UKZN Hosts 5th IUPAC International Conference on Green Chemistry

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The University of KwaZulu-Natal was the host university to the 5^th International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) Conference on Green Chemistry held at the Elangeni Hotel in Durban – a memorable event owing partly to the fact that Green Chemistry is currently not widespread in Africa. 

Green Chemistry or “sustainable chemistry” minimises both the use and production of hazardous substances. The main objective of the Conference was to emphasise the importance of Green Chemistry for sustainable development, and to promote novel research and collaborations by bringing together a total of 180 experts and interested parties from all over the world, and from diverse bodies ranging from academia to industry and government.

The event gave participants the chance to showcase Green Chemistry principles, practices and education. The local organising committee, chaired by Dr Vincent Nyamori, was comprised mainly of staff members from the School of Chemistry and Physics.

The opening ceremony was attended by various distinguished guests and dignitaries, including the Honourable Minister of Science and Technology Naledi Pandor, who gave the opening address, and the Honourable Speaker of the eThekwini Municipality, Councillor Logie Naidoo. Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for UKZN’s College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Professor Deo Jaganyi, welcomed the delegates and said a few inspiring words on behalf of the host institution.

In her speech, Pandor said that powerful forces were ‘driving a green economic revolution worldwide, providing in the process a strong lever for broad-based economic development in many parts of the globe, and often re-orienting national development trajectories.  South Africa, having one of the most carbon-intensive economies in the world, is no exception.  Our government is strongly committed to unleashing the potential of the green economy.’

Other speakers from various government structures, non-governmental institutions as well as local and international chemistry bodies included: Professor Pietro Tundo (Chair of the Subcommittee on Green Chemistry of the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry), Dr Jonathan Forman (Science Policy Adviser of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons), Dr Helen Driver (International Development Manager for Latin America and Africa of the Royal Society of Chemistry), Dr Thomas Barton (President of the American Chemical Society), Professor Bice Martincigh (Vice-President of the South African Chemical Institute), Professor Liliana Mammino (Conference Chair) and Dr Vincent Nyamori (Local Organising Committee Chair and Conference Vice-Chair).

The Conference was a multidisciplinary event considering all the major areas of Green Chemistry, including green synthesis processes, catalysis, environmentally benign solvents, energy storage, biofuels, Green Chemistry education, policies, and others. Interfaces with other sciences and other research areas were actively encouraged.

Special attention was given to the roles of Green Chemistry in fast-growing economies and to the promotion of it on the African continent. Presentations included six plenary, 13 keynote, 98 oral and 74 poster presentations. There were also three workshops. 

During the Conference, poster prizes were awarded to students who had made a significant contribution in the field of Green Chemistry from the results they presented. Third prize went to Mr Hazeeq Azman from Imperial College, London for his work titled, “Rhodococcus catalyzed reaction in ionic liquid”.  The second prize was awarded to Mr Ntokozo Chamane from UKZN with the topic “Carbon nanotube (CNT) supported platinum (Pt) and platinum-palladium (Pt-Pd) nanoparticles for selective hydrogenation”, while first prize went to Ms Thokozani Xaba from Vaal University of Technology for her work titled, “The effect of water-soluble capping molecules in the ‘green’ synthesis of CdS nanoparticles using the (Z)-2-(pyrrolidin-2-ylidene)thiourea ligand.” 

Professor Leonard J. Barbour of the University of Stellenbosch was awarded the SACI Sasol Innovator of the Year award for 2013 and presented his award-winning lecture titled “Understanding porosity in flexible metal-organic systems”. In addition, the IUPAC ChemRAWN 2014 Award went to Professor Vânia G. Zuin from the Federal University of São Carlos, Brazil.

Organising committee member, Professor Bice Martincigh of the UKZN School of Chemistry, said: ‘The large attendance of students at the Conference was promising for this relatively new area of Chemistry.  In particular, the workshop organised by the Green Chemistry Institute of the American Chemical Society for students was very welcome.  We therefore hope that this Conference has given exposure to the importance of Green Chemistry practices to future leaders.’

Dr Nyamori said: ‘Organising this international Conference, which was the first of its kind in Africa, was an interesting and memorable journey for many.  The key initial aim that we set ourselves, namely, sharing our learning and learning from our sharing, was evident and depicted in the attendance at the scientific talks and deliberations.  I believe the experience we have had in this event was rich, worthwhile and should be able to forge the current and future generations of sustainable chemists who understand the important adage: “Meet the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.’

Leena Rajpal