A NEW material developed at the University of Limerick can capture toxic pollutants from air.
The sponge-like material could have a significant impact in the battle against climate change, researchers believe.
Professor Michael Zaworotko, from the University of Limerick’s (UL) Bernal Institute, developed the new material along with UL colleague Dr Xiang-Jing Kong and other academics in China.
It can clean the air by removing low concentrations of benzene - a toxic pollutant that can cause severe environmental and health issues.
"A family of porous materials - like sponge - have been developed to capture benzene vapour from polluted air and produce a clean air stream for a long working time," Professor Zaworotko said.
"These materials could be regenerated easily under mild heating, making them candidates for air purification and environmental remediation."
