Environmental persistence can amplify toxic effects of chemicals, exacerbating antibiotic resistance, aquatic toxicity and hazards to human health. Agriculturally-derived bioproducts are being increasingly sought as low-toxicity, biodegradable alternatives to hazardous substances. Inspired by nature, the principles of green chemistry and self-assembly were used to develop low-hazard ingredients for agricultural, industrial and consumer use. Design principles used to develop safer pesticides, packaging and cleaning ingredients are described. These examples attest to the power of fundamental chemical properties, including reversible bonding, charge, and lipophilicity, to reduce human and environmental hazard.

Benign by Design Bioproducts

ACS Spring Meeting 2021

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.