Green chemistry in Nature

Introduction

Chemicals can be processed or unprocessed i.e. human made or naturally produced. Humans have made strides in chemistry and developed a number of chemical products that affect the environment in multiple ways- positive or negative, more than often in ways that harm the environment. As I se, it is not the chemicals that are good or bad but the way we use them that governs their impact. In this regard man can learn alot from nature itself, considering that Chemistry is an integral part of natural processes. We humans can take mother nature as an inspiration, understand how other organisms and natural systems conduct chemistry, and ensure that our use of chemicals is to support nature and not to harm it.

More than often, man-made chemical processes are not very environment friendly while natural processes that could lead to the same solution are. This is because nature handles chemicals either close to or in own cells of specific organisms. In most cases, water is used as a natural solvent and molecules are assembled in eco-friendly ways to minimize high temperatures or pressures. This then forms products with more environment friendly constituents.

These chemical aspects of nature are mostly seen as adaptations in various living beings, a great example of how science and chemicals serve as a supporting and life sustaining system to maintain natural balance.

Green chemistry innovations in nature

I want to present some 'natural green chemistry innovations' that can create chemical products, to support sustenance and without life threatening aspects:

1. A protein that enables growth in Sea Ice Diatom in freezing temperatures.

A chemical process takes place in the Sea Ice Diatom which is a type of algae that lives in freezing and aquatic environments. This algae has adapted to its environment because of a chemical process where its secretes proteins which continue to develop the organism because of 'recrystallization' of the surrounding ice crystals. This protein is able to lock the ice crystals that are near the organism in place like a jigsaw puzzle and therefore ensure the growth of the algae without risking its own life or harming the environment near it.

2. Natural breakdown of PAH compounds in Ryegrass plants

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are products created due the incomplete burning of fossil fuels. They are toxic and oily substances that accumulate in the environment and are not only difficult to remove from the soil but also very hard to break down. It is also an expensive procedure to do manually. However, there are specific plants like Ryegrass that are able to passively suck large quantities of these PAHs through their roots and out of the soil. They then store these PAHs in their cell walls and vacuoles where these oily substances are dissolved through natural chemical procedure thus ridding the environment of a dangerous and toxic substance that could have negative impact on the soil.

Conclusion

As is obvious, nature is able to ensure its development through chemical procedures without creating products that can harm the environment. We have a great teacher in nature to learn how to use chemicals and chemistry towards sustainable development and ensuring to minimize the negative impacts of chemicals.

These are only a few examples. My research for this report has introduced me to many such wonderful adaptations. I plan to make this a series in the coming free reports where I will share few other such natural and green chemical innovations that we humans can take inspiration from.

Sources and References

https://asknature.org/collections/chemistry-of-nature/

https://asknature.org/strategy/protein-enables-growth-in-freezing-temperatures/

https://asknature.org/strategy/cell-structures-absorb-and-store-pollutants/