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_Angew. Chem. Int. Edn_ doi:10.1002/anie.200804582 (2009) A hollow-fibre catalytic membrane developed by researchers in China and Germany could scrub the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide from
the exhausts of chemical plants. The membrane has a type of crystal structure known as perovskite, and contains barium, cobalt, iron and zirconium. It catalyses the breakdown of nitrous
oxide to free nitrogen gas and oxygen atoms, which end up bound to its surface. These atoms recombine into molecular oxygen too slowly to avoid clogging up the membrane and slowing the
process. Adding methane to the system solves this problem because it mops up the oxygen as it forms. This reaction generates 'synthesis gas', a mixture commonly used in industry as
a fuel or chemical feedstock. The system's architects, Haihui Wang from South China University of Technology in Guangzhou and his colleagues, say that their membrane is the first from
which oxygen can be removed quickly enough to avoid attenuating the membrane's catalytic effect. RIGHTS AND PERMISSIONS Reprints and permissions ABOUT THIS ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE
Chemistry: Membranous mopping. _Nature_ 457, 639 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/457639d Download citation * Published: 04 February 2009 * Issue Date: 05 February 2009 * DOI:
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