International Research Chemistry Awards

Life on Earth was once ruled by the small, single-celled organisms swimming in the vast oceans. For an epoch, these tiny powerhouses were the kings and queens of the world, dominating for well over a billion years. Then came the period known as “Snowball Earth” that changed everything. The reign of these single-celled organisms was seemingly endless, until Snowball Earth turned all known models of life upside down, roughly 700 million years ago. This icy era was no ordinary winter. The entire globe was ensnared in such extreme glaciation conditions that even the equator may have been blanketed in ice. However, it was during this frigid epoch that a marvel of evolution occurred — the birth of multicellular organisms. Multicellular life and the oxygen paradox One of the biggest enigmas in biology is the sudden emergence and dominance of multicellular life. Imagine a world where single-celled eukaryotes (organisms with intricate cells containing a nucleus) were the unrivaled rulers. Then...

Efforts to defossilise the chemicals industry are likely to rely on biomass, plastic waste and carbon dioxide to source the raw material needed to produce the essential everyday chemicals demanded by modern society. That’s the conclusion of a new report published by the UK’s national scientific academy, the Royal Society, which has outlined the major challenges facing the sector as it looks to transition away from fossil-based feedstocks. The report aims to inform policymakers of the potential future options for reducing the sector’s environmental footprint, but stops short of making specific policy recommendations – something the Royal Society believes is the prerogative of governments. Reducing industry’s reliance on fossil-derived feedstocks is essential as the world attempts to limit the effects of anthropogenic climate change. Around 6% of the planet’s carbon emissions are linked to the chemical industry. A large proportion of these are direct emissions released by burning fossil ...

The global chemical industry is a major fossil fuel consumer and climate change contributor; however, new Curtin University research has identified how the sector could clean up its green credentials by getting dirty. Most chemical reactions involving electricity and organic materials can’t be done efficiently using water because the organic materials don’t dissolve well, forcing industry to use fossil fuels to provide heat rather than electricity or use alternative substances to water, which add environmental and safety risks. However, a team of researchers led by Associate Professor Simone Ciampi, from Curtin’s School of Molecular and Life Sciences, has found chemical reactions in water can be dramatically sped up by adding a water-resistant material to an electrode – a process known as “fouling”. “Fouling goes completely against conventional wisdom, which says you have to have clean instruments to make processes using an electrode as efficient as possible,” Professor Ciampi said. “...

As India looks to deliver long-term energy security, the government has announced a reclassification of hydrocarbon exploration laws that will see offshore oil and gas projects exempt from social challenges and environmental restrictions. JP Casey explores how, while this could help secure India’s energy future, it could come at a great social and environmental cost. India’s rapidly growing economy has brought with it a rapidly expanding energy need. The world’s second-most populous country has invested heavily in domestic energy production over the last decade, with installed electricity generation capacity climbing from 174,639MW in 2009 to 399,000MW in 2018 according to government figures, giving energy infrastructure a compound annual growth rate of 8.61% over the period. Much of this growth has been in the fossil fuel sector, with data from the US Office of Public Affairs noting that fossil fuels account for 71% of India’s energy output, compared to 49.2% in Europe. With Europe a...

WisdomTree has expanded its range of thematic exchange-traded funds (ETFs) with the launch of the WisdomTree Energy Transition Metals and Rare Earths Miners UCITS ETF (RARE). RARE seeks to track the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the WisdomTree Energy Transition Metals and Rare Earths Miners Index and has a total expense ratio (TER) of 0.50%. The WisdomTree Energy Transition Metals and Rare Earths Miners UCITS ETF (RARE), has listed on Börse Xetra, Borsa Italiana and the London Stock Exchange. The proprietary Index is designed to track the performance of listed companies from developed and emerging markets, primarily involved in the energy transition metals value chain including the exploration and processing of rare earths elements and that meet WisdomTree’s ESG (environmental, social and governance) criteria. Aligning with WisdomTree’s approach to building thematic ETFs that provide pure and differentiated exposures, WisdomTree has partnered with Wood Mack...

It is commonly known that one of the healthiest foods is fish due to its high protein and the fact it contains numerous important nutrients, like iodine, selenium, and vitamin D. Additionally, it is a source of long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (3-PUFAs) that are essential for brain function and cardiovascular health1. It is recommended that fish should be frequently included in the diet to keep cardiovascular disease risk factors at a minimum2. Yet, observational study results do not offer an obvious association between fish intake and cardiovascular disease risk factors, like blood pressure and body mass index (BMI). Further research is required for the accurate definition of the effect of dietary fish on cardiovascular risk. Cardiovascular health and fish The advantageous cardioprotective effects of a fish diet were initially described in a research study in Tanzania3. Results showed lower incidences of hypertension among subjects consuming 300–600 g of freshwater fish...

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is an episode of kidney failure which decreases the filtering capacity of the kidneys severely and happens very fast, within a few days or a few hours. Therefore, waste products that are usually filtered out by the kidneys build up in the blood, which can lead to vomiting and nausea. Furthermore, blood potassium levels rise, which can result in paralysis, muscle weakness, and heart arrhythmias. Consequently, this carries the risk of pulmonary oedema developing. AKI is associated with poor outcomes and is most common among critically ill patients. The growth in mortality and morbidity is marked among children especially, where AKI can lengthen the time they need to be in a hospital, in intensive care, and on a ventilator. AKI can also heighten the risk of a child developing chronic kidney disease in the future1. Over a fifth of critically ill pediatric and neonatal patients develop AKI and the incidence is growing2. AKI can affect as many as 5%3, even in non-cr...

“This work might therefore represent a platform for a co-clinical translational project that will contribute to further the use and implementation of new BOLD related methodologies in the study of hypoxia.” Virani, Needa Hypoxia in tumors is associated with invasive and malignant cancerous characteristics as well as resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy procedures. This is due to inadequate oxygen supplies within the cells that are necessary to carry out cell functions, maintain nutrient levels, influence permeability, regulate pH, and prevent invasion. Hypoxia thus increases the production of HIF-α, which in turn increases the production of VEGF, Ang-2, and other factors that promote cell birth as well as CXCR4 and E-cadherin factors needed for cell division. Different techniques have been utilized in the monitoring of tumor hypoxia including immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining based on biomarkers such as pimonidazole and nitroimidazoles. However, there is a need for an improve...

Introduction Heart failure is a progressive pathophysiological condition that affects the pumping action of heart muscle1. It affects over 23 million people worldwide, with over 5.8 million in the USA, and around a third of patients die within one year of diagnosis2. The reduced effectiveness of the heart prevents blood from being circulated at an adequate rate to meet the body's normal metabolic requirements. Patients consequently experience shortness of breath and excessive tiredness, which limits their ability to exercise and undertake routine daily activities, thereby reducing their quality of life. The imbalance between energy consumption and production leads to impaired energy metabolism, such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) transfer and utilization, in the heart itself that further exacerbates the problem3. Also, skeletal muscle dysfunction, including impaired contractile function and muscle atrophy, can develop4. Mitochondrial dysfunction is commonly observed in both cardi...

Advanced techniques for rapid drug development are becoming increasingly essential as pathogens continuously evolve and genetic alterations in cancer cells accumulate. However, the underlying mechanisms and pathology of many neurological diseases remain unknown. Going forward, a necessary focus is the molecular study of diseases to facilitate the development of efficient drug discovery techniques.1 Modern drug discovery technologies are time consuming and expensive, with new drugs taking more than ten years to commercialize and costing over a billion U.S. dollars to develop. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has emerged as an alternative technique, exhibiting the potential to become a “gold standard” platform for pharmaceutical design and discovery.1 This article explores the application and advantages of NMR in drug development. Introduction to NMR NMR spectroscopy is based on the detection of individual nuclei spins, which vary according to atomic, electronic, and chemi...

Imagine the moon as a center for soil manufacturing, construction, and even building human habitation. This concept, once relegated to science fiction, is now becoming a reality thanks to increased interest and investment in space exploration. Researchers are working tirelessly to develop the necessary technologies to make the moon a viable home for humans. Innovative solutions with moon soil One significant challenge in developing lunar infrastructure on the moon is the need for building materials. Transporting materials from Earth is costly and inefficient. This has led to research into utilizing raw materials found on the moon’s surface. However, processing these lunar resources requires a substantial amount of power. A team of researchers from the University of Waterloo’s Laboratory for Emerging Energy Research (LEER) is tackling this issue. They are exploring how to process lunar regolith, the moon’s top layer of soil and dust, into usable materials for life support, energy gener...

Scientists have long known that air pollution caused by cars and trucks, solvent use and even plants, is reduced when broken down by naturally occurring compounds that act like detergents of the atmosphere. What has not been well understood until now are the relative contributions of all the processes producing such compounds. A new study, led by University of Toronto atmospheric chemist Jennifer Murphy, shows a key component of the process is the soil beneath our feet. "Pollutants in the atmosphere are broken down by hydroxyl radicals that are produced when nitrous acid breaks down in sunlight," said Murphy. "What scientists have been working to solve for over 15 years is where nitrous acid comes from during the daytime." Murphy and her team investigated chemical interactions that take place when different components of the atmosphere reach the ground. "We found that soil can take up nitrous acid at night when these components react with carbonate minerals of...

Introduction Environmental Chemistry involves the study of chemical processes that occur in the environment and their effects on natural systems. It encompasses various sub-disciplines such as atmospheric chemistry, aquatic chemistry, soil chemistry, and pollution chemistry. Key Areas of Study Atmospheric Chemistry:Studies the chemical composition of the atmosphere, the reactions that occur, and the effects of human activities such as industrial emissions and vehicle exhaust on air quality. Topics include ozone depletion, greenhouse gases, and acid rain. Aquatic Chemistry:Focuses on the chemical composition and behavior of water in rivers, lakes, and oceans. Topics include water pollution, eutrophication, and the chemistry of natural waters. Soil Chemistry:Examines the chemical composition and processes within soils, including the effects of fertilizers, pesticides, and contaminants. Topics include soil pH, nutrient cycling, and soil contamination. Pollution Chemistry:Investigates the...

Introduction Agricultural chemistry plays a crucial role in modern farming practices by providing the scientific basis for understanding and improving the efficiency and sustainability of agricultural production. This field encompasses the study of chemical compositions and reactions related to soil, fertilizers, pesticides, and the biological processes of plants and animals. Soil Chemistry Soil chemistry focuses on the chemical composition of soil and its influence on plant growth. Key areas include:Nutrient Availability: Understanding how nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are absorbed by plants. Soil pH: Managing soil acidity and alkalinity to optimize plant health. Organic Matter: Studying the decomposition of organic matter and its impact on soil fertility. Fertilizers Fertilizers are substances that provide essential nutrients to plants. Agricultural chemists develop and test various fertilizers to enhance plant growth and crop yields. Key types include:Nitrogen ...

All three plants upgraded control systems, cooling systems, and relief systems, and the new technology supports the manufacturer’s strength in advanced chemical processes. In 2020, MFG Chemical embarked on a major three-plant upgrade of its manufacturing facilities in Dalton, Georgia. The custom chemical manufacturer had already completed a smaller upgrade in 2018, after purchasing a new location in Pasadena, Texas, adding to MFG’s capacity with two new reactors. The latest upgrades at the Dalton plants began with a focus on safety, and the more the facilities looked into what automation could do for the business, the more it implemented the technology across the board. The upgrades were also driven by a need for increased capacity and infrastructure to support a growing market. “MFG Chemical is undergoing tremendous growth in volume along with the addition of many new product lines,” says Dr. George Graham, vice president of operations. Instead of a programmable logic controller (PLC...

Industry and the manufacturing sector use multiple analytical chemical methods, whether for new product development, processing, or quality control. This article outlines the research to be presented at Pittcon on the advances being made in analytical chemistry and their application in industry and manufacturing. Spectroscopy is a valuable analytical tool for a wide range of sectors. Several talks will focus on Raman spectroscopy as a highly versatile analytical tool, which can be used in chemical processing from laboratory to manufacturing. Raman spectroscopy’s use in polymer science to measure and control chemical processes is a particular focus. The technique is becoming increasingly relevant as chemical manufacturing expands to include new developments such as batch reactions, microreactors, flow synthesis, and continuous processes. Pittcon will hear examples of using Raman spectroscopy to improve process efficiency and predict reaction end-times and physical properties of chemical...

Contribution of Offshore Petroleum Platforms Towards Oil Pollution Oil pollution is becoming increasingly significant with the rapid development of the offshore petroleum production industry. Marine oil pollution is a serious threat to the natural equilibrium of the marine ecosystem. There is a pressing need to provide offshore petroleum installation with accessible analytical instruments to address the oil pollution problem. Wastewater quality may be controlled by monitoring the metal concentration in petroleum production waters. Detection of Metal Ions in Seawater Electrolytic assays, including Stripping Voltammetry (SV), are becoming increasingly popular for determining trace concentrations of metals in marine environments because they are inexpensive, accessible, and can be conducted in situ in salt waters. Numerous adjustments have been made to decrease the limit of detection (LOD) and improve the peak current signal resolution for multi-ion sensing. These analysis techniques hav...