The scientists from Singapore found out a new, green way to tackle plastic waste. Moreover, the method also promises more electricity! (Image via Waste360)

Scientists to collaborate with the Sun to fight plastic wastes

Alfonsus Adi Putra
Business & Industry
Environmental Energy & Material
Dec 12, 2019
1763
On Wednesday, the scientists from Singapore said to have found a way to tackle plastic wastes without doing another harm to Mother Nature, by using artificial sunlight to convert these plastic wastes into the power-generating compound.

By using artificial sunlight, the scientists from Nanyang Technological University were able to convert plastic wastes to “formic acid” which can be used in power plants for more juice! More importantly, scientists used a catalyst that environmentally friendly and cheap.

In the test, by mixing the plastic with chemicals into a solution, the waste broke down six days after being exposed to the artificial sunlight. The scientists hoped that the method would be used in real-life with real sunlight.

The scientists, nonetheless, stated that more manpower and funding are required to carry out the test on a bigger scale. Moreover, the test used a “tiny amount” of pure plastic, not waste. Therefore, more tests are required.

While the world is battling the problem, the international communities criticize how the Asian nations fail to reduce plastic wastes, piling up on their lands and drifting in their seas. However, that does not mean that these Asian nations haven’t done anything.

For example, one method to reduce plastic wastes was to melt them down with fossil fuels. While it does reduce the plastic, the method resulted in greenhouse gases.

Source: https://bit.ly/2rD98T5

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