A critical analysis of environmental sustainability metrics applied to green synthesis of nanomaterials and the assessment of environmental risks associated with the nanotechnology

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2021-11, Vol.793, p.148524-148524, Article 148524
• Main Authors: García-Quintero, Angélica, Palencia, Manuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atom economy; E-factor; Energy intensity; Green nanoscience; Life Cycle Analysis; Nanobiotechnology; Plant-based nano-synthesis; Process mass intensity
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148524

Nanotechnology is one of the most relevant scientific areas today due to its multiple applications in fields such as medicine, environmental remediation, information technology and energy conversion. This importance has led to the need to advance in the development of environmentally sustainable and safe nanomaterials by incorporating the principles of green chemistry during their synthesis and in their applications. However, this qualitative framework of thought does not offer minimum criteria for the use of the term “green”, and therefore, this adjective is commonly used to refer to bio-based or nanotechnological processes without taking into account their net ecological impact. In this context, environmental sustainability metrics can be applied to nanotechnology to compare, optimize and quantify the environmental sustainability of synthesis procedures. This review provides an overview of green chemistry and its application in nanotechnology, but also an analysis of the use of green chemistry principles in the development of bio-based nanobiotechnology and nanosynthesis, with special emphasis on the use of sustainability's metrics for the quantitative analysis of nanomaterial synthesis protocols. These include: Atom Economy, E-factor, Process Mass Intensity, Energy Intensity, and Life Cycle Analysis. [Display omitted] •The designation of a nanosynthesis as “green” requires a quantitative evaluation.•Conventional sustainability metrics can be applied and adapted to nanotechnology.•The LCA emerges as a suitable metric to assess nanosynthesis sustainability.•A bio-based nanosynthesis is not per se a sustainable process.