Polysulfides made from re-purposed waste are sustainable materials for removing iron from water.

Water contaminated with Fe is undesirable because it can result in discoloured plumbing fixtures, clogging, and a poor taste and aesthetic profile for drinking water. At high levels, Fe can also promote the growth of unwanted bacteria, so environmental agencies and water authorities typically regulate the amount of Fe in municipal water and wastewater. Here, polysulfide sorbents-prepared from elemental sulfur and unsaturated cooking oils-are used to remove Fe contaminants from water.

Laying Waste to Mercury: Inexpensive Sorbents Made from Sulfur and Recycled Cooking Oils.

Mercury pollution threatens the environment and human health across the globe. This neurotoxic substance is encountered in artisanal gold mining, coal combustion, oil and gas refining, waste incineration, chloralkali plant operation, metallurgy, and areas of agriculture in which mercury-rich fungicides are used. Thousands of tonnes of mercury are emitted annually through these activities.