Tag: Water

Wood waste can help remove microplastics from water. Glyphosate, a widely-used and hazardous herbicide, is increasingly present in water, too. Now, a research team from Brazil, where over 170 tonnes of these pesticides are used annually, is on the lookout for a sustainable removal. Waste from sugar production, it seems, might just hold the key. First the team shredded...

Sawdust combined with a layer of tannic acid is helping to make water clean. Now, a US-based research team has, likewise, used tannic acid to create a natural alternative to oil-based glues. Mixing it with the protein zein from maize kernels, they discovered that the formulation grew stronger underwater, irrespective of the water’s salinity. This was due to a...

Illuminated nets are helping to reduce bycatch. On land, in countries like Peru, Bolivia or Oman, nets are hung to catch water droplets from fog. But what if the air itself is polluted? Cue a Swiss research team, which has coated the metal wiring of its nets with a mix of polymers and titanium oxide. The polymers ensure the...

Sawdust can be 3D printed into kitchen utensils or cars parts. Now, a Canada-based research team has found a new use for the waste wood, combining it with a layer of tannins. These natural plant compounds, found in berries, tea and coffee, have anti-inflammatory properties and can even filter out UV rays. Aware that tannins also trigger multiple reactions...

Peat fires can be quickly extinguished using natural surfactants. A magnetic sponge, meanwhile, could help clean oil slicks in the ocean. Recycled hair, it transpires, could do the job too. That’s thanks to the work of a female founder from Kiel, who knows how good hair is at absorbing oil and pollutants. Once her startup has collected hair waste...

With the right light, plants grow better. But too much light can have a negative impact on the health and daily rhythms of both people and animals. To say nothing of the bulb waste. Ever since observing bioluminescent marine bacteria, a female founder from France has been working to produce more environmentally-friendly city lamps. Talk about a bright idea… Her startup’s...

Fires can be extinguished in an environment-friendly way. Water- and grease-proof coatings, meanwhile, often contain substances which are hard to break down. They are already found in drinking water: so-called ‘forever chemicals’ belonging to the PFAS group. Among others, a research team from the University of British Columbia is after them and has developed a new material that can...

Filters can rid water of pollutants directly at the source. Now, an LA-based startup is aiming to remove CO2 from seawater. Why? The world’s oceans store around 30% of annual CO2 emissions and can absorb 150 times more of the gas than air. But as coral death shows, the situation is far from ideal. The new process sees carbon...