Green chemistry in the bulk chemicals industry

The bulk chemicals industry is a branch of the chemical industry whose assortment includes key organic synthesis products and intermediates. The world output of these products is as large as millions of tons. This scale requires the use of not only maximally inexpensive raw materials but also the most selective and energy-efficient processes for converting them into target products. This paper considers the examples of changing the sources of raw materials and developing catalysts and processes to minimize environmental disruption. The majority of these new processes have been introduced into industry well before the appearance of the term green chemistry; their development has been stimulated by not only environmental protection but also economic reasons.