turning poop into plastic at paris climate talks
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
Last Updated : GMT 09:03:51
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Turning poop into plastic at Paris climate talks

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today

Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turning poop into plastic at Paris climate talks

Technology on display at the COP21 climate talks in Paris
Le Bourget - AFP

A small piece of dung was on proud display at global climate-saving talks in Paris, just a few steps away from being transformed into a plastic bottle or fuel for a car.

Along with scraps from slaughterhouses and dinner tables, it is the raw material for an innovative process to turn waste into a range of new products.

"This is the third Industrial Revolution. It changes the world from using oil products to using biomass," Regis Nouaille, founder of biotech startup Afyren, told AFP at the UN conference where 195 nations agreed a historic climate rescue pact.

His company was one of dozens that showed off pioneering green technologies, including a wood chip-powered generator and an inventive device for bringing electricity to remote villages.

Nouaille explained that waste like dung, animal parts or sugar beet leftovers can be doused with a cocktail of 50-100 naturally-occurring micro-organisms to prompt a chemical reaction.

The process produces natural compounds, which Nouaille called "building blocks" that are extracted in a process pioneered by his company.
Once the substance is refined -- in a process similar to the one for oil -- it can then be used as the raw material for making plastic, petrol or even cosmetics.

Though the technology is a pilot effort, Nouaille said the goal is to roll it out on an industrial scale.

Just down the aisle in the sprawling convention centre was the incongruous scene of a thatched hut flanked by a several-metre tall metal pole topped with a streetlight and solar panel.

It was part of a system called nanogrid that its developers say could help bring light into the lives of some of the more than 620 million Africans who do not have electricity.

"So with electricity they will be able to develop new businesses and to develop themselves," said Boris Durand, a product manager with nanogrid's maker Sunna Design.
"We give them the tool and after people create their own development."

- 'Trash into treasure' -

At the system's core is a solar panel that generates power both for the attached streetlight -- which Sunna says provides both safety and a social centre in remote villages -- and the nanogrid.

Durand said the system produces enough power to light up eight homes that would otherwise have been lit only with candles. The company provides the equipment and installs it.

"They (users) pay 10 cents per day to get electricity at home," said Durand.
Weaning humanity off oil, gas and coal while moving towards a low-carbon future was a key element of the Paris talks. It turns out you can start doing that with a few unwanted logs.

A machine showed off at the conference heats up fuel such as woodchips or nutshells to the point where they give off highly-flammable gases carbon monoxide and hydrogen, but do not actually catch fire.

"The flame is essentially a waste of energy," said Sara Norris, an engineer and saleswoman with the machine's maker All Power Labs. "We're basically just harnessing the smoke."

Those gases then become the fuel for the machine's generator, which pumps out enough electricity for four or so energy-guzzling American households. In the developing world the device would run up to 10 homes.

Materials such as wood are not as densely packed with energy as fossil fuels. So about 10 kilos (22 pounds) of woodchips in the machine would create about the same amount of power as four litres (a gallon) of diesel.

But making your own electricity requires a substantial investment, with the cost for the machine, installation and training for its use topping $30,000 (27,300 euros).

They have about 60 of the machines making power in various places around the world including several in Liberia and another on a remote island in the Philippines.

"You are essentially turning trash into treasure," Norris said.

 

almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday

Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

turning poop into plastic at paris climate talks turning poop into plastic at paris climate talks

 



Name *

E-mail *

Comment Title*

Comment *

: Characters Left

Mandatory *

Terms of use

Publishing Terms: Not to offend the author, or to persons or sanctities or attacking religions or divine self. And stay away from sectarian and racial incitement and insults.

I agree with the Terms of Use

Security Code*

turning poop into plastic at paris climate talks turning poop into plastic at paris climate talks

 



Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017

GMT 09:22 2018 Monday ,22 January

Skincare PR Performance Full Year 2017
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way

GMT 11:03 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

New hunt for flight MH370 gets under way
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Modern colorful bedroom renovation

GMT 10:57 2017 Thursday ,21 December

Modern colorful bedroom renovation
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president

GMT 13:56 2018 Tuesday ,23 January

Puigdemont candidate for Catalan president
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 10:47 2018 Wednesday ,24 January

Turkey detains dozens more

GMT 21:00 2011 Thursday ,29 September

Al Jaber to agree debt deal by year-end

GMT 05:50 2012 Saturday ,05 May

French patisserie with delightful structure

GMT 01:56 2012 Friday ,06 April

Sheraton Hotels to boost spa offering

GMT 08:51 2012 Thursday ,26 April

Arab women still unrecognised

GMT 07:08 2011 Thursday ,22 September

Hotel Shilla sets up first free shop in Macau

GMT 08:52 2018 Friday ,12 January

Film legend Delon says he's ready to die

GMT 14:48 2017 Sunday ,31 December

UAE cancels Tunisia handball games amid row

GMT 18:49 2017 Tuesday ,31 October

Celtics snap NBA losing streak to injury-hit Spurs

GMT 12:54 2011 Monday ,26 December

Anti-bullying program launched by Tulsa schools

GMT 15:07 2012 Wednesday ,07 November

Oriflame to launch Sparkle in Paris collection

GMT 07:31 2017 Friday ,20 October

Tillerson heads to Gulf, downbeat

GMT 18:23 2017 Wednesday ,19 July

Chile moves to ease strict abortion laws
Almaghrib Today, almaghrib today
 
 Almaghrib Today Facebook,almaghrib today facebook  Almaghrib Today Twitter,almaghrib today twitter Almaghrib Today Rss,almaghrib today rss  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube  Almaghrib Today Youtube,almaghrib today youtube

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

Maintained and developed by Arabs Today Group SAL.
All rights reserved to Arab Today Media Group 2021 ©

.almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday .almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday almaghribtoday almaghribtoday
almaghribtoday
بناية النخيل - رأس النبع _ خلف السفارة الفرنسية _بيروت - لبنان
almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday, Almaghribtoday