Eco-Friendly Polymer for Mercury Cleanup from citrus peel.

Date:Oct 23, 2015

Country: Australia

Application

• Environmental Cleanup: Removes mercury from water and soil, aiding in large-scale pollution remediation.
• Mercury Detection: Serves as a simple tool for detecting mercury contamination in water and food products like fish.

Description

Researchers at Flinders University have developed an affordable, non-toxic polymer made from sulfur and limonene, a compound derived from citrus peel. This sulfur-limonene polysulfide can absorb mercury from water and soil, turning bright yellow when contaminated. The material utilizes abundant industrial waste, offering a cost-effective solution for large-scale environmental cleanup. Its potential applications include mercury detection and pollution remediation in water bodies and food products like fish.

Pathway Description:

The process involves combining limonene, a compound extracted from citrus peel, with industrial waste sulfur to create a sulfur-limonene polysulfide. This polymer is synthesized through a chemical reaction, resulting in a dark red material that turns bright yellow upon absorbing mercury. The polymer can then be used to absorb mercury salts from water and soil. The material is cost-effective due to the abundance of limonene and sulfur, both by-products of other industries.