Learning Sustainability Concepts-A Quantitative Assessment Beyond the Classroom Through Research Project and SciFindern

Chemistry is the science that focuses on understanding the structure, properties, behavior, and changes that matters undergoes. Designing and structuring science-driven approaches based on green chemistry principles can enhance sustainability. This paper highlights how we have practiced learning beyond the classroom for our green processes course by indirectly using information from a research project. We had synthesized thiosalicylate-functionalized ionic liquid (IL), a promising adsorbent for heavy metal. However, the greenness of IL syntheses is constantly debated. The greenness of this IL synthesis was quantitatively evaluated through skills and knowledge gained in the green chemistry course from the resource intensive indicators such as atom economy (AE), process mass intensity (PMI), reaction mass efficiency (RME), and E-factor alongside yield. It was found that the retrosynthesis pathway provided by SciFindern overlooked sustainability aspects. Therefore, suggestions on greener pathways which support sustainability were put forward for a ‘greener’ synthesis.