SHAFAQNA- Densely populated cities such as London and Tokyo might feel that the air is being sucked out of them during rush hours. However put away the Vicks sinus spray because a team of researchers from Denmark has found a way to store oxygen at levels of up to 160 times greater than air in crystal.
According to IFL Science, humans require oxygen concentrations higher than the 21% that is typically found in the air. This new crystallised form,
“Is able to suck all of the oxygen out of a room. It binds the oxygen until environmental conditions, such as heat or low pressure, allow it to release the oxygen again… The researchers are able to coax the oxygen out on demand in this fashion, though environmental conditions also affect how much it is able to absorb.”
In a similar way to our autonomic behaviour, the crystallised material works in the same way to how haemoglobin works in the blood stream; oxygen is picked up from the lungs and deposited where it is needed.
“An important aspect of this new material is that it does not react irreversibly with oxygen – even though it absorbs oxygen in a so-called selective chemisorptive process,” McKenzie said in a press release.
“The material is both a sensor, and a container for oxygen – we can use it to bind, store and transport oxygen – like a solid artificial hemoglobin.”
The team used cobalt to bind and trap the oxygen gas.
“Cobalt gives the new material precisely the molecular and electronic structure that enables it to absorb oxygen from its surroundings,” McKenzie explained.
“Small amounts of metals are essential for the absorption of oxygen, so actually it is not entirely surprising to see this effect in our new material.”
This research could be ground breaking because it can provide exponential amounts of oxygen needed for medical reasons. People would no longer need to rely on traditional oxygen tanks. It could also help to create new types cells. McKenzie believes divers and lung patients will be amongst the beneficiaries:
“This could be valuable for lung patients who today must carry heavy oxygen tanks with them. But also divers may one day be able to leave the oxygen tanks at home and instead get oxygen from this material as it “filters” and concentrates oxygen from surrounding air or water,”
“A few grains contain enough oxygen for one breath, and as the material can absorb oxygen from the water around the diver and supply the diver with it. The diver will not need to bring more than these few grains.”
This really is an evolution for science. Breathe easy commuters, breathe easy.
https://en.shafaqna.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/new-logo-s-en-fine.png00adminhttps://en.shafaqna.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/new-logo-s-en-fine.pngadmin2014-10-03 09:22:532014-10-03 09:22:53Crystal Can Absorb Oxygen And Store It