Summary
The paper presents “Redox Aluminophosphates” (RAP), a laboratory-based practical with targeted resources that has been designed to relate fundamental catalytic theory to core concepts in green chemistry.
Aluminophosphates experiment has been developed to foster transferable and employability-relevant skills such as the critical evaluation of current affairs, incorporating a systems thinking mindset by examining some aspects of nylons from cradle to grave (processes involved in their synthesis, their uses, and finally their recycling or the fate of waste products).
As part of this assignment, students are directed in the preparation of aluminophosphate materials using distinctive synthetic protocols (hydrothermal synthesis and calcination) and are required to apply their knowledge of analytical techniques to solid-state characterization. Students then use their heterogeneous redox catalysts in the oxidation of cyclohexane to KA oil (the industrial feedstock of adipic acid, a precursor to nylons), with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses providing an opportunity to introduce green chemistry metrics. With supporting resources, oral presentation, and student-led discussions, this practical aims to equip the undergraduate student with the tools needed to rationalize structure–activity relationships in porous heterogeneous catalysts.
Using a systems thinking approach, RAP is a holistic practical, combining empiricism with critical analysis, self-study, and group work to relate undergraduate theory to real-world problems, while demonstrating how laboratory-scale procedures can be extrapolated to the industrial setting.
The RAP experimental suite addresses various aspects in systems thinking mode. Redox Aluminophosphates, as a laboratory experiment and as a concept, includes elements featuring prominently in the biogeochemical flows (P and N) of the planetary boundaries framework. Bearing these and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in mind, a logical evolution then includes using a systems thinking visualization tool, namely a system-oriented concept map extension (SOCME), in the future and expanding to a more detailed systems thinking approach at various stages (e.g. SOCME for Al or freshwater, thus broadening the societal impact side). Aluminophosphates demonstrates how catalysts can affect real enhancement in chemical synthesis and, through the supporting literature, demonstrates how this can be realistically scaled to the industrial setting. By implementing systems thinking aspects to a laboratory class, RAP connects earth and societal systems through laboratory experiments, retrospection, and prediction with chemistry teaching and learning and associated educational research and theories.
Therefore, RAP realizes important targets in sustainability education practice delivering the fundamentals of green chemistry in a manner that encourages introspection and fosters an awareness of an individual’s impact on global sustainability.
Relevance for Complex Systems Knowledge
The paper deals with systems thinking and sustainable development.
Systems thinking has been defined as linking chemistry teaching and learning with educational research and theories along with earth and societal systems. Systems thinking includes features of life-cycle analysis (LCA), which considers aspects like the resources, the environmental issues related to an industrial process, and the fate of the waste and the product after use. This holistic approach is also referred to as cradle-to-grave assessment.
Authors claim thar “Redox Aluminophosphates” (RAP) provides quality practical education and fulfils UN Sustainable Development Goal. Specifically, three sustainability goals are associated with RAP and its application to the real world. “Clean Water” (Goal 6) and “Climate Action” (Goal 13) can be addressed by the students, as the industrial production of nylon-6 and its precursors using RAP catalysis allows for improved freshwater ecosystem management through reduction of salt loads in aqueous waste streams, whereas much better atom economy and more energy-efficient processes are identified as desirable factors helping to avoid climate change. Students also linked Goal 12, “Responsible Consumption and Production”, to this project and specifically related the recyclability of nylon-6 versus that of nylon-6,6 to better consumer behavior.
