The hematite, an oxide of iron similar to those that give the characteristic reddish color of Mars or the Rio Tinto could help to reduce pollution caused by gases emitted by exhausts and factories .
A team of researchers from the University of Cordoba described a process that can help create solutions for this type of air pollution.
The compound is able to reduce the presence of nitrogen oxides, gases released into the air by combustion and the atmosphere generated in the features “beret” pollution when there is a lot of pollution and a stable time .
The pollution is a major environmental problems of the planet and although not dirty the air particles that are man-made (no natural sources such as volcanic eruptions or the accidental forest fires), industrial manufacturing activities such as transport or cause a significant part of these greenhouse gases.
The consequences are felt not only in the atmosphere but also in the body. Nitrogen oxides (NOx, as they are also known) can cause respiratory diseases as emphysema or bronchitis.
Conventionally, is often used titanium oxide reduce the effects of nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere , even commercial products using this compound between its components are marketed, but its price is quite high.
The Professor of Inorganic Chemistry UCO Luis Sánchez Granados, explained that such treatment is a “good solution”, while main photocatalytic activity of titania “only occurs under certain conditions in the presence of ultraviolet rays.”
Therefore, This material is useful in cities with many hours of sunlight as Madrid or Barcelona , but it is not so in urban settings with little sunlight or localized impact on the northern and central Europe or North America, with a greater number of cloudy days and low levels of UVA rays.
Alternatives more efficient
Therefore, researchers focus their efforts on finding more efficient alternatives, taking into account removal capability of the gaseous pollutants , and the availability of materials.
“The iron oxides are abundant in nature and have both environmental characteristics as chemical that make them attractive for use as photocatalysts,” says Sánchez Granados.
Specifically, the group of Inorganic Chemistry of the UCO has explored the capabilities of hematite, a pioneer work as is the first time that a scientific team used this material for decontamination of harmful gases NOx.
This iron oxide is quite common, but can also be found in nature crystallized complex geological processes , like those that form diamonds.
chemical reproduced some of these processes in the laborator io and found mineral photocatalytic capabilities.
In this way, they could confirm that the hematite was a material efficient for removing nitrogen oxides that pollute the atmosphere .
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