Turning plastic into fuel

Plastic is enemy number one when talking about the environment and saving our planet along with it's biodiversity. And with good reason. Most estimates put our plastic use at around 300 million tons each year with the majority winding up in landfills or in the oceans. 

 Now, science may have an answer to this particular problem in the form of turning our plastic waste into fuel. Here's the summary of this ground breaking research: 

 Researchers report using catalytic pyrolysis to turn plastic wastes into a valuable fuel source. They focused on recycling plastic and upgrading plastic into other products or converting it to a vapor with heat, which met a catalyst and turned into the desired fuel-like product. This pyrolytic process transforms primary organic waste into a sustainable fuel or other valuable chemical. 

 Pyrolysis is a process that involves breaking down carbon with a catalyst and using heat (800° F and higher) to convert that broken down carbon into other forms. In this case, fuel for our daily needs. 

 Imagine the possibilities if we could keep 300 million tons of plastic out of the oceans and environment and, instead, use it to heat our homes or cook our food. While we're a long way from giving up our fossil fuel usage, news like this is another step forward in helping to stop the effects of climate change and preserve our planet for future generations. Click below for the original article.

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