IUPAC's initiatives and publications have been closely identified with green chemistry over the past several years. However, a significant milestone was reached in a project on Synthetic Pathways and Processes in Green Chemistry, chaired by Prof. Pietro Tundo (University of Venice), as a first IUPAC undertaking devoted exclusively to the theme of green chemistry. This culminated in publication of a Special Topic issue of Pure and Applied Chemistry [Pure Appl. Chem.72 (7), (2000); <http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/2000/7207>], which attracted an exceptionally high level of readership interest and has hitherto accumulated a record number of nearly 900 citations. Indeed, one of the papers published in that collection, Ionic Liquids: Green Solvents of the Future, by M. J. Earle and K. R. Seddon (The Queen's University of Belfast) [Pure Appl. Chem.72 (7), 1391 (2000)], boasts no fewer than 349 citations (recorded on 30 April 2007)!Shortly thereafter, Prof. M. Kidwai and his colleagues at the University of Delhi launched an IUPAC-sponsored International Symposium on Green Chemistry in January 2001 [Pure Appl. Chem.73 (1), (2001); <http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/2001/7301>], and have since organized a sequel in 2006 [Pure Appl. Chem.78 (11), (2006); <http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/2006/7811>]. The record of that first event focused strongly on insights into green catalysis and methodology, and also has the distinction of heading the citation record for PAC event collections in 2001. Later in 2001, the Conference on Green Chemistry: Toward Environmentally Benign Processes and Products was held in Boulder, Colorado, under the guidance of Drs. D. L. Hjeresen and P. T. Anastas [Pure Appl. Chem.73 (8), (2001); <http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/2001/7308>]. This was the 14th of the CHEMRAWN series, an acronym for CHEMistry Research Applied to World Needs, that is most aptly served by this important collection of works, dealing with a range of policy, educational, and research and development issues around the title topic.Although the foregoing publication projects are explicitly identified with green chemistry, the theme features repeatedly in numerous papers arising from other IUPAC-sponsored events in recent years, or underpins other disciplinary themes, for example, in the Special Topic collection devoted to Electrochemistry and Interfacial Chemistry for the Environment [Pure Appl. Chem.73 (12), (2001); <http://www.iupac.org/publications/pac/2001/7312>]. This trend is destined to continue, and is perhaps symptomatic of growing social responsibility in current research and development. Furthermore, it demonstrates that IUPAC has an ongoing role to play in fostering activities that fulfil its commitment to shaping and serving the chemical sciences in the interests of societal upliftment and progress.It is thus fitting that the Union should now take the initiative to regularize its role in promoting green chemistry, through a series of biennial conferences. It is equally appropriate to highlight the published record of the 1st International Conference on Green-Sustainable Chemistry as a Special Topic feature of PAC, in recognition of the topicality of this authoritative and representative collection of papers.James R. BullScientific Editor
Concentric annular liquid–liquid phase separation for flow chemistry and continuous processing