Singaporean researchers have come up with a new incentive for people to recycle disposable PET plastic bottles instead of just throwing them away. They can turn the plastic waste into a group of very useful materials called aerogels, which would make the disposable bottles well worth the effort of holding on to or recovering from landfills.
Aerogels are a form of synthetic gel where the liquid part has been replaced by a gas. The result is an ultralight and translucent material with very low density and similarly low heat conductivity.
There are many expected uses for these aerogels. They can serve as insulators that maintain the temperature inside containers, or protect important items from fire. Some aerogels can even be used to clean up oil spills.
The National University of Singapore (NUS) researchers devised a new chemical process that lets them turn polyethylene terepthalate (PET) into aerogels. PET is the primary material in disposable plastic bottles.
“Plastic waste is one of the hardest wastes to recycle,” said researcher Hai Minh Duong. The conversion method developed by his team may make it much easier to recycle this tough waste material. (Related: Irish researchers detail a potential solution for tackling plastic waste.)
PET bottles and other forms of plastic pollution are everywhere now
The NUS researchers were looking for a means of reducing the staggering amount of plastic waste churned out by modern society on a daily basis. This problem is found worldwide.
Every year, more than eight million tons of plastics enter the waters of the world ocean. They are toxic when consumed and will last for many years despite the degrading effects of sunlight, waves, and wind.
Marine organisms that mistake the plastics for food will suffer various forms of ailments and even death. Eventually, the toxic contaminants will make their way into the bodies of humans who eat these fish.
Sixty percent of these mountains of plastic waste come from five countries in Asia: China, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam. They suffer from a number of problems such as insufficient sanitation systems.
The plastic bottle is one of the most commonly produced, used, and discarded PET products that end up as trash. Experts believe that half a trillion tons of PET bottles will be consumed every year by 2021. A large fraction of these bottles are going to end up as trash that contaminates underground water, harms oceanic life, and affects our health.
Turning PET plastic bottles into sheets of aerogels
The NUS researchers used plastic bottle waste as the raw material for their production process. The resulting PET-based aerogels feel soft to the touch and weigh very little; they can also be flexed with ease for long periods of time without breaking or deteriorating.
A single A4-sized sheet of aerogel can be made from a recycled bottle. The surface of the material will be treated to further improve its absorption and insulating capacities.
Adding a fire retarding coat made the aerogel sheet capable of surviving temperatures of up to 1,148 F (620 C.) It would perform seven times better than the conventional thermal lining in the fire resistant coats of firefighters. Furthermore, the sheet would only weigh a tenth as much as its standard counterpart.
Other appropriately treated sheets could be used as sound and thermal insulating materials for rooms and buildings; as a filtration layer in a face mask that absorbs deadly carbon monoxide; and as a clean-up material that attracts and traps oil.
Duong related that he dreamed of a future where plastic trash and other forms of waste have been eliminated. Their method for recycling PET plastics into aerogels is one of the big steps toward realizing that vision.
Edsel Cook
Sources include:
Reuters.com
Eng.NUS.edu.sg
Related Posts
Published by dreddymd
Dr Eddy Bettermann MD focus on Biological Medicine (Biologische Medizin) #Biological #Medicine #videos http://bit.ly/2LF3Ro3, Darkfield Microscopy (Dunkelfeld Mikroskopie), Orthomolecular Medicine (Orthomolekulare Medizin), Ayurvedic Medicine (Ayurveda), Psychosomatic Medicine (Psychosomatische Medizin), raw food (Rohkost), fasting (Fasten):
Our primary integrative medicine goal is the maintenance of your health and wellness, and we are committed to safe and effective healthcare.
Our specialties include online integrative medicine education by alternative doctor: food and allergy management through the use of Integrative medical therapy, Environmental Medicine, General Family Medicine, Ayurveda, Panchakarma, Chronic Fatigue, ADHD, autism, Fibromyalgia, Yeast/Fungus related diseases – Candidacies, mercury dental replacement and detoxification, Natural Thyroid Replacement, Weight loss, Lyme Disease, Irritable Bowel Disease, Attention Deficit Disorder, Pervasive Developmental Disorders, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Addiction related programs, Intestinal Dysbiosis, as well as trigger point therapy using Neural Therapy.
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD, physician from Germany, consultant and teacher in biological medicine, especially dark field microscopy known as Live Blood Analysis in Thailand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines. But he lecture also in the USA, Canada and the U.A.E. He speaks english and german.
https://dreddymd.com/2017/01/17/the-interactive-live-blood-cd-and-the-certified-training-live-blood-analysis-online-course/
https://dreddymd.com/courses/
https://dreddymd.com/2017/01/17/live-blood-microscopy-analysis-darkfield-course/
“Let thy Food be thy Medicine and thy Medicine be thy Food.” — Hippocrates
Physician Member of the Medical Board at AOX Singapore,
Medical Doctor at Nurse Mobile Clinic and
Physician at DrEddy Clinic
Our Mission:
The mission of the Integrative Medicine is to search for the most effective treatments for patients by combining both conventional and alternative approaches that address all aspects of health and wellness – biological, psychological, social and spiritual. Biological Medicine is a big part of my work and so is Dark field Microscopy, what I use in my daily practice and what I teach more then 15 years in Asia and around the world: Live Blood Analysis in dark field based on Haematology.
We utilize Live blood analysis since 2004, conventional as well as specialty laboratories for a thorough diagnostic work up of the disease in question. Our integrative medicine treatment regimens are especially unique and are tailored specifically to the individual needs of each patient.
Our Mission: don’t harm, prevent, use food as medicine
We are a reliable partner for integrative medicine in Medical Spa & Clinic Development and integrative medicine Education Training for alternative doctors – we bring different holistic approaches, like Integrative Medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda Medicine together. On your request we offer our service in your place as well.
Heavy metal poisoning
Heavy metal poisoning is much more common than most people realize, and if you’re thinking that it doesn’t apply to you because you haven’t been exposed to any, think again. If you’ve eaten fish regularly, had amalgam fillings, received vaccinations, drank contaminated water, or done industrial or agricultural work or pharmaceutical manufacturing, there’s a good chance that you have a fair amount of toxic metals in your system..
We are here to help and to educate!
Wishing your health and happiness
Dr Eddy Bettermann MD
We are affiliated The Wellness Company https://bit.ly/3V726zc
The Wellness Company Coupon for membership, supplements, doctor appointment, online consultation https://bit.ly/3V5NsIy
DrEddyClinic is affiliate of Amazon and get commission for the products, which we recommend https://www.amazon.com/shop/dreddyclinic , same as GlobalHealing https://dreddymd.com/shop/supplements/
View all posts by dreddymd
Dr. Eddy Bettermann MD 