Efficient disinfection of water with silver sulfide quantum dots in a peptide coat

02-Mar-2023

Water contaminated with bacteria is a large threat to global health. A Chinese research team has described a simple new method of disinfection in the journal Angewandte Chemie. It is based on tiny biocompatible assemblies of atoms, known as quantum dots, made of silver sulfide with caps made of a ...

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Sensor can identify the global content and form of arsenic-containing molecules at very low concentrations

02-Mar-2023

It is a cruel paradox that on a planet with a surface mostly covered by water, hundreds of millions of people don’t have access to clean drinking water. As for the pollution of potable and natural water sources, one of the main culprits is arsenic, an abundant and toxic element in the earth’s ...

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A new way to tackle 'forever chemicals'

25-Jan-2023

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are potentially harmful substances known as “forever chemicals” because they are so difficult to destroy. One emerging technique to degrade PFAS involves forcefully grinding them with metal balls in a moving container, but this technique can require ...

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Research team detects very high microplastic load from graffiti and paint in soils

02-Nov-2022

Public awareness of microplastics as a problematic contaminant is growing. So far, increasing contamination by plastic particles has been detected mainly in bodies of water. But soil contamination by microplastics is also increasingly coming into focus. A team of researchers led by biology ...

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Andrea Hochegger, an analytical chemist at TU Graz, investigates whether foodstuffs can be tainted with harmful substances from packaging or during production

27-Sep-2022

Andrea Hochegger’s current research focus is the question of contamination with mineral oil hydrocarbons. “We break up complex mixtures into MOSH and MOAH fractions,” Andrea explains. These are groups of chemical compounds found in mineral oil. MOSH stands for mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons ...

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16-Sep-2022

The first comprehensive assessment of common synthetic chemicals found in UK foods has been completed by researchers at the University of Birmingham. In the study, nearly 400 food samples were tested for evidence of organophosphate esters (OPEs) – chemicals used as flame retardants in furnishings ...

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The approach has implications for improving water scarcity around the world, researchers say

28-Mar-2022

The United Nations’ most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reportpaints a bleak picture for the world’s water supply: Of the 7.8 billion people on Earth, about 4 billion do not have access to sufficiently clean water for at least a month every year. While several water ...

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Luciferin synthesis and organophosphate detection by a luminescent enzymatic cascade

16-Mar-2022

A luminescence reaction modeled on fireflies can detect contamination with organophosphates with high sensitivity, ease, and low cost. At the center of this technology is a new enzymatic method for the synthesis of analogues of luciferin, the substance that makes fireflies glow. As reported by a ...

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Nanoplastic in the environment: New chemical method for counting plastic particles developed

27-Jan-2022

In a large-scale fundraising campaign, popular YouTubers like Mister Beast and Mark Rober are currently trying to rid the oceans of almost 14,000 tonnes of plastic waste. That's about 0.15 per cent of the amount that ends up in the oceans every year. But it's not just our waters that are full of ...

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Faster and more robust than a PCR test

12-Apr-2021

Fuels such as kerosene or diesel can be contaminated by fungi or bacteria. The microorganisms settle in the liquid itself, on the inner walls of tanks and pipes or in fuel filters and feed on carbon atoms. Since the fungi and bacteria multiply well in this environment, they can form a streaky ...

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