Seoul students found the hidden dial that makes green chemistry work

Graduate students Seonghyeon Min and Junghoon Lee at Seoul National University, led by professor Jaeyune Ryu, spotted a "hidden variable" deciding whether a green chemical reaction succeeds or fails: the acidity right at the electrode's surface. By reshaping the reactor — narrower electrode gaps, flowing liquid — they pushed the yield of key plastic ingredients from 16% to 97%, using only oxygen and electricity at room temperature instead of hazardous chemical oxidizers. The resulting compounds are building blocks for biodegradable plastics, medical sutures and drug delivery.