GOLD may hold the key to cleaning up a persistent toxic pollutant from groundwater much faster and cheaper than is possible now. Scientists in the US have hit upon a promising way to use the precious metal to clean up the carcinogen trichloroethane (TCE).
TCE is a colourless organic liquid that smells a little like chloroform. It is mostly used as an industrial degreaser in the manufacture of metal engineering parts such as steel tubes and pipes. TCE can cause liver damage and cancer in humans, but until regulations came into effect in the US in 1989, industry dumped…
