Inorganic Green Chemistry
Summary
Inorganic Green Chemistry encompasses the development of sustainable, low-impact processes for the synthesis, transformation and recovery of inorganic materials. It seeks to replace hazardous reagents and energy-intensive operations with benign alternatives, minimising waste and maximising resource efficiency. Central themes include the use of non-volatile, recyclable solvents such as water, ionic liquids and deep eutectic solvents; atom-economic catalysis; and closed-loop recovery of critical metals from ores, wastes or secondary sources. By integrating principles of catalysis, selective separations and process intensification, inorganic green chemistry addresses global challenges in clean energy, resource security and environmental remediation.
Research from Nature Portfolio
A novel approach has demonstrated the catalytic dissolution of iron–nickel alloys from meteorite simulants using a deep eutectic solvent composed of choline chloride and ethylene glycol. This non-aqueous system achieves selective leaching of Fe–Ni and troilite phases under mild conditions, while non-reactive silicates remain intact. The low vapour pressure and tunability of the solvent make it a promising medium for extra-terrestrial mining of strategic metals in resource-limited environments.
Recent review articles have highlighted the persistent challenge of predicting colour and optical performance in inorganic pigment lattices. Advances in quantum-mechanical modelling and computational screening are now being used to guide the rational design of durable, high-reflectance pigments. By linking lattice parameters to ligand field transitions, researchers aim to reduce experimental trial-and-error and develop production-ready materials with improved stability and environmental profiles.
Inorganic Green Chemistry publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in inorganic green chemistry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Deep eutectic solvent (DES): A eutectic mixture of a quaternary ammonium salt and a hydrogen-bond donor, yielding a liquid with low melting point, tunable polarity and low vapour pressure.
Solvometallurgy: The use of non-aqueous solvents for metal extraction, separation and recovery, as an alternative to traditional hydrometallurgy.
Atom economy: The fraction of reactant mass incorporated into the final product, a key metric in green synthesis.
Process mass intensity (PMI): The total mass of all input materials divided by the mass of product, used to assess material efficiency.
Cavitation: The formation and collapse of vapour bubbles under ultrasound, enhancing mass transfer and reaction rates in liquid media.
Ionic liquid: A salt liquid at or near room temperature, composed of organic cations and anions, with negligible vapour pressure and tunable solvent properties.
Solvent regeneration: The recovery and reuse of a solvent from process streams, reducing consumption and waste generation.
References
- A novel method for extracting metals from asteroids using non-aqueous deep eutectic solvents. Scientific Reports (2023).
- Ultra-fast extraction of metals from a printed circuit board using high power ultrasound in a calcium chloride-based deep eutectic solvent. RSC Sustainability (2024).
- Assessing metal extraction from metalliferous waste: A study using deep eutectic solvents and chelating agents vs. ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Journal of Environmental Management (2024).
- (Deep) eutectic solvents for the separation of platinum group metals and rare earth elements: Characteristics, extraction mechanisms and state of the art. Chemical Engineering Journal (2025).
- Challenges in the rational design of intense inorganic pigments with desired colours. Nature Reviews Materials (2022).
About these summaries
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