Background to sustainability in chemical engineering
Since the nineteen-century industry has improved every aspect of our lives, nevertheless in the second half of the 20th century questions were raised regarding the continuous industry development disregarding sustainability concerns.
The modern chemical engineering concept has evolved from the traditional definition of a process able to convert raw materials and/or chemicals into high added value products, involving now pioneer methodologies for new product developments.
However, few of these processes have been implemented at an industrial level, up to the date. In Europe, there are a large number of experts in green technologies and their applications. However, these experts work scattered and disjointed in small groups. The exploitation of scientific and technological potential of super critical technology and other green technologies has been insufficient in the EU.
Introducing COST Action GREENERING
The need for international cooperation is, therefore, urgent in order to have quick access to the facilities and expertise available. In this context, launched in 2019, the COST Action Green Chemical Engineering Network towards upscaling sustainable processes, (GREENERING) set up its collaborative network of scientists and industry members from 34 countries. The COST Action gathers 250 participants to promote and boost the application and the implementation of green chemistry and sustainable technologies.
“Gathering more than 200 people with similar interests in a network is both exiting and very challenging and I am sure that great outputs will come from the collaborations being established.”
Dr Ana Rita Duarte, Action Chair
This objective can only be successfully achieved through the connection of working groups in emergent areas such as: best use of raw materials; use of clean solvents; efficient use of energy and production of minimal amount of waste. The development of novel processes and high added value products from the integration of highly innovative technologies has been pursued and it is the objective of different programs and projects.
Within these settings, GREENERING arises to provide tools and knowledge to the participants enabling them to be highly competitive in new breakthrough developments.
GREENERING is focused on the four major factors that contribute the faster growth of green chemistry and technology: Collaboration, Technology Forcing, Compromise and Enhanced Education. In spite of the fact 2020 and 2021 years were marked by the COVID-19 crisis, GREENERING has continued its efforts to achieve the project main goals.
GREENERING activities
During this period several activities have been organised for networking, increased collaboration and knowledge exchange in the project filed.
The 1st GREENERING International Conference, which was held online in February 2021, encountered big success since it brought together more than 150 participants from 23 countries – academics, industry, and students, from the field of Alternative solvents, Bio-fuels and bio-energy, Cosmetics, Food technology, Pharmaceuticals, Raw materials, Waste treatment/valorisation, and Green policies and innovation.
Beside this, the one of highly efficient tools promoted, were the GREENERING Bubbles-3-day intensive workshops devoted to industry were organised for the first time at the Faculty of Technology Novi Sad, Serbia, and Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology Zagreb, Croatia.
The topic of the first GREENERING Bubbles was the application of green technologies and green solvents in the herbal material processing and herbal extracts production. Nine companies participated in the first GREENRING bubbles: Euro Prima, Vitalon, Deverra Farm, Suncokret Granum, Sapunoteka, Imortela, Nikel, Bio & Naturalis and Adena Natura.
To encourage the start-up spirit in the green chemistry field the GREENERING set up a series of webinars on the success industry stories. One of the stories presented on this tool was the story presented by Alexandre Barros from the company Hydrumedical, in Portugal. Mr Barros spoke on how green chemistry, using supercritical carbon dioxide, is integrated in the Hydrumedical processes, and how he managed to transpose a green process from the laboratory to industrial scale.
The interdisciplinary consortium of this project will try to accelerate the development of green technologies in different areas. For this purpose, GREENERING joins the main European research groups in green chemistry to work together in finding a unified solution that can bring benefits along the entire value chain of a product.
The added value of GREENER Action stands on the consideration of the whole chain with not only the technological issues themselves but also other key points to make industrial change implementation come true, involving for these interdisciplinary experts.
“I believe that green chemistry and sustainable processes will pave the way for future industrial developments and that Europe can become a leading area in this field.”
Dr Ana Rita Duarte
About Dr Ana Rita Duarte
Dr Ana Rita Duarte is currently Associate Professor at the Chemistry Department from Nova School of Science and Technology, in Portugal. In 2016, Ana Rita Duarte was awarded an ERC consolidator grant entitled: DES.solve – When Solids Become Liquids: Natural Deep Eutectic solvents for Chemical Process Engineering, to proceed the developments on green technologies. Each year, according to Scopus Data, the list of top 1% and top 2% of scientists in the world in all fields is announced. According to Scopus Data, Dr Duarte is among the top 2% of scientists in the world.
Additional information
View the Action website
View the Network website