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Renewable Resources


Manufacturing of organic chemicals has, historically, been largely dependent on petroleum feedstocks, a finite resource which is becoming increasingly expensive and is in need of renewable replacements. Green chemistry is helping to drive forward the uptake of renewable resources as a substitute for fossil feedstocks and to move towards a more circular economy approach in resource utilisation.  [1]

Learning Objectives

By the end of this module you should:

  • Understand the need to change the current sources of raw materials;
  • Understand the different types of renewable materials available to us;

and be able to:

  • Define what a platform molecule is;
  • Describe the main components of biomass.
  1. J. H. Clark, Green and Sustainable Chemistry: An Introduction, in Green and Sustainable Medicinal Chemistry: Methods, Tools and Strategies for the 21st Century Pharmaceutical Industry, The Royal Society of Chemistry, 2016, ch. 1, pp. 1-11.