Hydrogen gas is a clean fuel. It burns with oxygen in the air to provide energy with no CO2. Hydrogen is a key to sustainable energy for the future. Though humans are just now coming to realize the benefits of hydrogen gas (H2 in chemical shorthand), microbes have known that H2 is a good fuel for as … Read more
Researchers from the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS), Harvard Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, and Utrecht University have reported on a previously elusive way to improve the selectivity of catalytic reactions, adding a new method of increasing the efficacy of catalysts for a potentially wide range of applications … Read more
Green chemistry, also known as sustainable chemistry, is a rapidly growing field that focuses on designing chemical products and processes that minimize the use and generation of hazardous substances. It aims to reduce the environmental impact of chemical manufacturing and promote the efficient use of resources, ultimately leading to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly … Read more
A collaborative effort spanning four universities has uncovered a straightforward guideline known as the “ten electron rule” for designing single-atom alloy catalysts tailored for specific chemical reactions. This rule simplifies the identification of promising catalysts, allowing scientists to propose compositions by merely consulting the periodic table, bypassing the need for extensive trial-and-error experiments or computationally … Read more
Heterocyclic compounds, intricate organic molecules featuring a ring structure comprising multiple elements, are increasingly coveted in the chemical and pharmaceutical industry due to their versatility and potent physiological activities. However, conventional synthesis methods often involve high temperatures, pressures, or precious metal catalysts, contributing to economic and environmental concerns. A groundbreaking study by a collaborative team … Read more
With the ever-increasing interest in renewable energy, scientists are continuously searching for new technologies to store energy. CO2 electrolysis is a promising way to store energy while recycling carbon dioxide. By applying electricity, CO2 and water react and produce more complex molecules. A study published in Nature Communications and led by Hugo van Montfort at … Read more
Researcher from the University of Alberta has made significant strides in finding innovative ways to convert carbon dioxide, a harmful greenhouse gas, and glycerol, a byproduct of biodiesel production, into valuable materials with a wide range of applications, including liquid hydrogen storage. These methods, currently in the testing phase for potential industrial-scale viability, represent a … Read more
Organic synthesis represents the intricate craft of crafting molecules, serving as the foundation for producing vital commodities like pharmaceuticals, agrochemicals, and materials that fuel cutting-edge devices such as smartphones. It’s akin to a microscopic game of LEGO, where chemists interlock fundamental building blocks to construct intricate molecules, akin to joining LEGO bricks to form complex … Read more
Researchers from Brazil and Germany have pioneered a groundbreaking approach to simplify and enhance acetone production, a vital chemical in various industries. Traditionally, the Hock or cumene process involves multiple complex steps, starting with propane conversion to propylene, which is then reacted with benzene and oxygen under high temperatures and pressures to yield acetone. However, … Read more
Researchers at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore), have devised an innovative process that efficiently transforms various plastics, including polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS), into valuable chemical components for energy storage. Unlike traditional heat-driven recycling methods like pyrolysis, this process operates at room temperature using light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and a readily available catalyst. … Read more
In a recent study, researchers from the University of Wisconsin–Madison have presented an innovative approach to creating chemicals in a more environmentally friendly way. The researchers have taken inspiration from hydrogen fuel cell technology, which is commonly used to power electric vehicles and devices like laptops and cell phones. The chemical industry is a significant … Read more
Researchers from the University of Bath’s Department of Chemistry and Institute for Sustainability have made a significant breakthrough by discovering a method to produce two widely used painkillers, paracetamol and ibuprofen, using a compound found in pine trees. This compound, derived from turpentine, is a waste product of the paper industry, which produces over 350,000 … Read more
Researchers at The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) have made a significant breakthrough in the development of sustainable food packaging materials. In a study published in the Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture, the scientists have created an edible, transparent, and biodegradable material that shows great promise for use in food packaging. … Read more
Scientists have made significant progress in developing catalysts to convert the greenhouse gas methane into a less harmful substance. Their findings, published in the journal Science, shed light on how carbon-hydrogen bonds break and the mechanism behind catalysts in this process. Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is increasingly being released into the atmosphere through livestock … Read more
Researchers at the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology (Leibniz-HKI) have made a significant advancement in the field of microbial electrosynthesis. This technology utilizes microorganisms, CO2, and electricity to produce alcohol and other organic compounds. However, the biological mechanisms underlying this process have remained largely unknown until now. The team at Leibniz-HKI … Read more
Researchers from the University College London and two esteemed professors, Zhengxiao Guo from the Department of Chemistry at The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Junwang Tang from the Department of Chemical Engineering at Tsinghua University, have collaborated to develop a groundbreaking catalytic material. This innovative substance, derived from tungsten trioxide (WO3 catalyst), exhibits exceptional … Read more