Research opportunities environmental effects

There are a large number of possible alternative corrosion inhibitors to chromates. Until now, none of the main inorganic compounds (including lanthanides and others such as molybdates, silicates and various salts of these materials) seem to be effective one-to-one replacements for chromates (Cook, etal, 2007). However, the uses of environmentally friendly inhibitors have proved that acceptable levels of inhibition can be obtained. It has been remarked by the Committee on Research Opportunities in Corrosion Science and Engineering (2011) herein lies a very important area for additional research . 

The treatment of wood to reduce or eliminate the effects of weathering could potentially open up new market opportunities for wood as a material and research has therefore targeted chemical pretreatments that might provide such benefits. Chromium-based pretreatments are particularly effective in this regard but, presumably for environmental reasons, such systems have generally not been adopted by industry and the search continues for effective, low-toxicity photostabilizing agents for wood. 

Tightening environmental regulations are requiring the deployment of cost-effective NOx control technologies and are providing opportunities for the development of new technologies. Promising research horizons include low-NOx burners, catalytic combustion, NO decomposition, hydrocarbon (or methane)-SCR and simultaneous NOx and SOx control. 

The environmental consulting field appeals to Bart for a number of reasons the chance to define and solve a number of research problems the simultaneous work on a number of diverse projects the mix of desk, field, and laboratory work the travel and the opportunity to perform rewarding work that has a positive effect on people s lives. 

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