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'Green' fireworks may brighten eco-friendly 4th of July displays in future
June 23, 2009With millions of people in the United States eagerly awaiting those July 4 fireworks displays - and our Canadian neighbors doing likewise for their July 1 Canada Day celebrations - here's a prospect for those light shows of the future likely to ignite a smile on Mother Nature's face: A new generation of "green" fireworks is quietly making its way toward the sky.
That's "green" as in environmentally friendly.
Fireworks, flares and other so-called "pyrotechnics" traditionally have included potassium perchlorate as the oxidizer, a material that provides the oxygen that fireworks need to burn. Perchlorate, however, is an environmental pollutant with potential adverse effects on people and wildlife. Pyrotechnics contain other ingredients, such color-producing heavy metals, with a similar potential.
Studies have shown that perchlorate from community fireworks displays conducted over lakes, for instance, can lead to perchlorate contamination of the water. For full details about how perchlorate contaminates lakes after fireworks displays, Click here for a study published in the American Chemical Society's peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Science & Technology.
Researchers, however, have developed new pyrotechnic formulas that replace perchlorate with nitrogen-rich materials or nitrocellulose that burn cleaner and produce less smoke, according to an article in ACS's weekly newsmagazine, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN). To read it, click on click on fireworks.
In the article, C&EN Associate Editor Bethany Halford says these nitrogen-rich formulas also use fewer color-producing chemicals, dramatically cutting down on the amount of heavy metals used and lowering their potentially toxic effects.
Some of these fireworks have already been used at circuses, rock concerts and other events, but none have been used at large outdoor displays. The problem: cost. The big challenge in launching these "eco-friendly" pyrotechnics into the sky is making them cost-competitive with conventional fireworks while maintaining their dazzle and glow, the article explains.
The article notes that fireworks manufacturers have little incentive to further develop the new green fireworks because no federal regulations currently limit releases of perchlorate from pyrotechnics.
American Chemical Society
Studies have shown that perchlorate from community fireworks displays conducted over lakes, for instance, can lead to perchlorate contamination of the water. For full details about how perchlorate contaminates lakes after fireworks displays, Click here for a study published in the American Chemical Society's peer-reviewed journal, Environmental Science & Technology.
Researchers, however, have developed new pyrotechnic formulas that replace perchlorate with nitrogen-rich materials or nitrocellulose that burn cleaner and produce less smoke, according to an article in ACS's weekly newsmagazine, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN). To read it, click on click on fireworks.
In the article, C&EN Associate Editor Bethany Halford says these nitrogen-rich formulas also use fewer color-producing chemicals, dramatically cutting down on the amount of heavy metals used and lowering their potentially toxic effects.
Some of these fireworks have already been used at circuses, rock concerts and other events, but none have been used at large outdoor displays. The problem: cost. The big challenge in launching these "eco-friendly" pyrotechnics into the sky is making them cost-competitive with conventional fireworks while maintaining their dazzle and glow, the article explains.
The article notes that fireworks manufacturers have little incentive to further develop the new green fireworks because no federal regulations currently limit releases of perchlorate from pyrotechnics.
American Chemical Society
The Milky Way's tiny but tough galactic neighbor
In the new ESO image, Barnard's Galaxy glows beneath a sea of foreground stars in the direction of the constellation of Sagittarius (the Archer).
SSETI Express sets off
SSETI Express, the first spacecraft to be designed and built by European students, has set off on the first stage of its journey into space. It left ESTEC in the Netherlands yesterday and is now on its way to Plesetsk, the Russian cosmodrome from where it will be launched on 25 August.
Cranfield leads development of next generation anti-land mine device
UK-based humanitarian de-mining specialists Disarmco have teamed up with ordnance and explosives experts at Cranfield University at Shrivenham to develop the next generation of anti-land mine device. The anti-landmine invention - codenamed 'Dragon' -is the subject of a European patent application and is cheaper, faster and quicker than many existing alternatives.
Airbag to keep windsurfer safe on 8000 km voyage
ESA PR 47-2003. Extreme sports adventurer Rapha'«la Le Gouvello is about to windsurf 8000 km across the Pacific Ocean - from Peru to Tahiti in 80 days. Her board incorporates a new 'anti-capsize' airbag system, the first result of an ESA technology transfer initiative to improve safety for small boats at sea. The concept is to produce a small, lightweight safety system to be used by small sailing boats, windsurfers and other small sea craft which cannot accommodate traditional life rafts as they take up too much space. The 'anti-capsize' airbag has been produced by the French company SEVA Technologies in collaboration with ESA's Technology Transfer Programme. The prototype is about to s
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