Researchers Claim “Green” Catalysts Can Clean Up Toxic Pollutants
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon have discovered environmentally-friendly molecule catalysts that can be used to clean up a variety of toxic substances including waste water and fuel.
The catalysts, known as Tetra-Amido Macrocyclic Ligands (TAMLs), could replace current industrial practices used in cleaning up environmental hazards.
TAMLs are made up of common elements of biochemistry—carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen around a reactive core. They are usable at very low temperatures and form strong chemical bonds.
According to Carnegie Mellon professor and catalyst inventor Terry Collins, TAMLs are extremely effective in degrading estrogenic compounds, cleaning up waste water from textile manufacturing, treating pulp and paper processing byproducts, reducing fuel pollutants and even decontaminating anthrax.
Collins also believes that TAMLs could have a future in eradicating a variety of water-borne infectious microbes that cause death and disability.
For more info on green science at Carnegie Mellon, check out this site.
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August 20th, 2008 at 8:05 am
Nice story!! Another good things about these molecules is that the examples shown use iron in the reactive, which is relatively cheap when compared to more commonly used catalysts like platinum. Cheap = good in this case.
August 21st, 2008 at 5:16 am
Wow thats good news. I wonder how long it takes for this to be used.
August 21st, 2008 at 5:21 am
Oh, but it will take so long to clean up all toxic pollutants!
August 21st, 2008 at 5:39 am
Wow those scientists are some pretty smart folk arent they?
RD
http://www.decrypt.net.tc
August 21st, 2008 at 5:44 am
Researchers: \"Green\" Catalysts Can Clean Up Toxic Pollutants | nerdd.net…
\r\nResearchers at Carnegie Mellon have discovered environmentally-friendly molecule catalysts that…
August 21st, 2008 at 6:26 am
At least it is progress. It might take a long time, but it could also lead to the discovery of a more efficient catalyst. I wounder what the side products of this reaction are.
August 21st, 2008 at 6:27 am
I wonder how much will it cost.