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June 30, 2008

Brown team discovers material to absorb mercury gases

PROVIDENCE -- The swirly-shaped compact fluorescent light bulbs have become the darlings of those who care about saving energy and combating climate change, except for one nagging problem. When they break, they release tiny quantities of highly toxic mercury.

Now, a team from Brown University believes it has developed a solution. It has discovered a material that rapidly absorbs mercury gases and could be used as the packaging for mercury bulbs or as a tool for cleaning up broken bulbs.

The researchers have applied for federal patents and expect to soon enter into discussions with companies that could manufacture the packaging.

The packaging was developed after Robert Hurt, a professor of engineering, and engineering student Natalie Johnson, discovered that a variant of a substance called nanoselenium, a trace element used in diet supplements, absorbed virtually all the mercury released by a broken bulb.

Working with Steven Hamburg, associate professor for environmental studies, and other students, the team used the substance to develop a mercury-capturing lining that could be used inside store-bought compact fluorescent packages.

-- Journal environment writer Peter B. Lord

Posted by Mike McKinney  at 5:30 PM | Permalink

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