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Rice University, In The United States, Has A Unique Study On Automotive Waste Recycling
A team of researchers from Rice University, in the United States, presented the results of their studies in the quest for transforming automotive waste, that is, plastic waste into graphene. The recycling process created is much more sustainable and economical than others used in the industry and helps to reduce the waste produced and taken to landfills. Moreover, it serves as a base material for new cars and even batteries.
The team of scientists claims that plastic waste, the polymers obtained from garbage, can be heated to extreme temperatures, above 2,700°C, and then transformed into graphene. This heating process is known as Flash Joule and takes only 10 milliseconds to reach the desired temperature.
Find Out What Are The Main Applications Of Graphene Today In The Video Below.
The Process Of Transforming Waste Into Graphene Uses High Temperatures And Crushing Of Collected Material
According to researchers, cars have, on average, between 200 and 350 kilograms of plastic waste that is usually discarded after the end of their useful life. However, with the study conducted, the promise is that this material can be reintegrated into the automotive industry.
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“With this technique, we no longer need to bury waste. You simply transform it into graphene, add a new composite, and repeat this process indefinitely, in a financially more viable and environmentally friendly system of plastic recycling.”
Chemistry Professor James Tour, Co-Author Of The Study (2022)
The process involves initial crushing of the waste, until it reaches pieces smaller than 1 mm in diameter. Then, these particles undergo the Flash Joule process, which converts the matter into graphene and releases other components into the air, such as oxygen, chlorine, hydrogen, or silica.
The researchers also highlight that the purity of the material will depend on the composition of the plastic waste. For example, a mixture of high-density polyethylene has an approximate composition of 86% carbon by mass, while polyvinyl chloride, another type of material, contains a lower percentage, only 38%.
Automotive Waste Recycling Will Reduce The Volume Sent To Landfills And Increase Sustainability
The experiments during the research were conducted using residual plastic parts from Ford F-150 pickup models, such as door linings, seats, joints, and carpets. From these parts, the described process of crushing and overheating was performed to generate more durable graphene parts.
However, the team of researchers points out that a recurring problem today is the disposal of different compositions of the plastic parts used in vehicles in landfills, causing an increase in waste production. Nonetheless, the created process can repurpose all of this that would be discarded and return it in a very sustainable way to the industry that generated it.
“This graphene produced from plastic waste was used by Ford to enhance the compound of a polyurethane foam, showing to have performance similar to fresh graphene manufactured by the automaker. This demonstrates that it can be successfully used in a continuous recycling process.”
Chemistry Professor James Tour, Co-Author Of The Study (2022)
In other words, this project contributes to the economy and sustainability, reducing the volume of waste produced from the disposal of automotive parts. In addition, it results in the production of a super strong material that serves as an excellent base for manufacturing new car parts and highly durable batteries.
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