Green Solvents and Their Impact on Sustainable Chemical Process Design: A Review

Abstract The increasing emphasis on environmentally responsible chemical manufacturing has significantly intensified interest in sustainable process design across both academia and industry. Solvents represent a major share of material usage in chemical processes and are often responsible for substantial waste generation, emissions and environmental burden. As a result, solvent selection has emerged as a critical decision point in improving the overall sustainability, safety, and efficiency of chemical manufacturing operations. Green solvents offer a practical and effective strategy to reduce environmental impact while maintaining or in some cases enhancing, process performance and product quality. This review critically examines the role of green solvents in the design of sustainable chemical processes, emphasizing their potential to replace conventional hazardous solvents without compromising technical feasibility. Various classes of green solvents including bio-based solvents, ionic liquids, deep eutectic solvents, supercritical fluids and aqueous systems are systematically discussed with respect to their physicochemical properties, environmental compatibility and industrial applicability. Overall, the review highlights how green solvents play a vital role in enabling safer, cleaner, and more resource-efficient chemical processes, thereby supporting the broader goals of sustainable development in the chemical industry.