The University of Glasgow will explore how to make a common chemical purification method more eco-friendly. Thanks to a grant from the Royal Society of Chemistry, researchers will focus on flash chromatography, a technique used in labs worldwide.

Led by Dr. Joseph Cameron and Dr. Alex Loch, the project will assess the environmental impact of the process from start to finish. They aim to find ways to reuse chromatography columns and recycle parts of the equipment, including metals. Their research will look into how many times columns can be reused and what happens to the devices at the end of their life.

Dr. Cameron explained the issue, saying, “Flash chromatography is the basis for how we purify our chemicals, but it is quite resource intensive in terms of the materials used. Despite being used extensively in labs around the world, there’s surprisingly little information available about the sustainability impacts of different approaches to chromatography.”

The team hopes their work will help labs, both in schools and industry, adopt greener methods. Industry has already led in this area due to pressure to cut emissions and follow new environmental laws. Dr. Loch noted, “This will be the first project to examine flash chromatography with this degree of broad focus. We hope this project will establish our model and reputation in this area, and that it will lead to industry partnerships to expand the work in the future.”

An undergraduate student from the School of Chemistry will assist with experiments, gaining skills and helping push sustainability efforts forward.

This project is one of 25 receiving funding across seven countries through the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Sustainable Laboratories Grant. Since 2023, the program has awarded over half a million pounds to promote greener lab work worldwide.

The research could open the door to more sustainable practices in chemistry labs everywhere.