Cane or recycling bags: two ideas for green fuel - TGCOM

17:37 – After the bacteria and coffee grounds, scientists have found two new materials to produce fuel. An Italian and a U.S. have found a way to obtain it is reviled by the plastic bags that by the common reed, the ‘ Arundo donax . In particular, the biogas plant can be achieved based on the studies of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa . From shopping bag, however, you can get diesel according to research conducted at ‘ Illinois Sustainable Technology Center .

Biogas from the barrel – The biomass of the rod may prove to be an excellent solution for biogas production with low environmental impact. During recent analysis, the barrel has recorded a high ability to produce methane, particularly if subject to double harvest during the year. In this way, the maturation is ideal and will get the best energy performance.

The plant is particularly suitable for producing biogas in the Mediterranean because it is a multi-year species able to remain productive for 10-15 years. Moreover, since also grows on marginal lands without subtracting agriculture fields. The product can be used directly in place of fossil fuels to produce electricity and heat, or for the content that biomethane, isolated, can be used as biofuel for the transport network or introduced into the natural gas grid.

Diesel from plastic bags – abundant source of waste at sea and on land, plastic bags can be converted to diesel, natural gas and other useful products. The proceeding was published in Fuel Processing Technology.

Brajendra Kumar Sharma, author of the study, explains: “From the distillation of crude oil you can only get 50-55% of fuels, but the distillation of bags plastics, which are made from petroleum, it can recover almost 80% of fuel. “

According to the Worldwatch Institute , in the U.S. alone will throw away 100 billion bags plastic per year, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that only 13% is recycled. Most end up in landfills or in water courses and, from there, into the sea.

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Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna of Pisa

Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

Fuel Processing Technology

Brajendra Kumar Sharma