Phys.org news tagged with:green chemistry

No more rancid hazelnuts: A research team at the URV has developed a method that can identify nuts that have gone bad due to oxidation. The technique uses infrared light to determine the chemical composition of hazelnuts without even removing them from their shells.

Every year, thousands of tons of brown algae are extracted from the seabed to obtain compounds such as alginates, a polymer composed of sugars that has high density and strength, offering potential biotechnological applications. An international team led by the University of Barcelona has deciphered the mechanism by which a type of enzyme, called alginate lyase (AL), is capable of degrading these marine biomaterials, allowing them to be used as carriers of drugs, additives or thickeners, among others.

In the battle against climate change, the role of chemistry and the chemical industry is often overlooked. As India accelerates its industrial growth, it must embrace sustainable biomanufacturing and green chemistry not just to meet environmental commitments but to reinforce economic competitiveness.

Zeolites, crystalline materials widely used in the petrochemical industry, serve as pivotal catalysts in the production of fine chemicals, with aluminum being the source of active sites within zeolite structures. A research team from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has revealed the precise location of aluminum atoms in the zeolite framework.

Phosphorus is a critical raw material that should be recycled more efficiently. There is also a need for more environmentally friendly production methods for organic phosphorus compounds.