University of Liverpool (England) scientists have come up with a way to convert methane gas into a powder that can be more easily transported. That could be welcome news to consumers of natural gas as well as to the environment since methane is often burned off in large quantities because, in its gaseous state, it is difficult and expensive to transport over long distances.

The chemists at Liverpool…[more]

A report released yesterday by the Environmental Integrity Project named two coal-fired power generating plants as among the 50 worst emitters of mercury into the environment. The same report also placed Arkansas among the “Dirty Dozen” states with the highest number of plants generating the biggest volume of mercury emissions.

The report said that the 50 worst emitters combined for a total of 20 tons of mercury released…[more]

The Arkansas Highway Commission is getting serious about litter, voting to notify rural residents that if they do not remove wooden or metal trash bins from the side of the road, the homemade trash receptacles will be destroyed.

That action in response to a report from the Department of Highway and Transportation stating it spends almost $5.6 million annually picking up litter. The report blamed a large part…[more]

JEFFERSON CITY and ST. LOUIS - A celebration of 30 years of state-supported passenger rail across Missouri, as well as major service improvements in the works, are the reasons the Missouri Department of Transportation and Amtrak® are pleased to announce a contest to give the trains a brand-new name.  The “Name the Train” contest will rely on train fans everywhere to first suggest and then select the best “brand-name” for…[more]

Outdated, dangerous and unstable laboratory and instructional use chemicals are being removed from school science and chemistry labs, storerooms and other classrooms in elementary, middle, vocational and high schools across Missouri through a project funded by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.

Recognizing the potential threat to Missouri’s school children and teachers from these chemicals, the department partnered with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and the…[more]

November is National American Indian Heritage Month and it’s the perfect time to reflect upon the values that native people have contributed to mainstream society. Although these values are deeply rooted in native culture, it may be surprising to learn that they are the foundation for many of the mainstream beliefs held today.…[more]

Legislation was passed recently in Missouri directing the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to organize a committee. This committee was tasked with developing green cleaning best practice recommendations for Missouri’s public and private schools.
The committee formed by DESE included 20 people of which six (now seven) members represent the chemical industry in one fashion or another. There are chemical manufacturers, chemical distributors and chemical trade…[more]

As the biodiesel industry continues to grow, the National Biodiesel Board
welcomes a new Environmental Protection Agency guide that will help the industry navigate existing
environmental regulations. EPA Region 7 today released the user-friendly manual that identifies
environmental regulatory rules and requirements for the construction and operation of biodiesel
production facilities.
Region 7 Administrator John B. Askew said, “We are…[more]

Extremely small nanoscale particles are released by common kitchen appliances in abundant amounts, according to a study conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology or NIST. Researchers had already discovered that these appliance emit relatively larger nonoparticles but these ultrafine particles greatly outnumber the larger variety.

Nanoparticles are becoming more of a concern as research produces increasing evidence that they can cause respiratory and cardiovascular illnesses.…[more]

To prevent global warming, researchers and policymakers are exploring a variety of options to significantly cut the amount of carbon dioxide that reaches the atmosphere. One possible approach involves capturing greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide at the source—an electric power plant, for example—and then injecting them underground.

While theoretically promising, the technique has never been tested in a full-scale industrial operation. But now MIT engineers have come…[more]