Environmentally friendly way to burn methane. Free Technical Library News

NEWS OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, NOVELTY IN ELECTRONICS
Free technical library / timeline

Environmentally friendly way to burn methane

29.08.2012

Scientists from the University of Pennsylvania have created a cheap and environmentally friendly catalyst for burning methane.

Catalysts facilitate the chemical transformation of substances and make emissions more environmentally friendly. Unfortunately, modern catalysts for burning common methane gas are not efficient enough. Because of this, methane does not burn completely and partially escapes into the atmosphere, making its negative contribution to the aggravation of the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Natural gas is becoming an increasingly important source of energy. Its main component is methane, which releases less carbon dioxide during combustion than most other hydrocarbon fuels. But because of the extremely stable structure of the methane molecule, it is very difficult to release all the energy of this gas. As a result, unburned methane creates emissions with 20 times more powerful greenhouse effect than carbon dioxide.

Fortunately, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania, along with colleagues in Italy and Spain, have created a material that catalyzes methane combustion 30 times better than existing substances. This discovery makes it possible to make better use of methane energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in particular from natural gas vehicles. The catalyst also allows the creation of cleaner gas turbines for power plants.

Conventional methane combustion catalysts consist of metallic nanoparticles, in particular palladium (Pd), supported on oxides such as cerium oxide (CeO2). The scientists decided not to use a method based on the self-assembly of nanoparticles, since such catalysts sinter when heated and gradually lose their effectiveness. Instead, the researchers created palladium nanoparticles just 1,8 nanometers in diameter and surrounded them with a protective porous shell of cerium oxide. These spherical structures with metal cores were deposited on a hydrophobic alumina surface.

During testing of the activity of the new material, it was found that with the same amount of metal, the nanostructures work 30 times more efficiently and completely burn gas at 400°C.

<< Back: Biofuels: more and cheaper 30.08.2012

>> Forward: Photos help to believe in lies 29.08.2012

Latest news of science and technology, new electronics:

The existence of an entropy rule for quantum entanglement has been proven 09.05.2024

Quantum mechanics continues to amaze us with its mysterious phenomena and unexpected discoveries. Recently, Bartosz Regula from the RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing and Ludovico Lamy from the University of Amsterdam presented a new discovery that concerns quantum entanglement and its relation to entropy. Quantum entanglement plays an important role in modern quantum information science and technology. However, the complexity of its structure makes understanding and managing it challenging. Regulus and Lamy's discovery shows that quantum entanglement follows an entropy rule similar to that for classical systems. This discovery opens new perspectives in the field of quantum information science and technology, deepening our understanding of quantum entanglement and its connection to thermodynamics. The results of the study indicate the possibility of reversibility of entanglement transformations, which could greatly simplify their use in various quantum technologies. Opening a new rule ... >>

Mini air conditioner Sony Reon Pocket 5 09.05.2024

Summer is a time for relaxation and travel, but often the heat can turn this time into an unbearable torment. Meet a new product from Sony - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-air conditioner, which promises to make summer more comfortable for its users. Sony has introduced a unique device - the Reon Pocket 5 mini-conditioner, which provides body cooling on hot days. With it, users can enjoy coolness anytime, anywhere by simply wearing it around their neck. This mini air conditioner is equipped with automatic adjustment of operating modes, as well as temperature and humidity sensors. Thanks to innovative technologies, Reon Pocket 5 adjusts its operation depending on the user's activity and environmental conditions. Users can easily adjust the temperature using a dedicated mobile app connected via Bluetooth. Additionally, specially designed T-shirts and shorts are available for convenience, to which a mini air conditioner can be attached. The device can oh ... >>

Energy from space for Starship 08.05.2024

Producing solar energy in space is becoming more feasible with the advent of new technologies and the development of space programs. The head of the startup Virtus Solis shared his vision of using SpaceX's Starship to create orbital power plants capable of powering the Earth. Startup Virtus Solis has unveiled an ambitious project to create orbital power plants using SpaceX's Starship. This idea could significantly change the field of solar energy production, making it more accessible and cheaper. The core of the startup's plan is to reduce the cost of launching satellites into space using Starship. This technological breakthrough is expected to make solar energy production in space more competitive with traditional energy sources. Virtual Solis plans to build large photovoltaic panels in orbit, using Starship to deliver the necessary equipment. However, one of the key challenges ... >>

New method for creating powerful batteries 08.05.2024

With the development of technology and the expanding use of electronics, the issue of creating efficient and safe energy sources is becoming increasingly urgent. Researchers at the University of Queensland have unveiled a new approach to creating high-power zinc-based batteries that could change the landscape of the energy industry. One of the main problems with traditional water-based rechargeable batteries was their low voltage, which limited their use in modern devices. But thanks to a new method developed by scientists, this drawback has been successfully overcome. As part of their research, scientists turned to a special organic compound - catechol. It turned out to be an important component that can improve battery stability and increase its efficiency. This approach has led to a significant increase in the voltage of zinc-ion batteries, making them more competitive. According to scientists, such batteries have several advantages. They have b ... >>

Alcohol content of warm beer 07.05.2024

Beer, as one of the most common alcoholic drinks, has its own unique taste, which can change depending on the temperature of consumption. A new study by an international team of scientists has found that beer temperature has a significant impact on the perception of alcoholic taste. The study, led by materials scientist Lei Jiang, found that at different temperatures, ethanol and water molecules form different types of clusters, which affects the perception of alcoholic taste. At low temperatures, more pyramid-like clusters form, which reduces the pungency of the "ethanol" taste and makes the drink taste less alcoholic. On the contrary, as the temperature increases, the clusters become more chain-like, resulting in a more pronounced alcoholic taste. This explains why the taste of some alcoholic drinks, such as baijiu, can change depending on temperature. The data obtained opens up new prospects for beverage manufacturers, ... >>

Random news from the Archive

breast milk antibiotic 13.12.2016

Scientists from the National Physical Laboratory (UK) found that there are antibiotics in breast milk.

Breast milk, which the baby consumes for the first time of his life, not only gives him all the necessary vitamins and minerals, but also has a bactericidal effect on the baby's body, that is, it strengthens and protects his immune system from viruses and infections. However, scientists noted that such an effect on the child's body is only the first two months of his life.

According to the results of studies, it was found that milk contains the protein lactorferrin. This protein contains a fragment that is responsible for the healing properties of milk. It is this substance that helps the body resist fungi, bacteria and various viruses.

Scientists are confident that on the basis of this substance it is possible to create a drug that will not harm the baby and its use is possible in the early stages of life. In addition, scientists note that this drug will only affect infected cells, not spreading to the entire body.

The head of the scientific group noted that such antibiotics will be resistant to other drugs, which means that they can be used in complex therapy. If further trials are successful and show a positive result, then it will be possible to talk about the entry into the medical market of a new drug that will be the most effective among all currently known antibiotics.

See full Archive of science and technology news, new electronics

All languages of this page

Home page | Library | Articles | Website map | Site Reviews