Industrial research
Gold's novel and incredibly useful technical properties mean that it is a widely used material in research laboratories around the world.
There is a very active network of leading researchers studying the advanced scientific properties of gold, actively supported by the gold mining industry. The last international gathering of these researchers attracted over 300 participants from around the world, see www.utilisegold.com/wgc_initiatives/conferences/2006/ for more details and an even bigger event is planned in 2009 www.gold2009.org . In the last 10 years over 39,000 patent applications were published relating to the technical use of gold in practical applications, so new uses for gold will soon emerge based on these patented technologies.
Scientists are looking at how gold can be used effectively for a diverse range of new applications including advanced electronics, fuel cells, medical treatments, and chemical catalysts. Applications for gold catalysts are now being developed in a number of new areas including 'green' chemical manufacturing processes, air cleaning (eg removal of smells and poisonous carbon monoxide from indoor environments) and for controlling mercury emissions from coal-fired power stations.
