DEVELOPMENT OF “GREEN CHEMISTRY” IN ARMENIA

Abstract

"Green chemistry" is a new philosophy of chemistry, a new language that allows to look at the chemical industry not only from the important standpoint of profitability, but also from a humanitarian point of view. In this sense, the principles of green chemistry are increasingly discussed in the context of the concept of sustainable development.

This paper shows that, based on the twelve principles of green chemistry, many processes based on a new catalytic technology, phase transfer catalysis, correspond to them. It is widely used in fine chemical technologies - in the synthesis of drugs, food additives, aromatics and other similar industries. Phase transfer catalysis (PTC) is considered to be one of the options for environmental technologies.

Synthesis methods based on PTC are aimed at reducing environmental risk, namely, reducing the energy intensity of processes, elimination of toxic or harmful reagents and solvents. PTC allows the use of cheaper and readily available alternative raw materials, thus avoiding the need for harsh anhydrous conditions, expensive solvents and hazardous bases such as metal hydrides and organometallic reagents. PTC is used extensively in fine organic synthesis allowing the use of simple alkali analogs instead toxic alkoxides, amides and alkali metal hydrides.

The application of "green chemistry" postulates in the organisation of the chemical industry will be useful for Armenia, which used to be a major world chemical center. It is also known that in the late 80s of the last century the so-called "green revolution" took place in Armenia, caused by serious environmental problems created by the country's chemical industry.

This review article highlights the birth of green chemistry in Armenia and its subsequent development up to the present day.