Phys.org Chemistry

• Illuminating single atoms for sustainable propylene production

  More than 150 million metric tons of propylene are produced annually, making it one of the most widespread chemicals used in the chemical industry.

• Conductive polymers: First successful synthesis of polyaniline with golden luster

  Researchers at the University of Tsukuba, Japan, have developed a method for synthesizing polyaniline—a conductive polymer exhibiting golden luster—marking the first successful attempt globally. The reflection spectrum of this polyaniline resembles that of metallic gold.

• Binding to surface sugars enhances omicron variant's cell attachment, researchers discover

  Researchers at Umeå University have discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 variant omicron has developed a stronger binding to human lung cells through optimized interaction with heparan sulfate, a sugar molecule on the cell surface. This discovery is significant for understanding the spread of the virus and the course of the disease.

• Sustainable biomanufacturing: Key to India's green transition

  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.

• Purification method removes PFAS from water while transforming waste into high-value graphene

  Rice University researchers have developed an innovative solution to a pressing environmental challenge: removing and destroying per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly called "forever chemicals."

• Real-time monitoring of advanced nuclear fuel now possible with new test bed

  To meet energy demands and reestablish the nation's energy dominance, U.S. companies are developing several types of advanced reactors.

• 3D printing method creates color-changing materials for smart textiles

  In a leap forward for materials science, a multi-institutional team of researchers has developed a pioneering method of 3D printing cholesteric liquid crystal elastomers (CLCEs), enabling complex, color-changing responsive materials and paving the way for novel applications like smart textiles and advanced robotics.

• Evaluating the health effects of bioactive compounds obtained from plants

  Fruits and plant extracts contain bioactive compounds that can help treat or prevent diseases. To characterize and understand their mechanism of action, researchers from universities and research institutions in Brazil and Germany have conducted independent but complementary studies.

• Chance discovery improves stability of bioelectronic material used in medical implants, computing and biosensors

  A chance discovery led a team of scientists from Rice University, University of Cambridge and Stanford University to streamline the production of a material widely used in medical research and computing applications.

• Palladium-liquid gallium catalyst transforms chemical manufacturing, boosting speed, safety and sustainability

  A major breakthrough in liquid catalysis is transforming how essential products are made, making the chemical manufacturing process faster, safer and more sustainable than ever before.

• Active compounds in Piper longum fruits show potential for functional foods and medicine

  Mature or nearly mature fruits of Piper longum are used as a spice, valued for their commercial and industrial applications, as well as in traditional Chinese medicine for their multiple effects, such as dispelling cold and relieving pain.

• Solar-powered system converts waste to ammonia and glycolic acid

  A team of researchers from UNIST has developed a new technology that uses solar energy to produce ammonia and glycolic acid—an essential component in cosmetics—while eliminating carbon dioxide emissions.

• Nanofiltration system separates valuable industrial chemicals from cattle manure

  A collaboration between chemical engineers and animal scientists has created a system for recovering valuable industrial chemicals from animal waste, representing a major step towards circularity and environmental sustainability.

• AI model transforms material design by predicting and explaining synthesizability

  A research team has successfully developed a technology that utilizes Large Language Models (LLMs) to predict the synthesizability of novel materials and interpret the basis for such predictions. The team was led by Seoul National University's Professor Yousung Jung and conducted in collaboration with Fordham University in the United States.

• Biomimetic adsorbent efficiently extracts uranium from seawater

  The oceans hold an enormous amount of very diluted uranium that could potentially serve as a sustainable fuel source for nuclear power. But how can uranium be extracted quickly and efficiently from seawater?

• Cleaner fuels, greener industries: New approach synthesizes zeolites with diverse aluminum contents

  A novel "zeolite blending" method has successfully produced CON-type zeolites with unprecedentedly high aluminum content, report researchers from the Institute of Science Tokyo. By combining multiple zeolite precursors to guide the synthesis process, this innovative strategy overcomes long-standing limitations in controlling aluminum content in zeolite frameworks. The proposed approach will open new possibilities for catalyst development across various industrial applications, including petrochemical processing, fine chemicals production, and environmental remediation.

• Novel enzyme can extract valuable compounds from plant waste using a green chemistry approach

  About 98% of lignin created as a forestry by-product from plants is discarded, but a new enzyme could be the key to extracting high-value molecules from this waste using a green chemistry approach.

• How calcium may have unlocked the origins of life's molecular asymmetry

  A new study led by researchers at the Earth-Life Science Institute (ELSI) at the Institute of Science, Tokyo, has uncovered a surprising role for calcium in shaping life's earliest molecular structures. Their findings suggest that calcium ions can selectively influence how primitive polymers form, shedding light on a long-standing mystery: how life's molecules came to prefer a single "handedness" (chirality).

• Bizarre compounds of oxygen and carbon with explosive potential revealed

  Skoltech researchers have theoretically investigated the wide range of molecules that oxygen and carbon atoms can form in addition to the well-known carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide. Compounds of oxygen and carbon are of interest for space research, battery technology, biochemical studies, and—surprisingly—for the development of industrial explosives and rocket fuel.

• New water microcleaners self-disperse, capture microplastics and float up for removal

  In a new paper, researchers at North Carolina State University show proof of concept for a system that—in a single cycle—actively removes microplastics from water.

• A cleaner future for tires: Scientists pioneer chemical process to repurpose rubber waste

  Every year, millions of tires end up in landfills, creating an environmental crisis with far-reaching consequences. In the United States alone, over 274 million tires were scrapped in 2021, with nearly 20% of them being discarded in landfills. The accumulation of these waste materials presents not only a space issue but also introduces environmental hazards, such as chemical leaching and spontaneous combustion.

• Light-based polymerization reaction refines 3D printing, achieving sub-millimeter resolution

  Researchers at the UAB have developed a new chemical reaction to form solid polymeric networks using light (photocuring) which will allow the preparation of solid materials with controlled shapes measuring under a thousandth of a millimeter. The research is key for the development of new, performance-enhanced lithographic and 3D printing techniques.

• New method for selective protein modification in living systems could advance cancer research

  A research team has developed an innovative technique that enables precise modification of specific proteins within complex biological environments. The work was led by Professor Seung Soo Oh and Dr. Hyesung Jo from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at POSTECH (Pohang University of Science and Technology), and is featured in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.

• A new method to recycle fluoride from long-lived PFAS chemicals

  Oxford Chemistry researchers have developed a method to destroy fluorine-containing PFAS (sometimes labeled 'forever chemicals') while recovering their fluorine content for future use. The results have been published in Nature.

• Novel electrochemical fluorination method boosts hydrofluoroether production

  Researchers in South Korea have developed a domestic technology for localizing an essential industrial raw material that was previously entirely imported from a specific global company.