Mechanochemistry: A Tool for Sustainable Chemistry and Chemical Engineering

Mechanochemistry has emerged in the recent decade as a powerful tool to develop more sustainable chemical processes. In 2019, the IUPAC named “mechanochemistry and reactive extrusion” as one of the ten innovations that will change the world. Defined as the science of inducing reactions though mechanical forces, mechanochemistry has exploded as a field, through its use in organic, inorganic, and organometallic chemistry, materials science and engineering, catalysis, and enzymology. It is routinely used for applications central to sustainability, such as batteries, biomass conversion, or plastics degradation, to name only a few. Importantly, the use of mechanochemistry often comes with additional benefits, such as the significant reduction of solvent and reagent use.

In 2019, the mechanochemistry community came to the Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference and we had a great turnout of speakers and attendees. We initiated many important conversations on the topic for better integration of mechanochemistry within the field of sustainable chemistry and engineering. Since then, papers in mechanochemistry have become prominent in many journals, including ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng. As the 2023 conference theme is “Closing the Loop: Chemistry for a Sustainable Future”, four years after our first participation in the conference, we want to bring the community back together to continue working on the many ways with which mechanochemistry can help close the loop and build a better future.

Organizers

Prof. Audrey Moores, McGill University, Canada
Prof. Tomislav Fričić, University of Birmingham, UK
Prof. Ashlie Martini, University of California, Merced
Prof. James Mack, University of Cincinnati