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A combination of tiny ceramic beads and metal-attracting molecules can mop up
toxic spills. The US Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National
Laboratory has found that a layer of a compound called
tris(methoxy)mercaptopropylsilane, bound to pores in ceramic beads five
micrometres across, can remove heavy metals such as mercury, lead and chromium.
The beads can also remove radioactive elements from contaminated water and
gas.