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New Material Provides for Safer Cleanup of Compact Fluorescent Lamps

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July 03, 2008

Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) last about ten times longer and use only about a quarter of the electricity when compared to incandescent bulbs. Although the environmental benefit of using CFLs is clear, they contain mercury and thus require careful cleanup if broken (see guidelines below for details). Researchers and students at Brown University have discovered a new material that readily absorbs mercury. They hope this material can be included in each bulb's packaging to make cleanup and recycling easier and safer.

Related Links:

"Guidelines for Cleaning Up Broken Compact Fluorescent Bulbs "
"Mercury Vapor Release from Broken Compact Fluorescent Lamps and In Situ Capture by New Nanomaterial Sorbents "

 

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