Collections
Water and the environment
In this collection, we explore the industrial use of water, water supply and its role in the environment, covering responsible mining, large-scale desalination and hydrogen production, drinking water and public health, the impact of climate change on oceans, and solutions for repairing polluted waterways and ecosystems.
Highlights
The oceans’ climate challenge
Nina Notman speaks to the researchers unpicking the many ways the climate crisis is impacting our oceans – and vice versa
The chemists dedicated to making drinking water safer
Across the world, scientists use a variety of techniques to analyse and treat water to ensure it’s safe for us to drink. Julia Robinson talks to some of the people involved
Industry’s water sustainability crisis
As the chemical industry decarbonises, will it require more water? Angeli Mehta looks at whether there is enough to go round
ResearchMystery of discrepancies in speed of sound in water cleared up by study of ions
Anions and cations found to have wildly different effect on the speed of sound in solutions
NewsUS finally gets nationwide regulation of PFAS in drinking water
Long-awaited rule is significantly stricter and covers six PFAS, with a five-year phase in for water utilities
WebinarThe pivotal role of chemistry in India’s sustainable development
Join us on 5 June to learn how chemistry is playing an important role in shaping the future of sustainable development in India
ResearchSimulations track how MOFs adsorb water, one molecule at a time
‘You can almost drink our water model because it’s so realistic’
LinkWater at interfaces Faraday Discussion
This Faraday Discussion combines different approaches, both experimental and theoretical, to further our understanding of the fundamental properties of water at interfaces.
ResearchMonitoring PFAS pollutants in king penguins
New insight into how organohalogen pollutants affect seabirds
Business3M finalises PFAS settlement with US water suppliers
Court-approved scheme will see up to $12.5 billion to fund cleanup of public drinking water systems
ResearchModel explains why water can freeze at different temperatures
The research could have applications in snowmaking, cloud seeding and beyond
ResearchAI could provide new approach to assessing chemical toxicity thresholds in aquatic organisms
Model showed excellent predicative ability and could cut animal testing in pollution research
BusinessUN human rights experts condemn DuPont and Chemours
PFAS discharges from US plant denied community access to safe water, UN advisors assert
ResearchPFAS contamination in Mersey basin among highest in the world, study suggests
Only two watersheds globally have higher yields of PFOS and PFOA
ResearchNanoplastics make up around 90% of the plastic particles found in bottled water
Seven different types of plastic detected in three bottled water brands
BusinessChemicals roundup 2023
Chemical companies entered cost-cutting mode in a year dominated by overcapacity and slow demand
ResearchFleeting phenomenon of water autoionisation pinned down by neural network simulations
Modelling sheds light on a process that has been known for over a century but was tricky to understand
FeatureFighting algal blooms with chemistry
These harmful events are the result of a complex interplay of factors, but Bárbara Pinho talks to the researchers finding out how they form and how we can stop them
ResearchHow human recreation alters river chemistry
Analytical chemists identify cocaine, pharmaceuticals and sunscreen ingredients in a Colorado river
ResearchNew understanding of why supercooled water droplets sometimes explode when they freeze
Imaging experiments with thousands of observations help scientists detail complex freezing process
ResearchIce crystallisation initiated by ultrafast laser pulses caught on camera
Technique will aid understanding of early stages of water freezing
NewsControversial plan will see Fukushima’s radioactive wastewater discharged into sea
As contaminated water builds plant’s owner hopes to begin discharging it this summer
ResearchExposure to high levels of TCE could increase risk of Parkinson’s disease by 70%
US marines working at base with contaminated drinking water in the 1970s and 80s have elevated risk for the disease
ResearchMicrobial degradation offers way to tackle chlorinated PFAS in wastewater
Findings shed light on the environmental fate of chlorinated PFAS compounds and how to design biodegradable, less toxic alternatives
BusinessUN asked to investigate ‘human rights violations’ by Chemours
Local campaigners claim PFAS emissions from US plant violate various rights, including to clean water and a sustainable environment
News‘Will we have the will to invest, the will to change?’: green chemistry 25 years on
Father of green chemistry says we’ve shown we can change, but can we transform the chemical sciences?
NewsMicroplastic pollution purged from contaminated water using ultrasound
Prototype device concentrates plastic particles in flowing water with sound waves, removing over 70% of small plastic particles and 82% of larger ones