Quantifying oceanic plastic pollution.
Microplastics in the ocean are one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, but they are hard to both measure and quantify. An intercontinental team has developed a novel method using filter-feeding marine species to extract the tiny particles from seawater for further analysis.
Their method is published in Microplastics and Nanoplastics: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s43591-021-00005-z
#sciencenews #environment
Microplastics in the ocean are one of the greatest environmental challenges of our time, but they are hard to both measure and quantify. An intercontinental team has developed a novel method using filter-feeding marine species to extract the tiny particles from seawater for further analysis.
Their method is published in Microplastics and Nanoplastics: http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s43591-021-00005-z
#sciencenews #environment
SpringerOpen
Detection, counting and characterization of nanoplastics in marine bioindicators: a proof of principle study - Microplastics and…
Plastic particulates in the environment pose an increasing concern for regulatory bodies due to their potential risk to higher organisms (including humans) as they enter the food chain. Nanoplastics (defined here as smaller than 1 μm) are particularly challenging…
Clearing the air.
Fossil fuel reliance has pushed air pollution to record levels. Nitrogen oxides are particularly harmful pollutants for human health. Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers hope to reduce pollution by using novel catalysts to selectively convert nitrogen oxides to hydroxylamine which can be further applied as an alternate energy source.
The results can be viewed in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22147-7
#sciencenews #environment #healthcare
Fossil fuel reliance has pushed air pollution to record levels. Nitrogen oxides are particularly harmful pollutants for human health. Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology researchers hope to reduce pollution by using novel catalysts to selectively convert nitrogen oxides to hydroxylamine which can be further applied as an alternate energy source.
The results can be viewed in Nature Communications: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-021-22147-7
#sciencenews #environment #healthcare
Nature
Selective electrochemical reduction of nitric oxide to hydroxylamine by atomically dispersed iron catalyst
Nature Communications - Electrocatalytic conversion of nitrogen oxides to value-added chemicals is a promising strategy for mitigating the imbalance in the global nitrogen cycle. Here, the authors...
Safe to drink.
Micropollutants such as steroid hormones contaminate drinking water worldwide and pose a significant threat to human health. Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a new chemical process to remove hormones using photocatalysis to transform the pollutants into safe products.
The results can be viewed in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092633732100223X?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #environment
Micropollutants such as steroid hormones contaminate drinking water worldwide and pose a significant threat to human health. Scientists at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have developed a new chemical process to remove hormones using photocatalysis to transform the pollutants into safe products.
The results can be viewed in Applied Catalysis B: Environmental: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S092633732100223X?via%3Dihub
#sciencenews #environment
Sciencedirect
Photodegradation of steroid-hormone micropollutants in a flow-through membrane reactor coated with Pd(II)-porphyrin
The efficient degradation of steroid-hormone micropollutants is demonstrated in a single-pass, continuous operation of the photocatalytic membrane rea…
Plastic to combat pollution.
Biodegradable plastics are better for the environment, but their rapid degradation means they can’t be recycled. Researchers from the University of Canterbury have developed a method to convert the plastics to a foam that can be reused for insulation or flotation devices.
Their method is described in the journal Physics of Fluids: https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0050649
#sciencenews #environment #chemistry
Biodegradable plastics are better for the environment, but their rapid degradation means they can’t be recycled. Researchers from the University of Canterbury have developed a method to convert the plastics to a foam that can be reused for insulation or flotation devices.
Their method is described in the journal Physics of Fluids: https://aip.scitation.org/doi/10.1063/5.0050649
#sciencenews #environment #chemistry
AIP Publishing
Recycling and rheology of poly(lactic acid) (PLA) to make foams using supercritical fluid
Biodegradable plastics are thought to be the possible directions in managing plastic pollutions. Unfortunately, they are not recycled in most countries since they are designed to decompose even tho...
Recycling electric vehicle batteries.
University of Leicester researchers have developed an ultrasonic delamination technique to controllably separate the different metals used in lithium-ion batteries, improving the yield and purity of the recovered materials.
Their analysis is detailed in Green Chemistry: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D1GC01623G
#sciencenews #chemistry #environment
University of Leicester researchers have developed an ultrasonic delamination technique to controllably separate the different metals used in lithium-ion batteries, improving the yield and purity of the recovered materials.
Their analysis is detailed in Green Chemistry: http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/D1GC01623G
#sciencenews #chemistry #environment
pubs.rsc.org
Lithium ion battery recycling using high-intensity ultrasonication
Decarbonisation of energy will rely heavily, at least initially, on the use of lithium ion batteries for automotive transportation. The projected volumes of batteries necessitate the development of fast and efficient recycling protocols. Current methods are…
Life beneath Antarctic ice.
Pioneering research at the University of Bristol has shown the erosion of ancient sediments found deep beneath Antarctic ice is a vital source of the nutrients and energy needed to sustain for subglacial microbial life. Their lab-based experiments replicated the conditions in Lake Whillans, 800m underneath Antarctica, where crushed sediments could release methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen in substantial concentrations.
Learn about their insight in Communications Earth & Environment: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00202-x?proof=t
#sciencenews #environment
Pioneering research at the University of Bristol has shown the erosion of ancient sediments found deep beneath Antarctic ice is a vital source of the nutrients and energy needed to sustain for subglacial microbial life. Their lab-based experiments replicated the conditions in Lake Whillans, 800m underneath Antarctica, where crushed sediments could release methane, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen in substantial concentrations.
Learn about their insight in Communications Earth & Environment: https://www.nature.com/articles/s43247-021-00202-x?proof=t
#sciencenews #environment
Nature
Subglacial erosion has the potential to sustain microbial processes in Subglacial Lake Whillans, Antarctica
Communications Earth & Environment - The crushing and wetting of rocks by erosion under glaciers produces chemical compounds that could fuel microbial activity, as demonstrated by experiments...
Environmental brain effects.
A stimulating environment helps to keep the hippocampus young through molecular mechanisms affecting gene regulation. Studies in mice by the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases provide clues as to why an active, varied lifestyle can help preserve mental acuity in old age.
Their insights are described in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23993-1
#sciencenews #environment #biology
A stimulating environment helps to keep the hippocampus young through molecular mechanisms affecting gene regulation. Studies in mice by the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases provide clues as to why an active, varied lifestyle can help preserve mental acuity in old age.
Their insights are described in Nature Communications: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-23993-1
#sciencenews #environment #biology
Nature
Environmental enrichment preserves a young DNA methylation landscape in the aged mouse hippocampus
Nature Communications - Decline of brain function during aging is associated with epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation. Here the authors provide evidence that environmental enrichment...
Building better wind farms.
A study from the Carnegie Institution for Science shows how the placement of wind turbines is hugely important to their efficiency. They looked at the wake of individual turbines and larger scale networks to understand how the power generation capabilities can be optimized.
The study is published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103875118
#sciencenews #environment #energy
A study from the Carnegie Institution for Science shows how the placement of wind turbines is hugely important to their efficiency. They looked at the wake of individual turbines and larger scale networks to understand how the power generation capabilities can be optimized.
The study is published in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2103875118
#sciencenews #environment #energy
PNAS
Spatial constraints in large-scale expansion of wind power plants
Wind comprised 6.1% of worldwide electricity generation in 2020. If this share is to substantially grow to decarbonize electricity systems, the size of future wind farms may extend far beyond that of current installations. The spatial scale of a wind farm…
Biomass to biofuel.
A Technical University of Munich team has determined the role of water molecules in the process of converting biomass to biofuels with zeolitic catalysts. Their insights should enable increased reactivity at low temperatures, improving the energy efficiency of the process.
The preliminary report has been published in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6545/952
#sciencenews #environment #energy
A Technical University of Munich team has determined the role of water molecules in the process of converting biomass to biofuels with zeolitic catalysts. Their insights should enable increased reactivity at low temperatures, improving the energy efficiency of the process.
The preliminary report has been published in Science: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/372/6545/952
#sciencenews #environment #energy
Science
Role of the ionic environment in enhancing the activity of reacting molecules in zeolite pores
Brønsted acidity is introduced into microporous zeolites through the addition of framework aluminum. Pfriem et al. show that in the presence of water, the limited volume in the microchannels of zeolite H-MFI leads to a high concentration of hydrated hydronium…
Nano-cleaners.
University of Colorado Boulder researchers have found that tiny, self-propelled particles can swim to escape from mazes as much as 20 times faster than passive particles, paving the way for their use in cleaning waste from hard to reach areas.
Their nanosystem is described in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101807118
#sciencenews #nanomaterials #environment
University of Colorado Boulder researchers have found that tiny, self-propelled particles can swim to escape from mazes as much as 20 times faster than passive particles, paving the way for their use in cleaning waste from hard to reach areas.
Their nanosystem is described in PNAS: http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101807118
#sciencenews #nanomaterials #environment
PNAS
Mechanisms of transport enhancement for self-propelled nanoswimmers in a porous matrix
As with living microorganisms, many real-world applications of synthetic micro/nanoswimmers are likely to rely on transport in complex environments, a phenomenon that remains poorly understood. Here, we report anomalously rapid transport of self-propelled…