides additional reinforcement, achieving tensile stresses above 10 MPa at strains exceeding 1200%. Thermal depolymerization enables recovery of up to approximately 72% of the theoretical isoprene content under simple laboratory conditions, demonstrating the potential for polymer sequence to influence chemical recovery. Together, these results establish a strategy in which polymer sequence, molecular weight, and network structure can be jointly engineered to balance mechanical performance with chemical circularity, providing a foundation for future recyclable rubber and stretchable material platforms.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental pollutants generated through the incomplete combustion of wood, coal, petroleum, diesel, and other organic fuels. Rainfall transports these compounds into marine environments, where they enter the food chain and pose risks to aquatic organisms. Upon exposure to sunlight, PAHs can be converted into quinones that exhibit increased redox activity and generate DNA-damaging hydroxyl radicals and other reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhancing their carcinogenic and mutagenic potential. Previous research in our laboratory has shown that the approximately 500 mM chloride anion concentration found in seawater significantly increases ROS production by several PAHs, suggesting that seawater chemistry may amplify their toxicity. In this study, UV-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopies were used to investigate the effects of seawater chloride concentrations on the photochemistry of 1,4-naphthoquinone and 9,10-anthraquinone, two toxic PAH quinones commonly found in polluted marine waters and sediments. UV-visible absorption measurements indicate that 500 mM chloride anions protect 1,4-naphthoquinone from photodegradation under ultraviolet irradiation, increasing its persistence in marine environments and potentially prolonging its ecological impact.

Plastic waste and used cooking oil represent two waste streams that cause pollution and health issues. This project proposes a waste to fuel approach by using methanol originated from plastic served as a feedstock through gasification process and use that feedstock for transesterification of waste cooking oil (WCO) to produce the primary component of biodiesel which is fatty-acid methyl esters (FAME). Not only a useful main product that is very sustainable, through the transesterification process glycerol is also generated as a useful byproduct. Based on previous literature, these two processes have been successfully demonstrated separately. However, this project initiative of using waste derived methanol as an alternative feedstock for the transesterification process to reduce the reliance on conventional methanol. This proposal will also be evaluated to align with the green chemistry principles such as waste prevention, energy efficiency, renewable feedstock, catalysis. Some challenges include high energy requirements for the production, syngas purification, and the economic viability must be considered when determining the general sustainability of the proposed pathway.

Urban waterways are frequently impacted by stormwater runoff, sediment, wastewater inputs, and other sources of contamination that can influence both physicochemical and microbial water quality. This study investigated whether turbidity and conductivity can serve as indicators of Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations in urban waterways across Metro Atlanta. Water samples were collected from multiple monitoring sites in collaboration with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper’s Neighborhood Water Watch program. Samples were analyzed for E. coli concentrations, turbidity, and conductivity using standardized water-quality monitoring methods. Relationships between these parameters were evaluated through data visualization, descriptive statistics, and correlation analysis to determine whether changes in turbidity or conductivity corresponded with elevated E. coli concentrations. The results demonstrated variability among sampling locations and showed that physicochemical conditions alone did not consistently explain changes in E. coli concentrations across all sites. However, site-specific patterns suggest that turbidity and conductivity may provide useful supporting information when evaluating microbial water quality, particularly when considered alongside environmental factors such as rainfall, runoff, and surrounding land use. These findings emphasize the complexity of predicting microbial contamination in urban aquatic systems and demonstrate the importance of combining chemical, physical, and microbiological measurements for effective community-based water-quality monitoring.

N,N-Dimethylformamide (DMF) is widely used in solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS) because of its excellent solvency and polar aprotic properties, but its toxicity and increasing regulatory scrutiny have raised concerns regarding its sustainability. This study evaluates greener alternatives to DMF and practical strategies for efficient DMF removal in SPPS. NBP, γ-valerolactone (GVL), TEP/DMSO, and 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (2-MeTHF) were investigated based on reagent solubility, resin swelling, and peptide coupling performance. Among the alternatives, NBP demonstrated the highest resin swelling, broad reagent compatibility, and loading efficiency, although solvent replacement may compromise certain aspects of SPPS performance. When DMF use could not be avoided, several removal strategies were evaluated. A trap-arm vacuum system combined with a cold well and toluene cosolvent (2:1) achieved the highest DMF removal efficiency. These findings provide practical approaches for reducing DMF use and waste in peptide synthesis.

Catalysts play a key role in green and sustainable chemistry, fulfilling multiple of the twelve principles of green chemistry by speeding up reactions without being consumed, enabling the production of medicines, fuels, plastics, fertilizers, and more. N-heterocyclic carbenes (NHCs) have proven to be an excellent ligand for a variety of transition metal catalysts. However, some NHC precursors have poor solubility in reaction medium, making them difficult to produce with traditional reactions involving solvents. To overcome this, our project explores a novel approach to producing NHC-transition metal-based catalysts through mechanochemical methods. Mechanochemistry offers a solvent free or solvent reduced alternative to traditional reactions, reducing environmental impact while often enhancing reaction efficiency, selectivity, and scalability. Our results demonstrate that mechanochemistry is a suitable green method for the synthesis of a variety of catalytically active NHC transition-metal complexes that are not readily accessible through traditional solution-based methods. Moreover, these complexes are effective catalysts for C-C coupling reactions, which can also be performed under mechanochemical conditions.

Healthcare is essential to protecting human life, yet the delivery of surgical care generates a substantial environmental footprint. Operating rooms generate disposable plastics, packaging, medical devices, pharmaceutical waste and other materials that require different methods of handling and disposal. This research poster brings together possible green chemistry and sustainable practices that can make surgical care more environmentally friendly while maintaining patient safety. Approaches discussed include better waste reduction and segregation, reprocessing of single-use medical devices, environmentally preferable purchasing, reducing energy consumption and improving pharmaceutical waste management. Medical plastic waste is a major concern because many surgical products are designed for single use. Plastic upcycling could give some of these materials a second life by converting them into useful, higher-value products instead of sending them to landfills or incinerators. Together, these approaches could help healthcare use resources more sustainably and reduce the amount of waste it produces.

Persistent synthetic plastics, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (or its common name, Teflon) have become integrated into our mundane, everyday lives due to their versatility and durability. However, the same durability that defines their value also creates long-term environmental damage. This infographic explores the processes in production and chemical stability of these PCPs that make them resistant to chemical decomposition through the vehicles of Teflon (PTFE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Moreover, it examines the strong correlation between certain widespread PCPs and adverse health effects such as kidney cancer, prostate cancer, and increased blood cholesterol levels. It follows up with disposal methods, primarily thermal treatment, recycling, and the challenges associated with PCP disposal in general. Finally, it applies the green chemistry principles of ‘design for degradation;’ ‘less hazardous chemical synthetic syntheses;’ and ‘renewable feedstock’ to present short and long-term strategies for reducing hazardous substances and designing safer materials capable of degradation.

Hydrogels are three-dimensional, hydrophilic, crosslinked polymer networks capable of absorbing and holding large amounts of water. This material’s ability to absorb water and its easily adjustable nature make it highly suitable for micro and nanoplastic filtration. Such polymers can be used to remove target particles from solution by various mechanisms, including physical entrapment, hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and size-based separation. Hydrogels can be engineered to have affinity for microplastics, allowing them to act as highly efficient filters. The reviewed studies have confirmed the possibility of using these materials for separations, with hydrogels demonstrating high removal efficiencies and continued performance across multiple cycles of use. Additionally, hydrogel-based separation technology meets several green chemistry principles. These include reducing waste, improving sustainability, providing new remediation methods, and designing closed loop systems for a better plastic economy. The key areas of future research should include the development of materials with better regeneration capacity and longer lifespan, as well as scale up strategies for industrial applications. New methodologies for plastic recycling and degradation could allow for a cleaner, safer plastic lifecycle.

Medical imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) have transformed diagnostic medicine, yet their environmental footprint remains an underexamined concern. This literature review synthesizes existing research on the ecological impacts associated with these imaging modalities, including the depletion of liquid helium—a finite, non-renewable resource essential to superconducting MRI magnets—as well as the environmental persistence of gadolinium-based contrast agents, which have been detected in wastewater and surface water systems worldwide. CT scanning presents its own challenges, from the disposal of iodinated contrast media to the substantial energy demands of scanner operation and manufacturing. Beyond material and chemical concerns, the high electricity consumption of imaging suites contributes meaningfully to the carbon footprint of healthcare institutions, an industry increasingly recognized as a significant global emissions contributor. Emerging green chemistry and engineering solutions aimed at mitigating these harms are examined, including helium recycling and helium-free MRI systems, the development of safer and more biodegradable contrast agents, energy-efficient magnet and detector designs, AI-optimized imaging protocols that reduce scan time and power usage, and improved end-of-life recycling practices for imaging equipment. Consolidating current findings underscores both the urgency and feasibility of integrating sustainability principles into diagnostic imaging without compromising clinical efficacy. Green chemistry offers a critical framework for reimagining medical imaging infrastructure—one that preserves the diagnostic power of MRI and CT while substantially reducing their environmental toll, ultimately supporting a more sustainable and responsible healthcare system.

Acid catalysis drives esterification, hydrolysis, isomerization, and cracking across the chemical, food, and petroleum industries. Solid acids increasingly replace liquid acids because they minimize corrosion, catalyst–product separation, and neutralization waste. Their acid site density, however, is fixed once synthesis is complete. Adjusting or restoring it requires strong chemical treatment or high-temperature calcination. This project explores adjustable proton content of a solid acid after synthesis, using an applied potential at room temperature. Amorphous WO3 is the model solid acid because it combines surface Brønsted and Lewis acidity with proton-insertion electrochemistry. Under a reducing potential in acidic electrolyte, protons and electrons enter the film together, and the transparent-to-blue coloration correlates quantitatively with the inserted charge, giving the proton content of each film. Preliminary measurements demonstrate reversible, potential-controlled proton insertion. Films at different proton contents will catalyze benzaldehyde dimethyl acetal hydrolysis, and rates will be compared across contents to determine whether the inserted protons act as accessible acid sites. The charge recovered after reaction will quantify the remaining sites and establish whether the lost sites are electrochemically regenerable. Experiments are performed by undergraduate and high-school researchers, who gain experience in synthesis, electrochemistry, spectroscopy, and catalysis directed at a green chemistry problem.

Abstract Synthetic dyes and indicators are widely used in general chemistry laboratories to visualize chemical reactions and determine changes in solution properties such as pH. However, many synthetic dyes are derived from nonrenewable resources and may generate chemical waste that presents environmental and disposal concerns. This undergraduate research project investigates the feasibility of replacing a conventional synthetic dye used in the general chemistry laboratory with an organic extract obtained from red cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata). Red cabbage contains anthocyanins, naturally occurring water-soluble pigments that exhibit distinct color changes in response to variations in pH, making them promising candidates for use as natural acid–base indicators. The cabbage extract will be prepared using an appropriate aqueous extraction procedure and evaluated across a range of acidic, neutral, and basic solutions. Its color response, stability, and effectiveness in indicating pH changes will be compared with those of the synthetic dye currently used in the laboratory. The study will also consider practical factors, including extraction simplicity, reproducibility, cost, and suitability for undergraduate laboratory activities. It is anticipated that the red cabbage extract will demonstrate clear and observable color transitions across different pH conditions while providing a more sustainable and accessible alternative to synthetic dyes. The findings may support the incorporation of plant-derived indicators into general chemistry laboratory experiments and contribute to the development of more environmentally responsible undergraduate laboratory practices

Invisible illnesses are physical, neurological, developmental, and mental-health conditions whose symptoms or limitations may not be immediately apparent to others. Rates of diagnoses for conditions classified as invisible illnesses, including autoimmune diseases, chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), fibromyalgia, and long COVID, have risen noticeably. A measurable trend connects environmental chemical exposure to these condition types. Invisible illnesses present profound functional challenges without obvious physical signs. This disconnect frequently leads to diagnostic delays, stigma, and inaccessible academic environments. While these conditions are non-interchangeable and multi-factorial, environmental pollution through air, water, and consumer products represents a significant, controllable risk factor.   Chemical exposures can cause delayed, cumulative, and functional damage across the nervous, immune, respiratory, and cardiovascular systems. This creates a hidden trajectory from invisible exposure to invisible illness which creates invisible burden. Because neurodevelopmental and physiological damage may manifest subtly over time, environmental health strategies must account for non-structural, hard-to-attribute health outcomes.    Green chemistry offers a proactive, prevention-oriented framework to break this cycle. By replacing hazardous reagents, designing non-persistent chemicals, reducing source emissions, and evaluating human health across a product’s lifecycle, green chemistry minimizes avoidable toxicological risks before they become chronic illnesses.   While green chemistry cannot prevent every invisible illness, eliminating hazardous exposures provides practical protection for vulnerable populations, workers, and communities. Integrating human health outcomes into chemical design and development aligns sustainability with public health equity, ensuring a healthier planet that is also a more accessible and inclusive one. 

This research aims to develop green and sustainable methods for the purification of amphiphilic peptoids (AMPs), a class of sequence-defined polymers of growing scientific and industrial interest. Conventional purification of AMPs relies heavily on preparative chromatography and large volumes of hazardous, petroleum-based organic solvent, generating substantial solvent waste and limiting scalability and sustainability of peptoid production. Here, we seek to develop an integrated, sustainable platform for AMPs by establishing a chromatography-free purification method based on molecular principles governing the phase behavior and precipitation of sequence-defined peptoids. We hypothesize that sequence molecular weight, side-chain chemistry, hydrophobicity, and intermolecular interactions can be systematically exploited to control solubility, aggregation, and precipitation, enabling chromatography-free purification. While AMPs serve as the model system, the principles and strategies developed here are broadly applicable to sequence-defined polymers and will open the door to innovative, sustainable frameworks for peptide and peptoid manufacturing in both academic and industrial contexts.

Cu hydride nanoclusters with atomic precision in composition and structure offer exciting catalytic activities and opportunities for rigorous structure-function correlations. Determination of their atomic structures, especially the hydride locations, hinges on the availability of high-quality single crystals and neutron beam, while their relatively weak UV-visible absorption and electrochemical instability challenge the analysis on their electronic properties. Herein, we synthesize a new Cu14H10 nanocluster coordinated by three 4-mercaptobenzonitrile (MBN) and eight triphenylphosphine ligands. Two-dimensional NMR analyses combined with single crystal X-ray diffraction reveal unequivocally the locations of the ten hydrides in four groups (stoichiometry ratio of 1:3:3:3) with drastically different environment (chemical shifts 11-3 ppm): one H at the inversion center and three triangular layers along the C3 axial bridging together the Cu core. MBN serves two additional purposes besides stabilizing ligands: its electron-withdrawing nature, and a highly sensitive vibrational reporter of its local charge density. The first property gives rise to a low-lying Cu-core-to-MBN metal-to-ligand charge transfer (MLCT) excited states; and the second property enables direct spectroscopic probing of both the charge transfer nature and dynamics of the MLCT excited state through the dynamic spectral shift of the MBN CN stretching mode. Through combined transient IR absorption spectroscopy and time dependent density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations, we obtained the complete atomic and electronic structure of this new class of core-to-ligand charge-transfer nanoclusters. The charge delocalization towards the electron withdrawing MBN lowers the LUMO which favors electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. The preferential formation of complex multi-electron-hydrogenation products (8-12 e-, C1 hydrocarbons and C2+ products), over two-electron pathways such as CO formation or the competing hydrogen evolution reaction highlights their promise as atomically precise catalysts for deep CO2 reduction.

Hematite is an iron oxide that is abundant in soil around the world. In this study, we aim to quantify the energetics associated with monovalent anion exchange at an aqueous-hematite surface. Prior thermodynamic studies have focused on cation exchange and adsorption at these surfaces however anions have remained largely unexplored. We employ flow microcalorimetry to measure the enthalpy of anion exchange at the hematite surface. By systematically examining the effects of ion size, solvation enthalpy, and speciation may play, we aim to develop predictive trends that describe the observed energetics. These insights will enhance our understanding of ion exchange mechanisms that are fundamental to precipitation, mineral dissolution, and pollutant transport.

Chemical separations are essential to the production of chemicals, materials, food, pharmaceuticals, among many consumer and industry products. Thermal-based approaches such as distillation dominate industrial chemical separation, approximately 10-15% of energy consumption globally. New separation strategies with appropriate selectivity and throughput while reducing energy inputs and waste output are therefore an important goal of sustainable and green chemistry. In this work, we combine emerging ion transport properties in nanofluidic systems governed by interfacial dynamics confined within ordered nanometer-scale structures with ensemble macroscopic membranes. We functionalize anodized aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes with redox active polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). Highly ordered AAO nanochannels provide a well-defined porous framework, while selective crosslinking of PEDOT:PSS on one side of the membrane breaks the structural symmetry and introduces redox-responsive transport properties. An independent gate potential enables reversible oxidation and reduction of PEDOT at low voltages, modulating its charge state and the associated space-charge distribution within the nanochannels. This electrochemically controlled interfacial charge regulation produces tunable ion-current rectification, transport hysteresis, and ionic conductance, providing active control over ion transport beyond conventional approaches based primarily on fixed surface charges. The resulting nanostructured interfaces can be exploited to investigate ion concentration polarization, electrokinetic enrichment, and ion–polymer interactions and to develop strategies for selectively enriching dilute ionic species, including rare-earth elements. By promoting electrokinetically driven enrichment rather than relying solely on passive diffusion or repeated bulk separation steps, this approach offers a potential pathway toward more selective and resource-efficient separation. In parallel, these hybrid devices, polymer embedded in inorganic framework, offer memory-like functions, in which the conductance of the system remembers its past states emulating synaptic features. The reversible redox-dependent changes in ionic conductance provide platforms to tune the memory effects offering opportunities for energy efficient neuromorphic and in-memory computing based on coupled ion and redox dynamics.

The development of new metal-mediated two- and three-dimensional materials is a vibrant and rapidly expanding area of research. These compounds can function as versatile materials capable of performing cavity-directed catalytic transformations, molecular recognition and guest encapsulation, drug delivery, and chemical sensing, among other applications. The key to further progress in this field is the development of tunable molecular scaffolds capable of bridging transition metals across a variety of structural motifs, thereby enabling precise control over geometry, electronic environment, and reactivity. Carbenes are ideal candidates as scaffolds for the synthesis of these types of materials because they combine high stability, great coordination versatility, and tunability. We will report on our progress towards the development of a novel class of U-shaped carbenes for incorporation into bimetallic and supramolecular complexes. We will report a new, updated mechanochemical synthetic approach for these complexes, enabling expedited and isomer selective synthesis, and compare the results of these new methods with the previously reported synthetic pathway.

Ammonia is a widely used ingredient in household glass cleaners, yet its environmental fate is rarely visualized in simple, accessible ways1. Elevated concentrations of ammonia in freshwater can harm aquatic life and can be detrimental in food samples2,3. Herein, a fluorescent dye was evaluated as a water-based probe for differentiating commercial ammonia-containing and ammonia-free glass cleaners4,5. Small aliquots (1–30 µL) of cleaner were added to an aqueous dye solution (2.5 µM) and optical responses were recorded. An N‑methylated analog of the dye was designed to be non-responsive toward ammonia and served as a negative control. With ammonia-containing cleaner, the responsive dye exhibited ~1.3-fold and ~2.6-fold increases in absorbance and fluorescence respectively, while the control showed increased fluorescence only. With ammonia-free cleaner, both dyes showed increased absorbance and fluorescence, attributed to effects from other ingredients such as alcohols and surfactants. This proof-of-concept supports potential optical monitoring of ammonia in household, food, and environmental samples, while highlighting green chemistry principles6. References 1. Särkkä‑Tirkkonen M, et al. Cleaning products: their chemistry, effects on indoor air quality, and health. Environ Int. 2024;189:108823. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2024.108836 2. Kwak D, Lei Y, Maric R. Ammonia gas sensors: a comprehensive review. Talanta. 2019;204:713–730. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.talanta.2019.06.034 3. Chen Z, Liu H, Huo Q, Wang D, Feng S, Liu H. A fluorescent porous framework‑based ammonia sensor for real‑time and visual monitoring of shrimp and beef freshness. Microchem J. 2026;221:116889. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.microc.2026.116889 4. Sarasiya S, Sarasiya S, Henary M. Exploration of NIR squaraine contrast agents containing various heterocycles: synthesis, optical properties and applications. Pharmaceuticals. 2023;16(9):1299. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph16091299 5. Imebuogu C, Khan I, Henary M. Creeping from symmetry to asymmetry: squaraine dyes for bioimaging. Biotechnic & Histochemistry. 2026. DOI: 10.1080/10520295.2026.2727048 6. Anastas PT, Warner JC. Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press; 1998.

Multistep synthesis is a key learning objective for the undergraduate organic chemistry teaching laboratory. Yet, there is a notable gap in chemical education literature where multistep synthesis laboratory modules are embedded with green chemistry principles. The objective of this research endeavor is to develop a novel, multistep synthesis laboratory module that includes previously unexplored intramolecular Diels-Alder reactions. Our three-step synthesis utilizes bio-sourceable reagents as starting materials. Furthermore, each step is conducted under mild reaction conditions to enhance energy efficiency and minimize waste. This multistep synthesis confers high pedagogical value—allowing students to explore a stereospecific, intramolecular cycloaddition where each step is evaluated against the 12 Principles of Green Chemistry. In conclusion, this laboratory module offers a scalable model for sustainable synthetic practices in the undergraduate organic chemistry teaching laboratory.

Society is moving toward greener energy options like using electric vehicles and powering the grid with more solar panels; however, there is also a need for energy storage systems. Lithium-ion batteries and vanadium redox flow batteries promise large capacity storage but require expensive and harmful mining of lithium or vanadium. A greener, readily available, organic chemistry option needs to bridge the gap for greener energy storage. Viologens, or 4,4’-bipyridiniums, have been an area of high interest for applications like smart windows, sensors, and redox flow batteries. The color, electrochemistry, and sensitivity can be finely tuned based upon the alkylated side groups on the nitrogens or by including a conjugated core unit between the pyridiniums. Here, we newly explore the effects of different conjugated thiophene cores in extended viologens, expecting a wide variety of absorbance, fluorescence, and electrochemical characteristics. Using solubilizing side groups, we aim for high water solubility for easy and inexpensive implementation into aqueous organic redox flow batteries (AORFBs) and other applications. For AORFBs, it promotes lower costs, less waste, cleaner renewable energy, and safer chemistry for accident prevention. While charging AORFBS, the anolyte undergoes reduction by gaining electrons and the catholyte undergoes oxidation by losing electrons. The ion-exchange membrane separates the catholyte and anolyte while allowing ion movement to maintain charge balance. For AORFBS renewable integration, data suggests low-capacity fade and 1.2-1.4 V for high performance. Changing the conjugated cores between the pyridiniums in the extended viologens will change the voltage, reversibility, and stability. We explore how molecular structure alters energy-storage performance by tuning the conjugated bridges of extended viologens, paving the way for safer, more sustainable batteries that can power a cleaner future.