'Green fireworks' to brighten American skies on 4th of July.Byline: ANI Washington, June 23 (ANI): This time, the 4th of July will see 'green fireworks' brighten the skies in an eco-friendly way in the US, with researchers developing new pyrotechnic formulas that replace environmental pollutant in the firecrackers with nitrogen-rich materials that burn cleaner and produce less smoke. Fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to , flares and other so-called "pyrotechnics pyrotechnics (pī'rōtĕk`nĭks, pī'rə–), technology of making and using fireworks. Gunpowder was used in fireworks by the Chinese as early as the 9th cent. " traditionally have included potassium perchlorate as the oxidizer ox·i·diz·er n. A substance that oxidizes another substance; an oxidizing agent. Also called oxidant. , a material that provides the oxygen that fireworks need to burn. Perchlorate perchlorate: see chlorate. , however, is an environmental pollutant with potential adverse effects on people and wildlife. Pyrotechnics contain other ingredients, such color-producing heavy metals heavy metals, n.pl metallic compounds, such as aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, and nickel. Exposure to these metals has been linked to immune, kidney, and neurotic disorders. , with a similar potential. Studies have shown that perchlorate from community fireworks displays conducted over lakes, for instance, can lead to perchlorate contamination of the water. Researchers, however, have developed new pyrotechnic formulas that replace perchlorate with nitrogen-rich materials or nitrocellulose nitrocellulose, nitric acid ester of cellulose (a glucose polymer). It is usually formed by the action of a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acids on purified cotton or wood pulp. that burn cleaner and produce less smoke, according to an article in ACS's weekly newsmagazine, Chemical and Engineering News (C and EN). In the article, C and EN Associate Editor Bethany Halford says that these nitrogen-rich formulas also use fewer color-producing chemicals, dramatically cutting down on the amount of heavy metals used and lowering their potentially toxic effects. Some of these fireworks have already been used at circuses, rock concerts and other events, but none have been used at large outdoor displays. According to the article, the big challenge in launching these "eco-friendly" pyrotechnics into the sky is making them cost-competitive with conventional fireworks while maintaining their dazzle and glow. (ANI) Copyright 2009 Asian News International The Asian News International (ANI) agency provides multimedia news to China and 50 bureaus in India. It covers virtually all of South Asia since its foundation and presently claims, on its official website, to be the leading South Asia-wide news agency. (ANI) - All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info an Albawaba.com company |
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