Carbon Nanotubes

About

In the past few years, the scientific world has made vast strides in developing applications for carbon nanotube material. Following suit, manufacturers and commercial plants have increased production of carbon nanotubes for the wide demand springing forth. Incidentally, carbon nanotubes have shown toxic effects in the form of inflammation and apoptosis, resulting in an increased risk of handling these materials. While production companies increase their product output, the risk of environmental contamination is ever increased. Such contamination can subsequently diffuse through aquifers and residential drinking water. As a result, necessary precaution will have to be taken to insure that the public, as well as the manufacturers, are safe from the toxic effects associated with this material.    Technology: This invention outlines a method to safely biodegrade carbon nanotubes in environmental and biological systems. Synthetic analogues can be used to elicit the same degradation without the necessity of biological specimens. Because accidental spills of nanotubes are inevitable during their production and because manufacturing environments are always contaminated by nanotubes produced non-toxic chemicals causing their biodegradation are extremely useful. Massive use of nanotube-based materials will be also associated with environmental pollution and cheap, effective and non-toxic protocols for their biodegradation are required. Stage of Development:  * Proof of concept experiments conducted