| Posted: December 25, 2007 |
Nanotechnology the answer to air pollution? |
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(Nanowerk News) The emerging field of nanotechnology could provide a solution to the soaring air pollution caused by automobile emissions worldwide, scientists say.
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Research shows that nano-treatment of engines can cut down toxic gas emissions by up to 90 per cent, Prof J Narayan of North Carolina State University told PTI here.
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"Use of nanotechnology based systems increases the rate of pre-emission carbon trapping considerably, which is the main constituent of carbon dioxide," explains Narayan. "Thus, it causes cleaner emissions," he added.
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Nanotechnology, a very important branch of applied science that deals with matters on atomic and molecular scale, "has a considerable role to play in improvement of energy efficiency," Director of Ansal Institute of Technology M P Singh said.
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"Environmental degradation due to automobile emissions is a big issue today. Using nanotechnology can help us to mitigate air pollution considerably," said Ravi V Bellamkonda of the Georgia Institute of Technology.
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Scientists are of the view that the single largest influence of air pollution is the amount of carbon dioxide and motor vehicles worldwide are a major contributor to the gas in the atmosphere.
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"Nano formulation can augment fuel efficiency by up to 35 per cent as it reduces per capita consumption. That means we have to use smaller amount of materials," Narayan said.
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"It (nano-treatment) reduces friction among various engine parts considerably and in turn adds to the lubricating quality of the machine," Narayan said.
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With lowering of the fuel combustion rate, air pollution rate also comes down, scientists said.
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Upholding the fact that "nano-treatment" helps to protect internal surfaces of the machines, Narayan added "in future nanometals -- which are ductile as well as tough enough -- may play an important role in improving fuel efficiency."
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Over a hundred scientists gathered to exchange their ideas and experiences at an International Conference on Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, organised by Ansal Institute of Technology, recently in Gurgaon.
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"Nanotechnology doesn't replace any system, but it improvises the existing ones," Bellamkonda said.
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Scientists often attribute emission rate from a vehicle to its weight as well, along with the other factors. "Weight of vehicles is a momentous factor as far as pollution is concerned," Bellamkonda said.
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"Gas exhausted from the aircraft pollute the atmosphere. But by using nanotechnology, if we can reduce weight of the aircraft, it will score down the emission as well," he explained.
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The less fuel consumed equals less carbon emissions, scientists said. But there are some hidden areas as well that should be studied carefully before using nanotechnology, they warned.
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"This particular section of science can bring about some revolutionary changes, but no organised study has been done to ascertain the possible hazards nanotechnology application can cause yet," M P Singh said.
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