Smog Busting Paint Breaks Down Noxious Gasses

jlechem writes "New Scientist is reporting a story about a new paint that can absorb noxious gas. According to the article the new paint is called Ecopaint. The substance is designed to reduce levels of the nitrogen oxides, collectively known as the NOx gases, which cause respiratory problems and trigger smog production. The paint's base is polysiloxane, a silicon-based polymer. Embedded in it are spherical nanoparticles of titanium dioxide and calcium carbonate 30 nanometres wide. Because the particles are so small, the paint is clear, but pigment can be added. The first paint to go on sale will of course be white."

Comments

What about noxious gasses in production?

[Fex303]

I'd be interested to know if this paint can neutralise as much pollutant as is generated in its production.

I seem to recall TO2 being a fairly nasty chemical to produce, using lots of Chlorine in production, etc. (Of course, high-school chem was a while back...) Is using the paint a net benefit to the environment? If not, what's the point?

It doesn't get saturated

[Dark Lord Seth]

In a typical 0.3-millimetre layer, there will be enough calcium carbonate to last five years in a heavily polluted city, says Robert McIntyre of the British company Millennium Chemicals, based in Grimsby, Lincolnshire, which developed the paint. When the carbonate has been exhausted, the titanium dioxide will continue to break down NOx, but the acid this produces will discolour the paint,

If you read the article you'll see a nice and practically useless image where it shows that NOx is broken down to harmless stuff like water and oxygen. Don't ask me HOW exactly. Anyways, once the calcium carbonate runs out, the nitric acid will not be nuetralized. ( good read up on a chem textbook regarding bases ( like calcium carbonate ) and acids, especially how they affect eachother ) Having a whole load of acid building up inside your paint isnt a good thing but according to the article it will just discolour the paint. While the Titanium Oxide will happily continue to absorb more NOx and thus create more acid.

So basically, nowadays you have to paint once every 5 years because the smog attacks the paint. Now you have to paint once every 5 years because the paint attacks the smog.

Re:Paint that *causes* corrosion?

[Night Goat]

Naturally, you wouldn't use this paint on things that it would corrode. I don't think this is something to lose sleep over- the paint would have its recommended uses and warnings on the label of the paint can.

I agree with some of the other posts before me though: is the benefit of reduced nitrous oxide in the air outweighed by the other possible environmental dangers? I hope this goes through a lot of testing by independent groups before it hits the market.

Re:Saturated?

[Chainsaw Messiah]

Yeap, SUVs are a political issue not an enviromental one. Apparently the standard of living in the US is such that people no longer have to worry about their own lives, they can now spend all their time telling other people what they should be doing.