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With gold nanoparticles, common compounds get greener

Cynthia Friend's lab demonstrates greener, cheaper, and more efficient way to create biofuels and esters (Chemistry World)

Production of biofuels and esters - synthetic chemicals widely used for fragrances and fabrics - could potentially be greener, cheaper and more efficient thanks to researchers in the US who have shown how oxygen-coated gold nanoparticles can selectively oxidise a variety of alcohols and aldehydes.

Friend suggests this work could offer environmentally friendly and more efficient alternatives to the production of low molecular weight esters. She also points out that understanding selective oxidation of alcohols in general is relevant to the processing of alternative fuel sources.

Read the full article in Chemistry World