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Related: About this forumTeenager develops inexpensive method to turn plastic waste into biofuel
http://www.ibtimes.com.au/teenager-develops-inexpensive-method-turn-plastic-waste-million-dollar-biofuel-1462323
A new inexpensive way to turn plastic trash into fuel has been developed by an Egyptian teenager which could generate millions of dollars every year. The method produces biofuel by breaking down plastics using a cheaper and plentiful low-cost catalyst.
Azza Faiad, from the Zahran Language School in Alexandria in Egypt, has successfully converted plastic into fuel feedstocks, or the bulk raw material for producing biofuel, through a new catalyst called aluminisilicate. The catalyst reduces the cost of converting plastic waste into gaseous products, including methane, propane and ethane, which can be converted into ethanol for use as biofuel.
The chemicals extracted from plastic polymers are the same chemicals extracted from vegetation to create ethanol biofuel. The Egyptian Petroleum Research Institute Mamdouh Elmelawy was attracted to Faiads idea, which they believe would offer a substitute to fossil fuels through her new catalyst.
Faiad was granted by the institute an access to a lab with other researchers to help develop her trash-to-fuel formula. Faiad aims to take advantage on Egypt's high plastic consumption, estimated to be around one million tonnes a year.
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Teenager develops inexpensive method to turn plastic waste into biofuel (Original Post)
Bill USA
Aug 2015
OP
villager
(26,001 posts)1. Hypatia's heir from the library at Alexandria!
And like Hypatia, this young woman will have to keep a watchful eye out for religious fanatics, as well....
kristopher
(29,798 posts)2. I'd want to see a strict carbon accounting for this process
The catalyst reduces the cost of converting plastic waste into gaseous products, including methane, propane and ethane, which can be converted into ethanol for use as biofuel.
Petroleum > plastic waste > (greenhouse) gases (methane, propane and ethane) > (petroleum derived) ethanol = biofuel fuel.
notemason
(299 posts)3. Was my first thoughts
but wouldn't it offer incentive to collect the waste plastics?