Nanotechnology and the green revolution: Environmental benefits

Products made from nano-sized materials and equipment have been widely used in industry and on the market. This is an increasing opportunity and the use of nanotechnology acts as a lever to reduce environmental pollution, conserve resources and fundamentally build an economy. ' clean '. This is published in a recent report of the key nanotechnology project.

'A close collaboration between nanotechnology and the principles and practices of green chemistry and green science holds the key to building a society that can withstand the harmful effects of the environment. In the 21st century ', Green Nano Technology concludes: it's simpler than we think. Summarizing previous research papers at the American Chemical Society symposium and four seminars held in 2006, this new report was written by Karen Schmidt, a scientist from the Nano Weight Technology Project. Point, an initiative of Woodrow Wilson International Research Center and non-profit charity Pew Charitable Trusts.

The report explores the potential beneficial link between nanotechnology - essentially science and technology implemented on the molecular level - and the field of chemistry and green technology that aims to reduce to minimizing the impact on the environment through waste removal and resource conservation processes and products. The report concludes with recommendations on measures to create a change in federal policy to help the rapidly growing nanotechnology sector become ' mature' into green technology.

(Photo: Dost-dongnai) The report cites several examples of the research process aimed at using nanotechnology to achieve environmental goals associated with trade objectives or items. According to the report, this technology is capable of manually manipulating materials and altering properties of materials, opening up the ability to create hazardous substance reduction products and processes, Increase durability and improve energy efficiency.

For example, James Hutchison , a University of Oregon chemist, uses DNA molecules in a novel process to show that nanoscale models can be created on silicon chips and other surfaces. Experimental methods save raw materials, use less water and solvents than traditional printing techniques - or lithography techniques commonly used in the high-tech electronics industry. Other researchers are investigating the introduction of nanomaterials to replace lead and other toxic materials in the electronics industry.

Chemist Vicki Colvin and colleagues at Rice University discovered that 12 nanometer magnetic nanoparticles can remove more than 99% of Arsenic in solution, while their colleagues at state university Oklahoma has successfully built nanoscale sensors that can detect contaminants to parts per billion.

Nanotechnology opens new avenues of promise in creating inexpensive solar cells as well as improving the efficiency and reducing the cost of fuel cells, which are seen as a source of energy for cars and truck in the future. At the same time, nano-level studies are geared towards tools that can remove toxic materials and clean up hazardous waste sites.

'Potential nanotechnology is' a double green dream'. With nanotechnology, we can create green products and processes right from the start, 'said Barbara Karn , an environmental scientist who organized the establishment of a green nanotechnology program. key nanotechnology projects. "Nanotechnology allows us to replace traditional chemicals, materials and manufacturing processes that pollute the environment with more environmentally friendly chemicals, materials and processes," says Barbara. .

The report identifies four orientations (type, grade, category) in which the applications of nanotechnology and environmental benefits intersect:

- Enhance products or processes using environmentally friendly or 'clean' green nanotechnology .

- Managing nanomaterials and producing them to minimize potential risks to the environment, health and safety

- Use nanotechnology to clean up hazardous waste sites and solve other pollution problems.

- Replace current products with less environmental friendliness with green nanotechnology products.

David Rejeski , director of the key nanotechnology project, said: ' We think the United States is racing to become a global leader in green nanotechnology. National research and development portfolio are all aimed at this global purpose. We believe that green nanotechnology can not only help protect the environment, but also create more jobs for Americans as well as the future profits. "

Looking forward to considering the current environmental issues, the report proposes the most effective way to protect the environment is to encourage the development of green nano-policies, which will strongly promote prevention of environmental pollution.

The rating of the development of measurements to assess the key to environmental impact with the use of federal results to promote the demand for green nano products, the proposed solutions in the This report will help ensure that the 8.3 billion dollars investment from taxpayers in nanotechnology, from the time the US National Nanotechnology Initiative was established in 2001, is used to finance pay for the country and the environment.

Paul Anastas , director of the Green Chemistry Institute of the American Chemical Society, said: 'We are in a state of being unable to withstand environmental hazards. It seems that nanotechnology is not an option, but an essential technology that can solve this problem. '

Lam Son