‘Greener’ Aerogel Technology Holds Potential for Oil and Chemical Clean-up

Cleaning up oil spills and metal contaminates in a low-impact, sustainable and inexpensive manner remains a challenge for companies and governments globally.

But a group of researchers at UW–Madison is examining alternative materials that can be modified to absorb oil and chemicals. 

If further developed, the technology may offer a cheaper and “greener” method to absorb oil and heavy metals from water and other surfaces.

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A small sample of the aerogel is stirred into a container of water tainted with red-dyed diesel fuel.

Photos: Bryce Richter

Targeted Synthesis of Natural Products With Light

Photoreactions are driven by light energy and are vital to the synthesis of many natural substances. Since many of these substances are also useful as active medical agents, chemists try to produce them synthetically. But in most cases only one of the possible products has the right spatial structure to make it effective. Researchers at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) have now developed a methodology for one of these photoreactions that allows them to produce only the specific molecular variant desired.

 

The bulky Lewis acid (above) shields one side of the substrate (bottom) pushing the photoreaction in to the direction of the desired product. - Graphics: Richard Brimioulle / TUM

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Flavonoids

• Flavonoids are polyphenolic compounds that are ubiquitous in nature and are categorized, according to chemical structure, into flavonols, flavones, flavanones, isoflavones, catechins, anthocyanidins and chalcones. 
• Over 4,000 flavonoids have been identified, many of which occur in fruits, vegetables and beverages (tea, coffee, beer, wine and fruit drinks). 
• The flavonoids have aroused considerable interest recently because of their potential beneficial effects on human health-they have been reported to have antiviral, anti-allergic, antiplatelet, anti-inflammatory, antitumor and antioxidant activities. 
  

Credit: Linus Pauling Institute.

ALKALOIDS

• Alkaloids are a very diverse group of chemicals produced by vegetables.
• They are highly reactive substances and have an effect on biological systems in low doses.
• They are produced by amino acids within the plant.
• Alkaloids are "true" if formed in plants or "pseudo" if not derived from plants or amino acids. 
• Read more here.

Credit: http://www.launc.tased.edu.au

Antioxidant Activities of Flavonoids

Flavonoids are compounds found in fruits, vegetables, and certain beverages that have diverse beneficial biochemical and antioxidant effects. Their dietary intake is quite high compared to other dietary antioxidants like vitamins C and E. The antioxidant activity of flavonoids depends on their molecular structure, and structural characteristics of certain flavonoids found in hops and beer confer surprisingly potent antioxidant activity exceeding that of red wine, tea, or soy. For more information click here.

Courtesy: Dr. Donald R. Buhler,  Dr. Cristobal Miranda