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Liquid Fuel From The Sun

February 21, 2019 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

Most forms of energy we use ultimately come from the sun in one way or another.  Even fossil fuels are the end product of millions of years of plant life that captured solar energy.  The advantage fossil fuels have over direct solar power is that they are, in fact, fuels and therefore can be stored for use when needed.

Scientists in Sweden have now developed a specialized fluid that absorbs some of the sun’s energy, holds it for months or even years, and then releases it when needed.  This solar thermal fuel is like a rechargeable battery for heat rather than electricity.

The special fluid is pumped through transparent tubes where ultraviolet light from the sun excites its molecules into an energized state.  A compound called norbornadiene is converted into quadricyclane. The quadricyclane is a quite stable substance until it is passed over a cobalt-based catalyst, which causes it to turn back into norbornadiene and release copious amounts of heat.

Such a solar thermal fuel could be stored in uninsulated tanks in homes or factories or piped or trucked to where it was needed.  It could then be used for water heaters, dishwashers, or clothes driers.  The room temperature fluid quickly warms to about 183 degrees when passed over the catalyst, plenty warm enough for heating a home or office.  Both the fuel and the catalyst are damaged very little by the reactions, so the process can be recycled many times.

There is much development work needed to optimize shelf life, energy density, good recyclability and other properties before this technology can be commercialized but there are at least 15 groups around the world now studying this intriguing way to get liquid fuel from the sun.

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Scientists transform sunlight into a liquid fuel that can be stored for 18 years

Photo, posted August 17, 2009, courtesy of Hiromichi Torihara via Flickr.

Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio.

A Supermaterial From Plastic Waste

December 13, 2018 By EarthWise Leave a Comment

https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.129/22d.937.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/EW-12-13-18-A-Supermaterial-From-Plastic-Waste.mp3

Researchers at the National University of Singapore have created a way to convert plastic bottle waste into an ultralight aerogel material that has multiple potential applications.

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Stop Putting Food Waste Down The Drain

May 4, 2016 By WAMC WEB

https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.129/22d.937.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/EW-05-04-16-Kitchen-Disposals.mp3

Should we really be putting food scraps down our sinks? Advertisements for kitchen garbage disposals assure us that these devices are a ‘hygienic way of eliminating waste and keeping odors at bay’ – but behind marketing materials questions remain.

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Reduced Waste From Modular Construction

March 10, 2016 By WAMC WEB

https://secureservercdn.net/198.71.233.129/22d.937.myftpupload.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/EW-03-10-16-Modular-Construction.mp3

Our nation’s landfills are overflowing and we are constantly seeking ways to reduce the amount of waste that needs to go into them.  Usually, we are thinking about food waste, plastics, glass and paper.  However, one of the largest sources of waste generation is actually construction and demolition waste.   Estimates are that between 25 and 40% of the national solid waste stream comes from these activities and very little of it gets recycled.

[Read more…] about Reduced Waste From Modular Construction

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