The application and prospect of green chemistry in pharmaceutical field

Abstract

As the global environmental problem gets worse and worse, green chemistry as a sustainable theory and method gets more attention than before. This paper talks about green chemistry in the pharmaceutical industry. Initiate the discussion by introducing green chemistry and its twelve principles, highlighting the methods and technologies of green synthesis. Next, the research will discuss the environmental challenges that the pharmaceutical industry faces, the detrimental effects of traditional processes on the environment, and the analysis required to transition to a greener approach. Next, it delves into the two aspects of green chemistry’s application in the pharmaceutical field: green synthetic drugs, green solvents, and green catalysts. Next, it presents a summary of the advancements and future potential of green chemistry technology. Finally, the paper found that using the principle of atom economy properly can minimise the generation of by-products and reduce the after-treatment cost. What’s more, the solvent, which always took up a large amount of total mass, used a lot of resources but resulted in a lower conversion rate.