CerOx Corp in U.S has successfully tested a full-scaled treatment system to convert pesticides into carbon dioxide and water through oxidation processes.

Researchers at the University of Bradford are developing a hydrogel that can absorb oil spill effectively and the absorbed oil can later be recovered.

The use of low energy microwaves to extract cooking oils from plants instead of conventional fossil fuel will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The World-Wide Fuel Charter, first established in 1998, has introduced a more stringent "sulphur-free" fuel specification for petrol and diesel.

A Californian company has put flyash from power generation to good use as filler in corrosion-resistant coating for transmission towers.

Germany is pushing for diesel with sulphur content of less than 10ppm in their efforts to phase in the next generation catalyst technology.

The European Commission planned to adopt a new action plan to promote energy efficiency in the 15-nation European Union (EU).

Researchers in US' Department of Agriculture found that a new fungus, Rhizopus oryzae, could convert grain and other agricultural products into biodegradable plastics as well as environmentally friendly solvents.

CerOx Corp, a U.S company has developed a technology to safely convert pesticides into carbon dioxide and water. The full-sized commercially operated system known as CerOx System 4, has the ability to treat Kelthane (a DDT derivative), Chlordane and Ambush (a permethrin-based insecticide).

Researchers at the University of Bradford's School of Pharmacy are developing a hydrogel which has been found to be effective in absorbing oil spill.

The hydrogel composed of two very long elastic-type molecules. The consistency of the gel can be altered to make it thick, thin or sticky by increasing the amount of large molecules and adjusting the number of bonds. This gel, in its liquid form, can be sprayed onto oil spillages. As it thickens, it can be rolled up like a carpet, absorbing the oil. The absorbed oil can later be removed from the gel.

Microwave energy is now being used to extract cooking oils from plants. This new, low energy technique significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions when compared to the food processing industry's current fossil fuel-based extraction processes.

Motor vehicle manufacturers world wide have released a revised "World-Wide Fuel Charter" which calls for reducing sulphur content in gasoline and diesel fuels. The revised Charter introduces a "sulphur-free" fuel specification with maximum sulphur content of 5-10 ppm, down than the previous 30 ppm, for both gasoline and diesel fuels.

In the generation sector of the electric power industry, alternatives for putting flyash to good use are being explored to reduce the cost and environmental problems of land-filling. One new initiative is the use of flyash as a replacement filler in corrosion-resistant coating for the transmission and distribution sector.

Studies carried out by the German environment agency (UBA) have found that current diesel cars pose a cancer risk ten times higher than current petrol models. The effect can be mitigated with a particulate filter. UBA studies suggest that diesel cars conforming to Euro 4 (2005) vehicle emission standards if equipped with a particulate filter system would have a similar cancer risk as that of a petrol car of the same standards.

German authorities are pushing for lower sulphur diesel. The legislators want further tightening of the fuel standard in a bid to introduce the next generation of catalyst technology which requires 10ppm (0.001% by weight) sulphur (effectively sulphur-free) diesel.

Currently, Europe is struggling to comply with the latest directive on fuels that stipulates a maximum sulphur level of 50 ppm for diesel by 2005. This move by Germany for further reduction in sulphur content in diesel is to pave the way for a new generation of exhaust after-treatment systems and to lower sulphur oxide emissions in future.

The European Commission planned to adopt a new action plan to promote energy efficiency in the 15-nation European Union (EU) and to meet its international commitment to reduce carbon dioxide and other "greenhouse gas" emissions.

The estimated potential for energy efficiency improvement for EU is more than 18 percent of the present energy consumption. If EU can achieve two thirds of these potential savings by 2010, this would result in avoided energy consumption of more than 100 million tonnes of oil, which is equivalent to avoided carbon dioxide emissions of almost 200 million tonnes a year.

The Commission has proposed three mechanisms for improving energy efficiency: integration of energy efficiency into non-energy policy and programmes; reinforcing successful energy-efficiency measures; and co-ordinated new policies and measures.

According to researchers in the US' Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), a new fungus, Rhizopus oryzae, can convert grain and other agricultural products into biodegradable plastics as well as environmentally friendly solvents.

ARS' microbiologist Christopher D. Skory has isolated an enzyme called lactate dehydrogenanse, produced by the fungus Rhizopus oryzae, to work on the agricultural products. As a result, lactic acid is being efficiently produced. Lactic acid is the building block of polylactic acid plastic, which is similar to polyethylene terephthalate used in packaging.

Other than for the manufacturing of plastics, lactic acid and its derivatives have many other uses. One of its derivatives, ethyl lactate, is environmentally friendly and chlorine free and can be used to produce solvents that may one day replace the petroleum derived solvents.