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Robert H. Hurt, Ph.D. and Indrek Kulaots, Ph.D. Brown University researchers supported by the NIEHS Superfund Basic Research Program have developed a nanomaterial that absorbs the toxic mercury vapor in compact fluorescent light bulbs. Compact fluorescent bulbs are the swirl-shaped bulbs that use 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and have been touted as one method to save energy and fight climate change. Sales of the energy efficient bulbs have grown so rapidly that the Earth Policy Institute has estimated that they could lead to the closing of more than 270 coal-fired power plants world-wide. However there is a major environmental concern; they emit mercury vapor when broken or damaged. The popularity of these bulbs in the US is expected to increase even further when new federal guidelines on energy efficient lighting go into effect in 2012. The research team developed a nanomaterial that readily absorbs the gas. It can be used in packaging of new bulbs and disposal of burned-out or broken bulbs. The researchers have applied for patents and expect to enter into licensing negotiations with companies that could manufacture the packaging. The material is a variant of nanoselenium and was developed by Robert Hurt and a Brown engineering student Natalie Johnson. It absorbs virtually all the mercury vapor given off by broken bulbs. Hurt thinks the packaging can be developed at a low cost since only one to five milligrams of nanoselenium is needed to absorb the mercury from a single bulb. The team has also developed plastic bags that could be used to dispose of burned-out or broken bulbs. Citation: Johnson NC, Manchester S, Sarin L, Gao U, Kulaots I, Hurt RH. Mercury Vapor Release from Broken Compact Fluorescent Lamps and In Situ Capture by New Nanomaterial Sorbents. Env. Sci, & Tech. 2008 July; 42(15):5772-5778. |
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