Scientists at the University of Limerick, as part of an international research team, have helped to devise a new method to purify polluting gases using a sponge like material that could lead to reductions in environmentally harmful emissions, as well as a reduction in energy consumption globally. The UL team found that a sieve-like structure, SIFSIX-2-Cu-i, can act like a sponge, mopping up acetylene - a colourless gas made of carbon and hydrogen. Collaboration and pooling of knowledge with other scientists in institutions in the US and in China led to the development of a material capable of soaking up acetylene during the production of ethylene. Ethylene is commonly used in a huge variety of applications, including the ripening of fruit and the manufacture of plastics such as polythene. During the process of making ethylene, acetylene impurities must be removed from the product. Large amounts of energy are required to filter out such impurities, usually through processes such as distillation. Other forms of purification, such as separating molecules according to their size, structure or properties, have been tried but do not work well for the final step in ethylene production. The team says their new invention offers a more environmentally friendly, cost effective way to purify ethylene, the most intensively produced organic chemical in the world. The same approaches could also work for purification of other substances like carbon and water. http://www.ul.ie/news-centre/news/u...-new-gas-sponges-to-filter-harmful-emissions/
Most fruits emit ethylene (or is it ethylene di-oxide, as I remember?) as they ripen. So if you have some not yet ripe, just but them in a sealed plasitic bag with others.
No it's ethylene all right:http://www.frontlineservices.com.au/Frontline_Services/Fruit_ripening_gas_-_ethylene.html Ethylene oxide exists (a highly strained first member of a series of cyclic ethers: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethylene_oxide) but I've never heard of an ethylene dioxide - unless you mean ethylene glycol.
