Green Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Amherst
Overview
Green Chemistry is a science-based approach to pollution prevention and involves a set of principles to reduce or eliminate the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture, or application of chemical products.
Key Research Thrusts
- Alternative feedstock, reactions, solvents, processing
- Design of less toxic materials
- Reduction of water usage
- Processes employing supercritical fluids
- Solvent-free coatings
- Recycling of vulcanized rubber
Research Support
The campus received about $10 million in FY '05 for Green Chemistry research*.
Breadth of Research
Departments involved in green chemistry research include: Polymer Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, Environmental Health Sciences, Mechanical & Industrial Engineering, and Microbiology.
National Rankings
- Chemical Engineering program - 5th (Institute for Scientific Information)
- Chemistry Department: a "Top 25" program in numbers of PhDs awarded (American Chemical Society)
- Polymer Science - 2nd in quality of education; 7th in quality of scholarship among all US Materials departments (National Research Council)
Centers & Institutes
New England Green Chemistry Consortium
In 2002 the New England Green Chemistry Consortium (NEGCC) was established to build strategic partnerships and alliances in the New England area among the six land-grant universities, small and large businesses and state and federal government. The mission of the NEGCC is to educate, discover, develop, apply, and promote green chemistry in all its forms and thereby reduce the intrinsic hazards of the Chemical Enterprise. The NEGCC has a common goal of pursuing innovative research to examine, utilize and further develop the principles of green chemistry and better enable the competitiveness and productivity of industry. A further objective is to promote green chemistry through education and outreach.
Green Chemistry Cluster within CUMIRP
In 1999, the Center for UMass/Industry Research on Polymers launched Cluster G, Green Chemistry, Physics and Engineering of Polymers with an overall objective of making polymeric materials more environmentally acceptable in their preparation, processing, application and recyclability.
National Environmental Technology Institute (NETI)
NETI has funded more than 40 research projects in pollution prevention and green chemistry totaling more than $4.0 million with an additional $2.0 million in in-kind and direct support from 54 industry partners and 3 federal partners. Over 600 students have been involved in these projects as post-doctorates, graduate students, and undergraduates in the research lab and through case study teaching modules in the classroom. Projects have involved faculty from eight departments in three colleges on the Amherst campus - Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Microbiology, Polymer Science and Engineering, and Public Health and Health Sciences. Visit the NETI website for more information.
For more information on green chemistry facilities, search the campus' facilities database at www.umassrefs.info.
Technology Transfer
For licensing opportunities in Green Chemistry, contact the office of Commercial Ventures and Intellectual Property (CVIP).
*Source: UMass Office of Grants & Contracts Administration
Updated 4/3/06
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