[Transcendental]

Hi everyone, new here. I'm an undergrad university student studying environmental chemistry. Right now I have to come up with a very specific research topic about something that has never been researched before, and present the research proposal (don't have to do actual research). I want to research something related to an environment problem involving chemistry but so far I haven't been able to come up with any idea I'm satisfied with...

Can anyone give me some ideas to get me kick started or point me in some direction that can eventually get me an idea?

[Zym]

 I'm new also, and only in my second year of school, but something I've thought of lately is a way to make salt firing more environmentally friendly. Potters like to add NaCl at very high temperatures to the kilns. The Na leaves a really nice glaze on the pottery, but the Cl forms some nasties and contributes to acid rain. I believe it combines with water vapor and forms HCl. I looked at it briefly last year when I was taking pottery, but don't remember the balanced equation.

 I'm not sure if this is anything close to what your looking for, just thought I'd throw it out there.

[Transcendental]

Hmm... salt firing... never heard of that before, very interesting. I'll look into that, thanks!

[billnotgatez]

I do pottery stuff on a regular basis and have yet to be lucky enough to do a salt glaze firing. My guess the number of these events occurring in the world is fairly small. My opinion is that cattle flatulence is probably a greater problem. Unfortunately for the original poster the methane problem is being researched already.

[Zym]

I've only had the chance to do one salt fire glaze, from a guy who had a kiln off campus. The NaCl really tore up his kiln. The fire brick corrodes fast. He said he spends $400 a year of so replacing firebrick. I agree it probably dosen't have too much of a net effect on the environment, but hey, most of the environmental movement today is inventing solutions for nonissues IMHO. 

[billnotgatez]

Zym - Actually, I was a bit hasty. The original poster wanted an idea that had not been done. All of the big things are being looked at and so your idea is as good as any. I think I would find it hard to come up with a good experiment on it though. Especially, an experiment that would fix this problem economically. The corrosive information you added in the second post gives some more insight. It would be nice to get a list of little environmental problems like yours that could be a project for someone. Thanks for your idea.

By the way, I am almost done with my 20-inch tall coil pot for grade. What a trying experience.