Mixing and un-mixing oil and water

Queen’s University researchers have devised a “green chemistry” solution to the oil industry’s biggest problem. The study, published in Science, addresses the recurring problem of separating oil and water mixtures and targets diverse applications including cleaning up oil spills and extracting oil deposits from tar sands and reservoirs. Other potential beneficiaries are plastics manufacturers, chemical and pharmaceutical companies, mining companies and makers of cleaning products. The new process can be used whenever industry requires an emulsion. This might occur when cleaning spills, extracting oil from the ground, de-greasing metal equipment or metal surfaces and manufacturing chemical products such as plastics.

Small, not insignificant

Researchers at Dartmouth, Cornell University, and the University of Wyoming have learned that the removal of just one important species in a freshwater ecosystem can seriously disrupt how that environment functions. This finding contradicts earlier notions that other species can jump in and compensate for the loss. The team studied a particular fish called Prochilodus mariae, native to South American rivers. It eats detritus and thus plays a critical role in regulating the breakdown and transport of carbon in the rivers. “Removing this particular fish, which is sometimes overfished, greatly altered the metabolic activity of the river ecosystem,” said the study.

Chew in style

A chewing gum containing good bacteria that can destroy the bad bacteria causing tooth decay could be in the shops soon. German chemical company BASF discovered a new strain of lactobacillus called L anti-caries, which binds to Strepptococcus mutans, the bacteria responsible for tooth decay. S Mutans sticks to the surface of teeth, where it produces an aggressive acid that breaks down the enamel. The friendly bugs will make the S Mutans clump together, preventing them from becoming attached to the tooth surface. Tests reveal that the chewing gum can reduce the amount of bacteria in the mouth 50 times, says a report.

Tech fixation, 24/7

Employers who encourage non-stop work connections via technology may wind up with liability for encouraging addiction. The relentless pace of technology-enhanced work environments creates a source of stimulation that may become addictive, and employers may face legal liabilities for these addictions, says a Rutgers University School of Business at Camden researcher.