Contaminant filter gets a boost
Research into alternative energy sources is driving demand for special products from a Longmont company. Synkera Technologies Inc. designs technology used to filter and purify hydrogen used in fuel cells.
The company has recently received $1 million in National Science Foundation grants to continue work on its nanoporous ceramic membranes, used to absorb contaminants. Hydrogen must be in its cleanest form to generate energy in fuel cells, said Michael G. Anderson, vice president of marketing for Synkera, and the company has developed membranes to filter and absorb gaseous impurities.
“Fuel cells aren’t exploding on market today, but we’re poised to be there when it does,” Anderson said. “We have these two programs that we’re trying to position ourselves with for the future. That would really enable people who make fuel cells.”
Synkera, founded in 2003, has 12 employees, mainly material scientists and mechanical engineers. The company’s flagship product line is a chemical sensor, used to detect various hazardous elements such as hydrogen sulfide in the oil-refining process or ammonia used in making fertilizer. Anderson said that Synkera worked with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security more than a year ago on a toxic-gas-detection program and has submitted proposals to work with the department again. – Kimberly S. Johnson, The Denver Post
Gadget knows all about medicines
The more pills you take, the more you need to know about them when you’re gadding about. Is it time to take this pill now? If I’ve missed a pill, should I take one now, double up next time or simply skip it? The Rx Master from Excalibur Electronics will tell you all that and more. The pocket-sized device ($30 at excaliburelectronics.com and other online stores) can remind you when doses are due, keep track of what you’ve taken, and store your pills in a four-compartment drawer.
You can also consult its database of drug interactions and side effects. Enter a drug name and the device will tell you the generic name, how it’s used, what to do if you miss a dose or accidentally take two, what foods and other drugs it interacts with and whether the drug can be addictive. It holds more than 50 emergency medical hotline numbers in the United States, Canada and Britain, and you can enter your own physician’s number and other personal data. -Ivan Berger, The New York Times
