New techniques inspired by nature for accelerated aging and chemical extraction of mineral ores may lead to cheaper, safer and greener manufacturing processes
Nature writ large is filled with examples of transformative chemical reactions that take place in the solid state — minerals found deep underground or on the surface of the earth that undergo chemical reactions over time when they are subjected to the right mix of environmental conditions.
The same cannot always be said for synthetic chemistry at the industrial scale. Factories that make pharmaceutical drugs and ore processing plants where precious metals are extracted from mined minerals tend to rely not on solids but solution chemistry — mixing salts or rocks with large volumes of often highly corrosive or toxic liquids to achieve chemical reactions and extract useful products. Those solvents, besides being expensive, often corrosive, and sometimes toxic to the environment, may be dangerously volatile — even explosive.
Now a team of researchers led by Tomislav Friš?i?, a professor at McGill University, is developing new approaches to chemical synthesis and mineral processing based on solid-state chemistry — and inspired by examples from nature.
At the 23rd Congress and General Assembly of the International Union of Crystallography, held August 5-12, 2014 in Montreal, Friš?i? will describe some of his unconventional approaches and how they promise better, safer and far less expensive methods for extracting metals from mineral ores as well as for the scalable synthesis of pharmaceutical drugs.
“You can use solid-state chemistry to make these materials much easier and cheaper, without the use of aggressive solvents or high temperatures,” Friš?i? said.
Read more . . .
The Latest on: Solid-State Chemistry
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Solid-State Chemistry” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Solid-State Chemistry
- Findings pave way for longer-lasting solid-state batterieson March 27, 2024 at 9:58 am
Lithium-ion batteries contain flammable materials that could pose a safety risk under certain conditions. Dr. Yaser Abu-Lebdeh is one of the researchers using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the ...
- China’s ‘battery king’ dismisses solid-state EV commercialisation as years awayon March 26, 2024 at 7:18 pm
Industry experts believe solid-state batteries, which avoid the liquid electrolyte used in today’s technology, could transform electric cars by enabling greater driving range. Japanese carmaker Toyota ...
- Revolutionary All-Solid-State Battery Design Paves the Way for Safer, Longer-Lasting Energyon March 23, 2024 at 2:50 am
Breakthrough in all-solid-state battery technology with a novel electrodeposition method increases efficiency and lifespan. A research team, consisting of Professor Soojin Park from the Department of ...
- A Breakthrough in All-Solid-State Battery Technologyon March 14, 2024 at 10:50 am
This prompts ongoing research efforts to explore the use of solid electrolytes and the metal lithium (Li) in all-solid-state batteries, offering a safer option. In the operation of all-solid-state ...
- New advance in all-solid-state battery technology enhances performance of lithium from the bottomon March 14, 2024 at 8:18 am
A research team has successfully enhanced the performance and durability of all-solid-state batteries. This breakthrough was made possible through the implementation of a novel approach known as ...
- A breakthrough in all-solid-state battery technology, enhancing the performance of the lithium from the bottomon March 12, 2024 at 5:00 pm
A research team, consisting of Professor Soojin Park from the Department of Chemistry ... enhanced the performance and durability of all-solid-state batteries successfully. This breakthrough ...
- Solid foundations for world-changing medicines and vaccineson March 12, 2024 at 9:49 am
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Pharmaceuticals are an important foundation of modern health and society. Without vaccines, medications and therapeutics, civilization as we know it would break down. And ...
- Solid State Materials Chemistryon December 20, 2023 at 7:21 am
Paul Attfield, University of Edinburgh ‘Finally, we have a substantial textbook that addresses a gap in our teaching tools when it comes to solid state chemistry. This detailed work covers many ...
- CHEM.5221 Solid-State Materials Chemistryon August 8, 2021 at 2:50 am
This course is an introductory course to materials and solid-state chemistry for graduate students. Topics covered include the electronic and optical properties of solids, the properties of metals and ...
- Solid State Chemistry Groupon December 7, 2020 at 11:02 pm
The Solid State Chemistry Group is one of the RSC's many Interest Groups. The Interest Groups are member driven groups which exist to benefit RSC members, and the wider chemical science community, in ...
via Bing News