Styrofoam sucks. It can’t be recycled, it bulks up landfills and it’s still in wide circulation despite lots of eco-friendly alternatives. Even the most dedicated environmentalists occasionally receive a package padded with Styrofoam, and then what do you do with it? Chances are, it sits in your basement until you can think of some way to reuse it.
Well, scientists have discovered that it may just have a very valuable use, after all. Funded in part by the Department of Defense, a new study suggests that Styrofoam may be used to increase biodiesel power output.
From Earth 911:
The study found that by dissolving polystyrene packing peanuts in biodiesel, scientists can actually increase the power output of the fuel, while finding a solution to disposing of the material at the same time. The polystyrene, a polymer used to make disposable styrofoam, can be dissolved into biodiesel at a concentration of 2 to 20 percent, though power output tends to decrease as polystyrene concentration increases. Although plastic doesn’t break down easily in petroleum-based diesel, it breaks down almost instantly in biodiesel.
Iowa State University researchers Najeeb Kuzhiyil and Song-Charng Kong tested the polystyrene-biodiesel blend in a tractor engine. They found that power output increased as polystyrene concentrations increased to 5 percent. After 5 percent, however, power output tended to drop off as the polymer increased the biodiesel’s viscosity.
Though it is usually more energy efficient to recycle trash rather than convert it to fuel, polystyrene may be an exception as it’s not as easily recycled, economically speaking, in the industry. This makes the material a likely candidate for fuel conversion.
So, does this mean anyone with a car that runs on biodiesel should start tossing packing peanuts into their oil tank? Not exactly. This way of disposing of Styrofoam does have its drawbacks, emitting carbon monoxide, soot and nitrous oxides. As of right now, it would be most useful under battlefield conditions where recycling isn’t usually an option. But, it is a promising start, and perhaps the scientists can find a way to reduce the emissions.
Link [Earth 911]
Photo credit: Flickr user complexify.
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The article Styrofoam Could Increase Biodiesel Power Output is syndicated for use on EcoFunctional. The original content in it’s entirety can be found here.
