SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY - NEED OF THE HOUR
“In an attempt to help treat malaria, English chemist William Perkin set out to synthesis the alkaloid quinine from coal tar about 150 years ago. He failed to synthesise quinine, but he did produce mauve, a stunning purple dye that would permanently affect everything from fundamental chemical synthesis to the design of the current trends, as well as the state of the physical environment and human health. The cornerstone of the twentieth century industrial revolution was the use of fossil fuel-derived hydrocarbons.” To create dyes and develop practically every chemical or substance on the market, modern society continues to rely on fossil fuel-based hydrocarbons. Fossil fuels are also the primary energy source. However, it is unclear if this reliance will last indefinitely. One of the major drawbacks of this reliance is that the combustion of fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and other waste products such as particulate matter, which end up in the atmosphere and have serious