Turning Plastic Bags Into High-Tech
Materials
University of Adelaide researchers
have developed a process for turning waste plastic bags into a high-tech
nanomaterial.
The innovative nanotechnology uses
non-biodegradable plastic grocery bags to make 'carbon nanotube membranes' --
highly sophisticated and expensive materials with a variety of potential
advanced applications including filtration, sensing, energy storage and a range
of biomedical innovations.
"Non-biodegradable plastic bags
are a serious menace to natural ecosystems and present a problem in terms of
disposal," says Professor Dusan Losic, ARC Future Fellow and Research
Professor of Nanotechnology in the University's School of Chemical Engineering.
"Transforming these waste materials through 'nanotechnological recycling' provides a potential solution for minimizing environmental pollution at the same time as producing high-added value products."
Carbon nanotubes are tiny cylinders
of carbon atoms, one nanometer in diameter (1/10,000 the diameter of a human
hair). They are the strongest and stiffest materials yet discovered -- hundreds
of times stronger than steel but six times lighter -- and their unique
mechanical, electrical, thermal and transport properties present exciting
opportunities for research and development. They are already used in a variety
of industries including in electronics, sports equipment, long-lasting
batteries, sensing devices and wind turbines.
The University of Adelaide's Nanotech
Research Group has 'grown' the carbon nanotubes onto nanoporous alumina
membranes. They used pieces of grocery plastic bags which were vaporized in a
furnace to produce carbon layers that line the pores in the membrane to make
the tiny cylinders (the carbon nanotubes). The idea was conceived and carried
out by PhD student Tariq Altalhi.
"Initially we used ethanol to
produce the carbon nanotubes," says Professor Losic. "But my student
had the idea that any carbon source should be useable."
The huge potential market for carbon
nanotubes hinges on industry's ability to produce large quantities more cheaply
and uniformly. Current synthesis methods usually involve complex processes and
equipment, and most companies on the market measure production output in only
several grams per day.
"In our laboratory, we've
developed a new and simplified method of fabrication with controllable
dimensions and shapes, and using a waste product as the carbon source,"
says Professor Losic.
The process is also catalyst and
solvent free, which means the plastic waste can be used without generating
poisonous compounds.
Story Source:
The above story is based on materials provided by University of Adelaide.
Note: Materials may be edited for
content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited
above.
Journal Reference:
1.
Tariq Altalhi, Tushar Kumeria, Abel
Santos, Dusan Losic. Synthesis of well-organised carbon nanotube membranes
from non-degradable plastic bags with tuneable molecular transport: Towards
nanotechnological recycling. Carbon, 2013; 63: 423 DOI:10.1016/j.carbon.2013.07.003
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