International Tropical Timber Council concludes (GS Paper 3, Economy)
Why in news?
- The 59th International Tropical Timber Council (ITTC), concluded recently.
- The session was held in Thailand to decide the future of IITO, whether it should continue and how to proceed.
About IITC:
- The IITC is the governing body of the International Tropical Timber Organisation (ITTO), which aims to promote sustainable management and conservation of tropical forests.
- It meets at least once a year to discuss a wide-ranging agenda aimed at promoting sustainable tropical forest management and the trade of sustainably produced tropical timber.
Key Highlights:
- The council concluded with five decisions, with the European Union expressing concern about the state of the world’s forests in the backdrop of climate change and biodiversity.
- The countries agreed to endorse eight projects related to sustainable forest management and related objectives.
- The session also approved and adopted a budget of $7.1 million for the coming financial year 2024-25.
- The work programme for 2024-25 was also adopted, which included a request to the executive director to collaborate closely with members of the Collaborative Partnership on Forests and other partners on implementation.
- The council also approved a trial measure that will allow ineligible members to submit project proposals and concept notes.
- Members who have fallen behind on their financial contributions and are thus ineligible will be allowed to submit one project and concept note for every two years of arrears paid.
What’s next?
- The Council is expected to make a decision by June 1, 2024, on its extension for three years, until 2029.
Tantalum, the rare metal found in Sutlej
(GS Paper 3, Science and Technology)
Why in news?
- A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Ropar has found the presence of tantalum, a rare metal, in the Sutlej river sand in Punjab.
- The presence of tantalum is significant not only for Punjab but also India as the metal is widely used in electronics and semiconductors.
What is tantalum?
- Tantalum is a rare metal with the atomic number 73.
- It’s grey, heavy, very hard, and one of the most corrosion-resistant metals in use today.
- It possesses high corrosion resistance because when exposed to air, it forms an oxide layer that is extremely difficult to remove, even when it interacts with strong and hot acid environments.
- When pure, tantalum is ductile, meaning it can be stretched, pulled, or drawn into a thin wire or thread without breaking.
- It is almost completely immune to chemical attack at temperatures below 150°C, and is attacked only by hydrofluoric acid, acidic solutions containing the fluoride ion, and free sulphur trioxide.
- Tantalum also has an extremely high melting point, exceeded only by tungsten and rhenium.
When was tantalum first discovered?
- Tantalum was discovered by Anders Gustaf Ekenberg, a Swedish chemist, in 1802 in minerals obtained from Ytterby, Sweden.
- Initially, it was thought Ekenberg had found only a different form of niobium, an element that is chemically similar to tantalum.
How did tantalum get its name?
- The rare metal has been named after a Greek mythological figure Tantalus, the rich but wicked king of a town above Mount Sipylus in Anatolia. Tantalus is best known for the terrible punishment he received from Zeus after the former tried to serve his son at a feast with the gods.
- The king was banished to the underworld, where he forever stood in a pool of water with clusters of fresh fruit hanging overhead. Whenever he tried to drink the water, it receded. Whenever he tried to pick the fruit, the branches drew back.
What are the uses of tantalum?
- Tantalum is most prominently used in the electronic sector. The capacitors made from tantalum are capable of storing more electricity in smaller sizes without much leakage than any other type of capacitor.
- This makes them ideal for use in portable electronic devices such as smartphones, laptops, and digital cameras.
- As tantalum has a high melting point, it is frequently used as a substitute for platinum, which is more expensive.
- The rare metal is also used to make components for chemical plants, nuclear power plants, aeroplanes and missiles.
- Tantalum does not react with bodily fluids and is used to make surgical equipment and implants, like artificial joints.
