Environment

Adsorption of complex pollutants: Designing hydrogarnets to remove humic substances from water

By Lisa McDonald / March 17, 2023

Humic substances are beneficial to agriculture, but they can aggravate pollution in water by interacting with disinfectants to produce toxic byproducts. Hydrogarnet has shown excellent potential as an adsorbent for humic substances, and researchers in Japan investigated the effects of heat treatments to control hydrogarnet composition and adsorption properties.

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Video: Chicago startup offers “close-looped” water vending service based on reusable glass bottles

By Lisa McDonald / March 1, 2023

Reliance on single-use packaging significantly contributes to plastic pollution. Chicago-based startup Kadeya designed a unique “closed-loop” water vending service based on reusable glass bottles that could help cut plastic waste in the vending sector.

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Sustainability in industry, plus more inside March 2023 ACerS Bulletin

By Lisa McDonald / February 16, 2023

The March 2023 issue of the ACerS Bulletin—featuring sustainability in industry—is now available online. Plus—upcoming Bulletin digital evolution.

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Video: Giant Mine—a case study in mine remediation

By Lisa McDonald / February 8, 2023

Giant Mine is a closed gold mine located just north of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada. Efforts are underway to remediate the site, including a study on the potential of vitrification as a permanent solution to the site’s toxic arsenic trioxide dust.

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Utilizing stored emissions: A review of molten salt electrochemical conversion to recycle carbon dioxide

By Lisa McDonald / February 3, 2023

Molten salt electrochemical conversion may offer an economic and relatively clean way to extract pure carbon products from stored carbon dioxide emissions. In a recently published open-access paper, researchers from the University of Science and Technology Beijing summarize the successes and challenges of this process.

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Video: Around-the-world boat race conducts science along the way

By Lisa McDonald / February 1, 2023

The Ocean Race is a boat race around the world, held every three or four years since 1973. Starting with the 2017–2018 race, the Ocean Race organizers and racing teams coordinate a science program in tandem with the race to gather data on the ocean.

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Video: Cleaning up our waterways—addressing the abandonment of fiberglass boats in Virginia

By Lisa McDonald / January 11, 2023

Abandoned fiberglass boats are a growing problem in the state of Virginia. As state officials contemplate the development of a state-run turn-in and disposal program, some residents are taking matters into their own hands by establishing local nonprofit disposal operations.

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Protecting peels from peeling: Nanoparticle spray reduces sunburn damage in pineapples

By Lisa McDonald / December 16, 2022

Sunburn in fruits and fruiting vegetables is a big concern for farmers because it affects the food’s marketability. Researchers in Brazil tested the potential of spray-on calcium carbonate nanoparticles to protect pineapples from sunburn.

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Video: Ceramic-based nesting boxes offer cool haven for African penguins

By Lisa McDonald / December 14, 2022

Over the past two centuries, the number of African penguins has plummeted more than 99%. The African Penguin Nest Project is an international team creating double-layered ceramic nesting boxes to protect African penguins from predators and the sun, which will hopefully lead to growth in the penguin population.

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Mopping up microplastics: Nanopillar-stabilized metal-organic framework removes contaminants from water

By Lisa McDonald / December 13, 2022

Adsorption is an effective way to remove microplastics from water by adhering them to an easily removable/retrievable surface. Researchers at RMIT University in Australia developed a nanopillar-stabilized metal-organic framework adsorbent that effectively removes microplastics from water, as well as the toxic pollutant methylene blue.

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