Using a compound derived from a pine tree, chemists at NJIT have produced a new environmentally-friendly class of synthesized chemical compounds called chiral ionic liquids. These solvents are salts that are liquid at room temperatures, can be tailored to dissolve coal, crude oil, inks, plastics, DNA, and even rocks. The researchers will discuss their findings at the upcoming American Chemical Society meeting on August 25, 2004 at the Philadelphia Convention Center.