Lynda Robinson’s Post

💫 Recent Editorial - 5 April 2024 💫 👉Implement precautionary principle in chemical industry regulation Why in the News? The Norwegian #PlastChem project will soon publish a report and database revealing that a staggering 16,000 chemicals are used in polymer and plastics production, posing alarming threats to human health and environmental sustainability. Visit https://lnkd.in/gHZumTRp to read full article

The text explores the 12 principles of green chemistry, a groundbreaking approach developed in 1998 by Paul Anastas and John Warner. These principles provide guidance for creating more ecological and sustainable chemical processes. Key concepts include waste prevention, efficient use of atoms in synthetic processes, less hazardous synthesis, and the design of safer chemicals. Other principles promote the responsible use of solvents and auxiliaries, energy efficiency, the adoption of renewable feedstocks, and the minimization of derivatives. All of this aims to reduce environmental impact and enhance safety, paving the way for a more sustainable future. #greenchemistry #sustainability #ecofriendly #chemicalinnovation #atomiceconomy #saferchemicals #renewablefeedstocks #energyefficiency #sustainableprocesses #lesswaste #scentspiracy #toxicityreduction #cleanenergy #innovativechemistry #greenprinciples #blog #safersynthesis #perfumery #fragrance #ingredients

We are out with our critical perspective on the organic pollutant removal using bismuth based materials. Have a look to it! https://lnkd.in/ebdUDFce

New materials for your Monday! CAAT Researcher, Alexandra Maertens, was featured in two recent pieces both of which offer robust and informative but relatively brief reviews of toxicity testing from different vantage points. From Cell Press's, One Earth Voices section Maertens discusses #GreenToxicology in the context of a more sustainable chemical sector, answering the question "what barriers must be overcome to establish a sustainable and circular chemical sector?" and offering a direct and deceptively short answer, packing a lot of important information into two to-the-point paragraphs. In “Rethinking Flame Retardant Regulations for Better Health and Safety,” (🔗 here: https://lnkd.in/dHCMXfQk) a recent study exploring the regulation of organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs), Martens is quoted and "suggests prioritizing chemicals and subclasses by determining which have the highest exposure rates, bioavailability, and absorption rates in humans" to better differentiate (and therefore regulate) chemicals in the same class. The article also cites work co-authored by CAAT Director, Thomas Hartung, PhD student, Breanne Kincaid, and alum Emily Golden. Cheers to modern and more sustainable toxicity testing and improved regulation! 👐

In the future, you will be hearing a lot more about PFAS & PFOS. We all use or wear products from these substances, but they can be harmful to our health even in the ppb range. To provide a solution-based message, startup Elateq can remove these by treating drinking water before they are consumed and become forever chemicals in us. This is an electrochemical solution mentioned in an earlier post that can also extract critical minerals such as lithium. Contact me or Elateq's CEO if you want more info. Note, PFAS is PerFluorinated Alkylated Substances. PFOS is PerFluoroOctane Sulfonic acid. https://lnkd.in/gN7Xm8gU

An exclusive article authored by Mr. Abhijit Dani, Vice President & BU Head Process Equipment & Modularization and Mr. Sampannakumar Kharbade, Technical Content Specialist titled 'A BIOENGINEERED BREAKTHROUGH FOR TAMING HIGH-SALINITY WASTEWATER' in 'The Chemical Industry Digest', one of the widely read industry magazine. The article discusses the challenges of treating high-salinity industrial wastewater, particularly focusing on effluents with high levels of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Total Dissolved Solids (TDS). The article focuses on HaloSol, an innovative bioengineered microbial consortium designed by Praj. It thrives in high-salt environments to effectively reduce COD and BOD levels resulting enhances environmental sustainability with carbon footprints reduction. Read the entire article here. #FuelTheChange #Innovation #Sustainability #WasteWaterTreatment #ZeroLiquidDischarge #CarbonFootprintReduction #EffluentTreatmentSolution

The chemical industry has wielded a double-edged sword for humanity — offering timely solutions and cheap, useful products while simultaneously creating long-lasting problems. We maintain a particular concern for the widespread, persistent and challenging class of pollutants known as Perfluorinated and Polyfluorinated Alkyl Substances (PFAS), which are shown to concentrate and cause harm in the bodies of living things (bioaccumulation). There are hundreds of known PFAS-contaminated sites around Australia, and globally. These molecules have become ubiquitous through their use in a range of consumer products, industrial manufacturing and, perhaps most significantly, in aqueous fire-fighting foams. This paper from Dr Chloe Taylor, Professor Michael Breadmore and Dr Nathan Kilah outlines research into the rapid detection of PFAS in the interests of a safe and timely cleanup. Current methods to identify contaminated sites are very expensive and require specialised analytical instruments, which are often located a long distance from the site of contamination. Taylor, Breadmore and Kilah demonstrate an instant colour change test for the presence of PFAS pollutants, with the aim of enabling an untrained operator to quickly and accurately identify contamination in their environment. The paper is online, open access from CSIRO Publishing at https://lnkd.in/gjjAmtqt. University of Tasmania #pfas #pfasfree #waronwaste #chemicalwaste #chemicalindustry #greenchemistry #firefighters

This informative article on the benefits of PeroxyMAX is now available as a download.

World Environment Day 2024: Understanding Wastewater Quality Tests As we celebrate World Environment Day on June 5, here's a brief discussion of the various laboratory tests used to determine wastewater quality: 1. Organics: Tests measure the concentration of carbon-based compounds to gauge the "strength" of wastewater. This includes biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), and oil and grease (O&G). 2. Solids: Tests measure the concentration of particulate solids that can dissolve or suspend in wastewater. This includes total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), total volatile solids (TVS), and total fixed solids (TFS). 3. Nutrients: Tests measure the concentration of nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, which can accelerate the natural aging of water bodies (eutrophication). 4. Physical Properties and Other Impact Parameters: Tests measure various constituents that affect wastewater treatability, including temperature, color, pH, turbidity, and odor. Read more: Understanding Laboratory Wastewater Tests: I. Organics (BOD, COD, TOC, O&G) https://lnkd.in/gcgY-qdu

Harmful 'forever chemicals' removed from water with new electrocatalysis method . Scientists have developed new electrochemical approaches to clean up pollution from 'forever chemicals' found in clothing, food packaging, firefighting foams, and a wide array of other products. A new study describes nanocatalysts developed to remediate per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS. #ScienceDailynews #InnovativeResearch #NextGenScience #ExploringFrontiers