Due to its unique chemical and metallurgical properties gold is has a vital role to play in future technologies aimed at reducing pollution and energy consumption. Examples include:

Water Purification
Mercury Control
Diesel Emission Control

The recent announcement by U.S. company Nanostellar that they have developed an automotive pollution control catalyst for diesel engines that contains gold, as well as the traditional platinum and palladium ingredients, is a major step-forward in cost effective emission control.

'Green' Chemistry

Green chemistry, also called sustainable chemistry, is a chemical philosophy encouraging the design of industrial chemicals and processes that reduce or eliminate the use and generation of hazardous substances. The use of gold as a catalyst has a major role to play in green chemistry.