Sustainable Solvent Systems in Organic Chemistry Reactions

Abstract

The extensive use of volatile organic solvents in organic chemistry has raised serious environmental, health, and sustainability concerns, particularly in developing economies with rapidly growing chemical sectors such as India. Sustainable solvent systems have emerged as a viable solution to reduce solvent waste, toxicity, and energy consumption while maintaining or enhancing reaction efficiency. Indian researchers have significantly contributed to the development and application of green solvents including deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, supercritical carbon dioxide, aqueous reaction systems, and solvent-free methodologies. These solvent systems offer advantages such as low vapor pressure, high recyclability, tunable physicochemical properties, and compatibility with green chemistry principles. This paper critically examines Indian experimental and process-based studies on sustainable solvent systems, evaluates their performance in organic reactions and extraction processes, and discusses their potential for industrial-scale implementation.