Clean Water and Sanitation (SDG 6), Climate Action (SDG 13)
Green and sustainable chemistry approaches viable to climate change and environmental pollution mitigation
Makungu M. Madirisha* Chemistry Department, University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Climate change and environmental pollution are among the critical sustainability challenges confronting the world leading to a period of turbulence and transformation with increasing instability and uncertainty about the current and future generations. Taking this into account, my current research is centred on investigations of viable green and sustainable chemistry approaches to tackle challenges due to climate change and environmental pollution, and at the same time contribute to circular economy. These approaches include conversion of biowaste into useful resources; utilization of pozzolana materials and abandoned wastes to produce geopolymer binders; recycling waste petroleum lubricant using silicate-based minerals; and formulation of nano zero-valent iron supported on biochar for removal of microplastics. According to research findings, the conversion of biowaste into biochar, bio-oil, biogas (upgraded), and syngas revealed as a viable sustainable chemistry approach to tackle climate change and environmental pollution manifesting in different economic sectors essential for livelihood and subsistence such as water resources, energy generation, agriculture, health, and ecosystem biodiversity. Furthermore, the findings revealed that utilization of pozzolana materials in combination with abandoned wastes such as ceramics, glass cullets, and rice husks to make geopolymer binders would be a viable option to substitute ordinary Portland cement (OPC) thereby reducing sustainability challenges in the construction industry. More importantly, recycling waste petroleum lubricating oil using silicate-based materials is revealed to lessen environmental pollution while the use of nano zero-valent iron lessens the challenge of microplastic in water. The study addressed the important concept of the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) and the 3Es (Energy, Environment, and Economy). On the flip side, the study responded to sustainable development goals, in particular, 7 (affordable and clean energy: research out is production of upgraded biogas, bio-oil, and syngas), 6 (clean water and sanitation: research out is production and use of biochar as an adsorbent for water treatment), 5 (gender equality: research out is providing clean cooking energy to women and children since they are the main victims of household air pollution as they are generally responsible for cooking and the collection of biomass), 2 (zero hunger: research out is production and use of biochar for agriculture), 13 (climate action: research out is production of clean energy, use of biochar for carbon sequestration, and production of geopolymer binders as viable option to substitute OPC, 1 (creation of smart jobs leading to income gain: research out is production of biogas, biochar, syngas, and geopolymer binders), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production: research out is production of biogas, biochar, syngas, and geopolymer binders), 9 (Industry, innovation, and infrastructure: research out is production of geopolymer binders), 11 (sustainable cities and communities: research out is consumption of wastes into useful resources and production of geoploymer binders). Keywords: climate change, environmental pollution, sustainable chemistry approaches, circular economy
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© The Author(s), 2023
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