01-Oct-2021 | Market Research Store
Carbon dioxide (CO2) released through various processes such as respiration, deforestation, burning fossil fuels, and volcanic eruptions is either released into the atmosphere or dissolved into water. The dissolved CO2 then passes on to lakes & rivers, groundwater, oceans, and glaciers. A team of scientists from the American Chemical Society has discovered a novel technology, termed nanojars, to capture and remove the dissolved CO2 from water bodies.
The researchers have been able to eradicate arsenate and chromate-like toxic ions from the water. Dr. Gellert Mezei, a professor at Western Michigan University, mentioned that nanojars can entrap the carbonate ions suspended in the water bodies, which can later be recycled to form several useful products. The size of nanojars is equivalent to the width of a human hair and these miniature particles are developed by the adherence of multiple units of copper ions, pyrazole group, and a hydroxide ion. The nanojars have a high affinity for anions. Therefore, the tiny particles entrap the negatively charged ions passing through water.
This experiment is still at an emerging phase as per the statement released by Dr. Mezei. He mentioned that decontamination involves dispersing the solvent containing nanojar components in the water body. Owing to the hydrophobic nature, the solution would not mix up with water and just flow over the surface. While floating, the nanojars entrap trap the carbonate ions and after treatment with weak acid, the carbonate ions detach from the nanojar. The dissolved CO2 present in carbonate form along with some of the toxic elements will be eradicated by the nanojars from water bodies like rivers and lakes. Not only this, the team has also accomplished success in developing anion-specific nanojars that will specifically capture double-charged ions present in water. For creating the customized nanojars, the team used two pyrazole ions instead of one and is then linked with propylene. The entrapped carbonate ions can be used to form carbonate ester.
Currently, the research team is trying hard to implement this technology in daily life. Recently, the team substituted sodium hydroxide with trioctylamine, making the nanojar more efficient as it would be more soluble in a hydrophobic state.
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