How Green are Ionic Liquids?

The dramatic growth in ionic liquid research over the past decade has resulted in the development of a huge number of novel ionic liquids, as well as many associated applications. Ionic liquids have the potential to increase chemical reactivity and thus lead to more efficient processes. They are non-flammable and due to their low vapor pressure less toxic than conventional solvents. But does this low vapor pressure alone make them a green solvent?

The progress of ionic liquid toxicity research, as well as the development of degradable and bio-renewable ionic liquids is highlighted in one of the articles published in CLEAN, the new international and interdisciplinary journal covering all aspects of sustainability and environmental safety.

Sustainable Development – the leading concept of the 21st century

Sustainable Development describes a progress, which is in agreement with the needs of the present generation but does not endanger the chances of the coming ones thus satisfying their needs as well. Having been discussed on international Summits and Conferences in Rio de Janeiro 1992 and Johannesburg 2002, it now is a subject matter worldwide. But still there are controversies on how to achieve this goal. For example, it is clear that the definition of the prime needs vary from man to man, from country to country and from continent to continent.

Industry and environmental safety – do they exclude each other?

No doubt, the prosperity of modern societies is mainly based on the far-reaching achievements of chemistry and the industry, contributing to improve the quality of life of billions of human beings. But in public opinion the price for these advancements to be paid by our environment seems more and more to be too high. Goods and how they are produced by the industry today influence the environmental quality of tomorrow.

While it is the prevailing public opinion that chemistry in particular endangers the environment, scientists in education, research, and industry show continuous efforts to prove that an important tool for improved environmental quality lies in the hand of this discipline. Chemistry is an opportunity and a risk at the same time for the implementation of the model of sustainable development. With the competence of the industry in the field of materials conversion, important sectors for the implementation of sustainable development in society can be supported.

CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water

The world is growing together with a multitude of interdisciplinary approaches of scientists linking their knowledge together. For the benefit of researchers all over the world and with editors from all over the world, CLEAN – Soil, Air, Water aims at closing the gap in the field of environmental issues between developing and developed countries. While covering all aspects of sustainability and environmental safety, CLEAN focuses on prevention measures and forward oriented approaches rather than on remediation and pollution cleanup.

For more information, please contact:
Dr. Vera Koester,
e-mail: clean@wiley-vch.de