New composite decking could reduce global warming effects of building materials

Building materials are major contributors to global carbon dioxide emissions. So scientists have designed a composite decking material that stores more carbon dioxide than is required to manufacture it, providing the first “carbon-negative” option. They will present their results at ACS Spring 2024.

Highways through historically redlined areas likely cause air pollution disparities today

Historically “redlined” areas – neighborhoods with primarily Black or immigrant communities – are exposed to more air pollution than other urban neighborhoods. According to research published in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology, the cause could relate to nearby highways or industrial parks.

Membrane Technology: Looking Deep into Smallest Pores

Membranes of vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (VaCNT) can be used to clean or desalinate water at high flow rate and low pressure. Recently, researchers of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) and partners carried out steroid hormone adsorption experiments to study the interplay of forces in the small pores. They found that VaCNT of specific pore geometry and pore surface structure are suited for use as highly selective membranes. The researchers report in Nature Communications. (DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-44883-2)

New process allows full recovery of starting materials from tough polymer composites

In a win for chemistry, inventors at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have designed a closed-loop path for synthesizing an exceptionally tough carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and later recovering all of its starting materials.

Device ‘smells’ seawater to discover, detect novel molecules

Researchers in ACS Central Science report a proof-of-concept device that “sniffs” seawater, trapping dissolved compounds for analyses. The team showed that the system could easily concentrate molecules that are present in underwater caves and holds promise for drug discovery in fragile ecosystems, including coral reefs.

Transforming wastewater into valuable chemicals with sunlight

Researchers led by Prof. GAO Xiang from the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology (SIAT) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Prof. LU Lu from the Harbin Institute of Technology have proposed a novel method to transform wastewater contaminants into valuable chemicals using sunlight, thus paving the way for sustainable and eco-friendly chemical manufacturing.

Killer whales’ diet more important than location for pollutant exposure, study says

Killer whales are some of the oceans’ top predators, but even they can be exposed to environmental pollution. In the largest study to date on North Atlantic killer whales, researchers in ACS’ Environmental Science & Technology report the levels of pollutants in 162 individuals’ blubber.

Metal-organic frameworks could someday deliver antibacterial nitric oxide

Researchers still need to get a better understanding of how metal-organic frameworks function, especially when embedded in polymers. Reporting in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, researchers have now developed and characterized nitric oxide-storing MOFs embedded in a thin film with novel antibacterial potential.

A real ​“rock star” moment: New mineral named after Argonne materials scientist Kanatzidis

Mercouri Kanatzidis, an Argonne and Northwestern University materials scientist, has studied sulfur-containing materials called chalcogenides for more than 30 years. A new chalcogenide mineral has just been named for him.

American Chemical Society’s president comments on award of 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry

On behalf of the American Chemical Society (ACS), President Judith C. Giordan, Ph.D., congratulates today’s winners of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry: Moungi G. Bawendi, Ph.D., of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Louis E. Brus, Ph.D., of Columbia University; and Alexei I. Ekimov, Ph.D., of Nanocrystals Technology Inc.

Applications Open for Graduate Programs in Chemistry and Green Chemistry & Sustainability (Semester 2/2023)

The Master and Doctoral Degrees Programs in Chemistry and Green Chemistry & Sustainability, Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University are now accepting applications for the second semester of academic year 2023.