What are the environmental considerations in solvent selection?
Environmental considerations are increasingly important in the selection of solvents for catalytic processes. Traditional organic solvents can be toxic, flammable, and environmentally hazardous. As a result, there is a growing interest in using green solvents such as water, supercritical CO2, and ionic liquids. These solvents are less harmful to the environment and can offer unique properties that enhance catalytic performance. For example, water is an excellent solvent for many catalytic reactions due to its high heat capacity and ability to stabilize charged species.