12.3 Physics and Engineering
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• Chemical leasing is crucial for sustainable chemical management intending to
minimize the use of chemicals, thus reducing costs and resource consumption
(Anastas and Eghbali 2010).
• Some industries where sustainable chemistry has been applied are cleaning or
degreasing, casting, staining, chemical synthesis through catalysts, and the food
industry.
• In the food industry, applications have mainly focused on water treatment and
extraction.
• Additive production is the other application, including technical gases and
cooling goods.
• Sustainable chemical production is also evident in white biotechnology—uses
biological processes to produce enzymes or bacteria. An example is vitamin B12
production that is the product of white biotechnology.
Can you provide more examples, specifically in Africa, of white biotechnology applications? Provide your own understanding of sustainable chemistry.
12.3 Physics and Engineering
Physics is a branch of science that studies matter, motion, and behavior. It is among
the most critical science disciplines with the objective of understanding the way
the universe behaves. Engineering is also a branch of science and technology that
deals with the design, construction, and use of machines, structures as well as
engines. Advances in physics and engineering lead to new technologies, including
nuclear physics and electromagnetism, inventions that have transformed modern
society. Physics’ role in society today is indispensable, and there is a need to
study major concepts in physics before exploring its importance for sustainability.
Significant attention will be paid to sustainable physics as well as the application of
sustainability in physics.
12.3.1 Basic Definitions and Concepts
• Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that studies the relationship between
various forms of energy. Conceptually, three laws of thermodynamics govern
physics (Davidson et al. 2010).
• The First law of Thermodynamics states that energy is often conserved and can
neither be destroyed nor created .
• The Second law of Thermodynamics states that within an isolated system , the
total entropy always increases.
339
• Chemical leasing is crucial for sustainable chemical management intending to
minimize the use of chemicals, thus reducing costs and resource consumption
(Anastas and Eghbali 2010).
• Some industries where sustainable chemistry has been applied are cleaning or
degreasing, casting, staining, chemical synthesis through catalysts, and the food
industry.
• In the food industry, applications have mainly focused on water treatment and
extraction.
• Additive production is the other application, including technical gases and
cooling goods.
• Sustainable chemical production is also evident in white biotechnology—uses
biological processes to produce enzymes or bacteria. An example is vitamin B12
production that is the product of white biotechnology.
Can you provide more examples, specifically in Africa, of white biotechnology applications? Provide your own understanding of sustainable chemistry.
12.3 Physics and Engineering
Physics is a branch of science that studies matter, motion, and behavior. It is among
the most critical science disciplines with the objective of understanding the way
the universe behaves. Engineering is also a branch of science and technology that
deals with the design, construction, and use of machines, structures as well as
engines. Advances in physics and engineering lead to new technologies, including
nuclear physics and electromagnetism, inventions that have transformed modern
society. Physics’ role in society today is indispensable, and there is a need to
study major concepts in physics before exploring its importance for sustainability.
Significant attention will be paid to sustainable physics as well as the application of
sustainability in physics.
12.3.1 Basic Definitions and Concepts
• Thermodynamics is a branch of physics that studies the relationship between
various forms of energy. Conceptually, three laws of thermodynamics govern
physics (Davidson et al. 2010).
• The First law of Thermodynamics states that energy is often conserved and can
neither be destroyed nor created .
• The Second law of Thermodynamics states that within an isolated system , the
total entropy always increases.