The Fourth of July is just three days away and you can bet that most people are figuring out how to celebrate this annual event in the most eco-friendly way possible. For sure, fireworks will be the first in mind. But are there any eco-friendly fireworks within reach?

The answer here is coloring agents. We are all amazed at the fireworks display because of color and light. The usual harmful elements are potassium perchlorate which is a known element in pyrotechnics. So taking that out and using another compound in the form of strontium-based oxidants may help provide eco-friendly firework solutions that people will be looking for come this Friday during the regular Fourth of July celebration.

The C&EN article also warns us that coloring agents used during fireworks could be friendlier to the planet. “The other area in which pyrotechnics could improve from an environmental standpoint is their use of coloring agents. To achieve colored fireworks and flares, pyrotechnic makers employ metals or metal compounds that emit light in the visible spectrum. Red hues come from strontium, sodium glows yellow, barium burns green, and blues and greens come from copper. At one time, mercury and lead compounds were used as colorants, but they were phased out long ago. Ironically, the modern pyrotechnic components that could use some “greening” are the barium compounds that give fireworks and flares their green color.”

(Source) ZDNet