With a new, recyclable catalyst, chemical firms could cut down on the amount of waste generated in the manufacturing of products, according to researchers at Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton, N.Y.
Industrial processes used for making products ranging from pharmaceuticals to pesticides rely heavily on catalysts, which speed the transformation of reactants into the desired chemical. But separating catalysts from final products typically requires expensive and sometimes-toxic solvents that companies later have to dispose of.