Advancing Green Chemistry for Sustainable Industrial Pollution Control and Waste Management in Owerri, Nigeria

Green chemistry offers a transformational solution to industrial pollution and waste management issues in Owerri, Nigeria, a rapidly industrialising metropolis. This qualitative research investigates the feasibility of employing green chemistry principles to reduce environmental deterioration caused by industrial activity in Owerri, with an emphasis on wastewater treatment, solid waste management, and air pollution control. The study identifies important pollution sources, assesses the viability of green chemistry solutions, and investigates adoption hurdles and potential using semi-structured interviews with industrial stakeholders, environmental regulators, and academic experts. The findings show that bio-based solvents, photocatalysis, and waste-to-resource technologies are possible in Owerri, but they face barriers like as regulatory gaps, budgetary limits, and limited awareness. Policy changes, stakeholder engagement, and capacity-building efforts are proposed to incorporate green chemistry into Owerri’s industrial processes, in line with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 9 and 12. This study adds to the body of knowledge by presenting a Nigerian-specific framework for long-term industrial growth.