Closing the Loop: Multisemester Material Recycling Pilot for Green Chemistry Education in Lower-Division Laboratory Courses

We present a cross-curricular pilot study demonstrating the feasibility of integrating green chemistry principles through material recycling across lower-division laboratory courses. Over two academic years, students synthesize aspirin in General Chemistry I, purify it in General Chemistry II, and transform aspirin into derivatives in Organic Chemistry, creating a multisemester proof of concept that introduced the concept of principle 7 (renewable feedstock) through hands-on experience. Assessment using embedded chemistry lab final questions designed at different Bloom’s Taxonomy levels revealed students recognizing green chemistry concepts. This pilot at a resource-limited institution demonstrates that cross-course materials recycling is logistically feasible with minimal curriculum disruptions, providing an accessible model for institutions seeking practical entry points for sustainability education.