DEVELOPMENT OF GREEN CATALYSTS FOR SUSTAINABLE REACTIONS

Abstract

Green Chemistry emerged from the idea of ​​achieving economic and social development that respects nature, which has suffered due to the excessive and careless progress of man. The main idea, or one could call it the objective, is to reconcile respect for the environment and the evolution of man, harming the environment as little as possible. In this sense, aligned with the concepts of environmental sustainability, proactive actions inspire the implementation of projects that reduce or avoid the use of non-renewable materials. And with regard to the industrial production sector and chemical processes, catalysts play a fundamental role. This paper approaches the subject in the form of an exploratory literature review on the aspects inherent to the development and use of “green” materials in the design of projects that aim at environmental compliance (including green catalysts). A case study was presented, seeking to highlight the benefits of undertaking projects that use sustainable materials. Through a comparative survey of catalyst types, it was concluded that green catalysts present technical and economic advantages that indicate satisfactory operational results, mainly from an environmental point of view, such as reduced pollution and the amount of waste in the chemical industry, as well as reduced toxicity of reagents and products and the use of raw materials from renewable sources. It is also worth mentioning that more and new projects should be implemented to increase innovation and obtain new technologies.