Selenium Disulfide from Sustainable Resources: An Example of "Redneck" Chemistry with a Pinch of Salt.

Selenium disulfide (often referred to as SeS) encompasses a family of mixed selenium-sulfide eight-membered rings, traditionally used as an anti-dandruff agent in shampoos. SeS can be produced by reacting hydrogen sulfide (HS) with selenite (SeO) under acidic conditions. This chemistry is also possible with natural spring waters that are rich in HS, thus providing an avenue for the more sustainable, green production of high-quality SeS particles from an abundant natural source.

The future in the litter bin - bioconversion of food waste as driver of a circular bioeconomy.

Bioconversion of organic waste requires the development and application of rather simple, yet robust technologies capable of transferring biomass into energy and sustainable materials for the future. Food waste plays a significant role in this process as its valorisation reduces waste and at the same time avoids additional exploitation of primary resources. Nonetheless, to literally become "litterate".

The redox riddle of selenium sulfide.

Selenium sulfide, in analogy with selenium dioxide, is often considered as SeS. At closer inspection, however, selenium sulfide represents a large family of rather complicated molecules which differ depending on the mode of preparation. Together, these compounds share extraordinarily low solubility in virtually any solvent with a biological activity rather impressive for such simple molecules.

A Whiff of Sulfur: One Wind a Day Keeps the Doctor Away.

Reactive Sulfur Species (RSS), such as allicin from garlic or sulforaphane from broccoli, are fre-quently associated with biological activities and possible health benefits in animals and humans. Among these Organic Sulfur Compounds (OSCs) found in many plants and fungi, the Volatile Sulfur Compounds (VSCs) feature prominently, not only because of their often-pungent smell, but also because they are able to access places which solids and solutions cannot reach that easily. Indeed, inorganic RSS such as hydrogen sulfide (HS) and sulfur dioxide (SO) can be used to lit-erally fumigate entire rooms and areas.