I found various articles in the newspapers and in my under-graduate Science books about the discoveries that Scientists and researchers have made for the benefit of the environment.They are:
1. A Nanowire paper towel designed to clean up oil spills
2. Biogas plant- Turning waste into energy
3. Converting algae into crude oil
4. Organic photovoltaic solar cells that produces more power and costs less to manufacture
5. Plants that give crude oil
6. Sugar producing plants.
7. Batteries that run on sugar maltodextrin
8. Lightning to power mobile phones
9. Escherichia Coli bacteria that causes food poisoning to make petrol
10. Cellulose crystals that are as strong as steel.
11. Capturing electrons from plants to generate small scale electricity
12. Using plants to remove pollutants from the soil
Lead researcher: Francesco Stellacci- Associate Professor of Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Short Description: The Nanowire paper towel is made up of Potassium Manganese oxide. The nanowires are stable at high temperatures which means that oil in the loaded membrane can be removed by heating above the boiling point of oil, the oil evaporates and can be condensed into liquid and can be used again.The membrane i.e Nanowire paper towel and oil can be used again.It absorbs 20 times its weight in oil and can be recycled many time for future use.It contains a water repelling coating that keeps water from penetrating into the membrane.But oil seeps into the membrane. It is inexpensive.
Advantages: It is a clean,renewable source of energy.
10 kg of dry organic matter like cowdung and other agricultural wastes is able to produce 3 cubic meter of biogas which can provide 3 hours of cooking.
Useful in rural areas.
Limitations: For residential buildings in cities, the gobar gas plant needs to be large and more cowdung is needed to produce the biogas for the residences.
Lead researcher: Douglas Elliot
Short Description: The Wet algae was put into a chemical reactor of 350 Celsius hot water under high pressure of 3000 PSI (Pound force per square inch) for 60 minutes.The result obtained was crude algae oil, water and Phosphorous.
This algae oil is converted into aviation fuel, gasoline or diesel fuel.
The waste water is processed to form burnable gas, Potassium and Nitrogen.
and the cleansed water is recycled to grow more algae.
Advantages: It is a low cost method,
Very efficient,
It is a continuous chemical process,
Harnesses algae's energy efficiently.
The same process would have taken nature millions of years to achieve the crude oil.
Limitations: The high Pressure system( ie Hydrothermal liquefaction, catalytic hydrothermal gasification) is not cheap to build it.
Short Description: It involves the use of plasmonic enhanced organic photovoltaic materials that produces more power and costs less to manufacture. These devices don't match traditional solar cells in terms of energy production.Compared to their inorganic counterparts,these organic photovoltaics are made in liquid form and can be applied to a greater variety of surfaces.
Advantages: Since these organic photovoltaics are in liquid form ,they can be applied to a greater variety of surfaces.Gives more power and costs less to produce.
Calvin and associates (1982)-
Euphorbia Lathyris' latex contained 5% terpenoid of which a petrol like substance can be obtained and 20% hexose sugar of which ethanol can be obtained by fermentation.
Other Euphorbia species are E. abbysinica, E.resinifer, E.tirucalli, E neriifolia, E antisyphilitica which can be used as sources of oil, ethanol and other chemicals.
Edible oil plants are Helianthus(sunflower), Arachis(peanut), Zea(Corn), Ricinus(castor), Linum(linseed), Cocos(coconut), Carthamus(safflower).
Non-edible oils are Jatropha, Pittosporum, simmondsia, Pongamia,Azadirachta, Callophyllum. These plants grow in arid to semi-arid regions, they increase the tree cover, reduce desertification, prevents soil erosion, droughts and floods.
Jatropha (J. curcas) is the best oil yielding plant.Its seed oil yielding capacity is 1000 Liters/hectare* in dry land conditions and 1500 liters per hectare in irrigated land conditions.Jatropha yields oil for upto 45- 50 years. Jatropha is the future fuel.
Vegetable oil on trans-esterification yields bio-diesel which resembles diesel fuel.
Bio-diesel is a non-petroleum based diesel fuel.
Bio- diesel can be blended with petrol.
100% bio-diesel or B100 can be used in some engines with little or no modification.
Bio-diesel is also called Fatty acid Methyl or Ethyl Ester.
Bio-diesel is simple, biodegradable, non-toxic, free of sulfur and aromatics, it has lowest emission level.
[ *1 hectare = A land of 100m X 100m area = 10,000 square meters of area]
Sugarcane under the action of enzymes produced by micro-organisms, produces Ethanol or propanol or butanol.
Biobutanol produces more energy and can be burnt straight in existing petrol engines, hence can be used directly in petrol engines without any modification in the engines.
10% Bioethanol + 90% gasoline -----> Gasohol
Gasohol can be used in petrol engines without any modification.Gasohol has higher octane which means the gasohol is of good quality and the engine works more efficiently.
For 100% ethanol engine modifications are required.
Lead researcher: Y H Percival Zhang
Short Description: Zhang and his colleagues constructed a non- natural synthetic enzymatic pathway that strip all charge potentials from the sugar to generate electricity in an enzymatic fuel cell.
The sugar battery combines fuel( i.e maltodextrin) with air to generate electricity and water as the main by product.
Advantages: Enzymes are used,
The maltodextrin sugar which is used as fuel is biodegradable,
Refillable battery
The batteries are coming out in 2017.
Lead researcher: Neil Palmer
Short Description: Harnesses the power of Lightning to power mobile phones. Using alternating current driven by a transformer, 200000 volts was sent across a 30cm gap, giving heat and light similar to that of a lightning bolt. The signal was stepped into a second transformer allowing us to charge the phone.
What is an alternating current?
In alternating current (AC), the flow of electric charge periodically reverses direction.
AC is the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences.
What is Direct current?
In Direct current (DC), the flow of electric charge is only in one direction. Direct current is produced by sources such as batteries, solar cells, thermocouples.
What is a Transformer?
AC voltage may be increased or decreased with a transformer.
High voltage transmission lines deliver power from electric generation plants over long distances using alternating current.
Genetically modified E.Coli was fed with glucose.The enzymes produced by E.Coli converted the glucose to Fatty acids and then into Hydrocarbons which is similar to petrol.
Limitations: 1 liter of glucose E coli culture in 1 hour produced only 580 milligram of petrol. A low titre value.
The tiny cellulose crystals that give trees and plants their high strength, light weight and resilience have now been shown to have the stiffness of steel.
Their properties were predicted for the first time using quantum mechanics(quantum mechanics is transmission of radiant energy in the form of quanta or packets)
The cellulose nanocrystals are about 1/1000th the width of a grain of sand.They are too small to study with light microscopes.
Advantages: Cellulose nanocrystals are useful in making biodegradable plastic bags, textiles, wound dressings, flexible batteries, transparent flexible displays,
Cellulose nanomaterials are renewable, biodegradable, sustainable and carbon neutral
Lead researcher: Ramaraja Ramasamy, assistant professor in UGA college of Engineering.
Short Description: During photosynthesis, plants take in water and sunlight to produce Oxygen, Hydrogen and free electrons. These electrons are responsible to create sugars as food for the growth and reproduction in plants. Separating out structures in the plant cell called Thylakoids (thylakoids are present inside the chloroplasts of a plant cell) which are responsible for capturing and storing energy from sunlight. The proteins in the thylakoids were manipulated to interrupt the pathway along which electrons flow.These modified thylakoids are then immobilized on specially designed backing of carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes act as an electrical conductor capturing the electrons from the material ie Thylakoids and sending them along a wire.
Advantages: Can be used for portable electronic equipment that requires less power to run and for remote sensors.
Disadvantages: more work must be done before this technology reaches commercialization.
The aquatic plant-Water Hyacinth(Eichornia) has been found to acumulate Mercury from contaminated water.
Sunflower plants remove radioactive Strontium and Cesium.
Land plants such as cottonwood, poplar and juniper trees, grasses, alfalfa accumulate pollutants which are collected along with water that they absorb through the roots from the ground. The plant cells may degrade the chemicals or may simply concentrate the chemicals in the plant cells. If the chemicals are concentrated in plant cells, the contaminated plants may be burned or disposed of by any other means treating these plants as waste.
Genetically engineered strains of bacteria called Escherichia Coli have been found to be useful for cleaning up Mercury and other heavy metals. The Mercury can bind to metal binding proteins present in the E.Coli bacteria.
Genetically engineered bacteria called cyanobacteria and genetically engineered single cell algae containing metallothionein protein gene are used to clean up Cadmium.
References and Sources:
1) Nanowire paper towel designed to clean up oil spills
http://www.livescience.com/4946-nanowire-paper-towel-designed-clean-oil-spills.html
2) Biogas plant- Turning waste into energy
Information taken from-FYBSc Zoology Textbook Vol II(Part II) by S.S Bhattacharya
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogas
3) Converting algae into crude oil-
http://blog.cafefoundation.org/algae-to-crude-while-you-wait/
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/Algae-to-fuel-in-60-mins/articleshow/27671821.cms
Organic photovoltaic solar cells that produces more power and costs less to manufacture-
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2013/05/018.html
Batteries that run on sugar maltodextrin-
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/A-sweeter-option-for-eco-batteries/articleshow/29170208.cms
Lightning to power mobile phones
Escherichia Coli bacteria that causes food poisoning to make petrol-
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/Korean-scientists-use-bacteria-to-make-petrol/articleshow/23332374.cms
Cellulose crystals that are as strong as steel-
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/Cellulose-crystals-as-strong-as-steel/articleshow/27564811.cms
Capturing electrons from plants to generate small scale electricity
Information taken from MumbaiMirror newspaper-
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech
4) Plants that give crude oil
Sugar producing plants
Information taken from- FYBSc A New Course in Botany (Volume II) Textbook by
Prof Sarangdhar,Dr Golatkar, Dr Patel, Dr Katdare
5)Using plants to remove pollutants from the soil
FYBSc Zoology Textbook Vol II(Part II) by S.S Bhattacharya
6) Images taken using Google search
1. A Nanowire paper towel designed to clean up oil spills
2. Biogas plant- Turning waste into energy
3. Converting algae into crude oil
4. Organic photovoltaic solar cells that produces more power and costs less to manufacture
5. Plants that give crude oil
6. Sugar producing plants.
7. Batteries that run on sugar maltodextrin
8. Lightning to power mobile phones
9. Escherichia Coli bacteria that causes food poisoning to make petrol
10. Cellulose crystals that are as strong as steel.
11. Capturing electrons from plants to generate small scale electricity
12. Using plants to remove pollutants from the soil
1. Nanowire paper towel designed to clean up oil spills.
Discovered by: MIT researchersLead researcher: Francesco Stellacci- Associate Professor of Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
Short Description: The Nanowire paper towel is made up of Potassium Manganese oxide. The nanowires are stable at high temperatures which means that oil in the loaded membrane can be removed by heating above the boiling point of oil, the oil evaporates and can be condensed into liquid and can be used again.The membrane i.e Nanowire paper towel and oil can be used again.It absorbs 20 times its weight in oil and can be recycled many time for future use.It contains a water repelling coating that keeps water from penetrating into the membrane.But oil seeps into the membrane. It is inexpensive.
 |
| Nanowire paper towel to clean up oil spills in the sea |
 |
| Nanowire paper towel to clean up oil spills |
2. Biogas (Gobar) plant- Turning waste into energy
The Biogas (gobar gas) plant has long been used in India since 100 years.
Short Description: Cowdung, household waste, sewage, municipal waste, crops, green waste, plant material, agricultural waste are fed into the Gobar gas plant. The biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion(in absence of Oxygen) with anaerobic bacteria or fermentation of these biodegradable materials such as manure,sewage, municipal waste, green waste,plant material and crops. Biogas is a mixture containing mainly methane(50-80%) and other gases such as Carbon dioxide(15-45%) and water (5%) and some trace gases. The gases produced in the plant(i.e Methane gas) go into the outlet pipe and into our kitchen stoves where the lighter induces fire to the highly flammable Methane gas and hence we can start cooking.
10 kg of dry organic matter like cowdung and other agricultural wastes is able to produce 3 cubic meter of biogas which can provide 3 hours of cooking.
Useful in rural areas.
Limitations: For residential buildings in cities, the gobar gas plant needs to be large and more cowdung is needed to produce the biogas for the residences.
 |
| A Gobar gas plant used in rural areas |
 |
| Working of a Biogas plant |
3.Converting Algae into Crude oil
Discovered by: Engineers at U.S Department of Energy's Pacific Northwest National LaboratoryLead researcher: Douglas Elliot
Short Description: The Wet algae was put into a chemical reactor of 350 Celsius hot water under high pressure of 3000 PSI (Pound force per square inch) for 60 minutes.The result obtained was crude algae oil, water and Phosphorous.
This algae oil is converted into aviation fuel, gasoline or diesel fuel.
The waste water is processed to form burnable gas, Potassium and Nitrogen.
and the cleansed water is recycled to grow more algae.
Advantages: It is a low cost method,
Very efficient,
It is a continuous chemical process,
Harnesses algae's energy efficiently.
The same process would have taken nature millions of years to achieve the crude oil.
Limitations: The high Pressure system( ie Hydrothermal liquefaction, catalytic hydrothermal gasification) is not cheap to build it.
 |
| Algae converted into crude oil |
 |
| Doug Elliot |
4. Organic Photovoltaic cells that produce more power and costs less to manufacture
Discovered by: Qiaoqiang Gan, a University of Buffalo ProfessorShort Description: It involves the use of plasmonic enhanced organic photovoltaic materials that produces more power and costs less to manufacture. These devices don't match traditional solar cells in terms of energy production.Compared to their inorganic counterparts,these organic photovoltaics are made in liquid form and can be applied to a greater variety of surfaces.
Advantages: Since these organic photovoltaics are in liquid form ,they can be applied to a greater variety of surfaces.Gives more power and costs less to produce.
 |
| Qiaoqiang Gan |
5. Plants that give crude oil.
Copaifera Langsdorfii and Copaifera mutijuga of family Leguminosae give 20 to 30 litres of oil in 2 to 3 hours when a 3.5x4 cm hole is drilled into the stem of 90 cm height. This oil is directly usable in diesel engines like Trucks. |
| Copaifera Langsdorfii plant |
 |
| Copaifera Langsdorfii |
 |
| Copaifera Langsdorfii- the diesel tree- extracting the oil which is directly used in diesel engines like trucks |
Calvin and associates (1982)-
Euphorbia Lathyris' latex contained 5% terpenoid of which a petrol like substance can be obtained and 20% hexose sugar of which ethanol can be obtained by fermentation.
 |
| Euphorbia Lathyris- the latex contains 5% terpenoid of which a petrol like substance is obtained |
 |
| Euphorbia Lathyris plant |
 |
| Euphorbia Lathyris flowering |
Other Euphorbia species are E. abbysinica, E.resinifer, E.tirucalli, E neriifolia, E antisyphilitica which can be used as sources of oil, ethanol and other chemicals.
Edible oil plants are Helianthus(sunflower), Arachis(peanut), Zea(Corn), Ricinus(castor), Linum(linseed), Cocos(coconut), Carthamus(safflower).
Non-edible oils are Jatropha, Pittosporum, simmondsia, Pongamia,Azadirachta, Callophyllum. These plants grow in arid to semi-arid regions, they increase the tree cover, reduce desertification, prevents soil erosion, droughts and floods.
 |
| Jatropha Curcas -the seed yields oil which on trans-esterification yields bio-diesel which resembles diesel |
 |
| Jatropha Curcas |
Jatropha (J. curcas) is the best oil yielding plant.Its seed oil yielding capacity is 1000 Liters/hectare* in dry land conditions and 1500 liters per hectare in irrigated land conditions.Jatropha yields oil for upto 45- 50 years. Jatropha is the future fuel.
Vegetable oil on trans-esterification yields bio-diesel which resembles diesel fuel.
Bio- diesel can be blended with petrol.
100% bio-diesel or B100 can be used in some engines with little or no modification.
Bio-diesel is also called Fatty acid Methyl or Ethyl Ester.
Bio-diesel is simple, biodegradable, non-toxic, free of sulfur and aromatics, it has lowest emission level.
[ *1 hectare = A land of 100m X 100m area = 10,000 square meters of area]
6. Sugar producing plants
Examples of sugar producing plants are sugarcane, sugarbeet,potato, corn, wheat.Sugarcane under the action of enzymes produced by micro-organisms, produces Ethanol or propanol or butanol.
Biobutanol produces more energy and can be burnt straight in existing petrol engines, hence can be used directly in petrol engines without any modification in the engines.
10% Bioethanol + 90% gasoline -----> Gasohol
Gasohol can be used in petrol engines without any modification.Gasohol has higher octane which means the gasohol is of good quality and the engine works more efficiently.
For 100% ethanol engine modifications are required.
6. Batteries that run on maltodextrin sugar
Discovered by: Scientists at Viginia TechLead researcher: Y H Percival Zhang
Short Description: Zhang and his colleagues constructed a non- natural synthetic enzymatic pathway that strip all charge potentials from the sugar to generate electricity in an enzymatic fuel cell.
The sugar battery combines fuel( i.e maltodextrin) with air to generate electricity and water as the main by product.
Advantages: Enzymes are used,
The maltodextrin sugar which is used as fuel is biodegradable,
Refillable battery
The batteries are coming out in 2017.
 |
| Percival Zhang who discovered Batteries that run on maltodextrin |
8. Lightning to power mobile phones
Discovered by: Scientists from University of South HamptonLead researcher: Neil Palmer
Short Description: Harnesses the power of Lightning to power mobile phones. Using alternating current driven by a transformer, 200000 volts was sent across a 30cm gap, giving heat and light similar to that of a lightning bolt. The signal was stepped into a second transformer allowing us to charge the phone.
What is an alternating current?
In alternating current (AC), the flow of electric charge periodically reverses direction.
AC is the form in which electric power is delivered to businesses and residences.
What is Direct current?
In Direct current (DC), the flow of electric charge is only in one direction. Direct current is produced by sources such as batteries, solar cells, thermocouples.
What is a Transformer?
AC voltage may be increased or decreased with a transformer.
High voltage transmission lines deliver power from electric generation plants over long distances using alternating current.
9. Escherichia Coli bacteria that causes food poisoning to make petrol
Discovered by: South Korean Scientists
Lead researcher: Professor Sang Yup Lee of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Short Description: E coli is a harmful bacteria that causes food poisoning..Lead researcher: Professor Sang Yup Lee of Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
Genetically modified E.Coli was fed with glucose.The enzymes produced by E.Coli converted the glucose to Fatty acids and then into Hydrocarbons which is similar to petrol.
Limitations: 1 liter of glucose E coli culture in 1 hour produced only 580 milligram of petrol. A low titre value.
10. Cellulose crystals that are as strong as steel.
Discovered by: Pablo Zavattieri, Purdue University assistant professor of Civil engineering
Short Description: Cellulose is found in plant walls.The tiny cellulose crystals that give trees and plants their high strength, light weight and resilience have now been shown to have the stiffness of steel.
Their properties were predicted for the first time using quantum mechanics(quantum mechanics is transmission of radiant energy in the form of quanta or packets)
The cellulose nanocrystals are about 1/1000th the width of a grain of sand.They are too small to study with light microscopes.
Advantages: Cellulose nanocrystals are useful in making biodegradable plastic bags, textiles, wound dressings, flexible batteries, transparent flexible displays,
Cellulose nanomaterials are renewable, biodegradable, sustainable and carbon neutral
 |
| In a plant cell- the cell wall is the outermost covering. The cell wall is made up of cellulose which gives plants their strength |
 |
| In a plant cell the cell wall contains cellulose |
 |
| Cellulose nanocrystals |
11.Capturing electrons from plants to generate small scale electricity
Short Description: During photosynthesis, plants take in water and sunlight to produce Oxygen, Hydrogen and free electrons. These electrons are responsible to create sugars as food for the growth and reproduction in plants. Separating out structures in the plant cell called Thylakoids (thylakoids are present inside the chloroplasts of a plant cell) which are responsible for capturing and storing energy from sunlight. The proteins in the thylakoids were manipulated to interrupt the pathway along which electrons flow.These modified thylakoids are then immobilized on specially designed backing of carbon nanotubes. The nanotubes act as an electrical conductor capturing the electrons from the material ie Thylakoids and sending them along a wire.
Advantages: Can be used for portable electronic equipment that requires less power to run and for remote sensors.
Disadvantages: more work must be done before this technology reaches commercialization.
 |
| A plant cell. Thylakoids are present inside the Chloroplasts. |
 |
| Thylakoids are present inside the chloroplasts(chloroplasts are green colored plastids) of a plant cell |
 |
| Carbon Nanotube |
 |
| Ramaraja Ramasamy(right) and Yogeswaran Umasankar (your Left) |
12. Using plants to remove pollutants from the soil, water and air.
 |
| Water Hyacinth plants have been found to accumulate Mercury from contaminated water |
Sunflower plants remove radioactive Strontium and Cesium.
 |
| Sunflower plants remove radioactive Strontium and Cesium from the soil |
Land plants such as cottonwood, poplar and juniper trees, grasses, alfalfa accumulate pollutants which are collected along with water that they absorb through the roots from the ground. The plant cells may degrade the chemicals or may simply concentrate the chemicals in the plant cells. If the chemicals are concentrated in plant cells, the contaminated plants may be burned or disposed of by any other means treating these plants as waste.
 |
| Cottonwood tree accumulate pollutants from the soil |
 |
| Poplar tree |
 |
| Poplar |
 |
| Juniper trees accumulate pollutants from the soil |
 |
| Juniper tree |
 |
| Alfalfa plants accumulate pollutants from the soil |
Genetically engineered strains of bacteria called Escherichia Coli have been found to be useful for cleaning up Mercury and other heavy metals. The Mercury can bind to metal binding proteins present in the E.Coli bacteria.
Genetically engineered bacteria called cyanobacteria and genetically engineered single cell algae containing metallothionein protein gene are used to clean up Cadmium.
References and Sources:
1) Nanowire paper towel designed to clean up oil spills
http://www.livescience.com/4946-nanowire-paper-towel-designed-clean-oil-spills.html
2) Biogas plant- Turning waste into energy
Information taken from-FYBSc Zoology Textbook Vol II(Part II) by S.S Bhattacharya
and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biogas
3) Converting algae into crude oil-
http://blog.cafefoundation.org/algae-to-crude-while-you-wait/
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/Algae-to-fuel-in-60-mins/articleshow/27671821.cms
Organic photovoltaic solar cells that produces more power and costs less to manufacture-
http://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2013/05/018.html
Batteries that run on sugar maltodextrin-
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/A-sweeter-option-for-eco-batteries/articleshow/29170208.cms
Lightning to power mobile phones
Escherichia Coli bacteria that causes food poisoning to make petrol-
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/Korean-scientists-use-bacteria-to-make-petrol/articleshow/23332374.cms
Cellulose crystals that are as strong as steel-
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech/Cellulose-crystals-as-strong-as-steel/articleshow/27564811.cms
Capturing electrons from plants to generate small scale electricity
Information taken from MumbaiMirror newspaper-
http://www.mumbaimirror.com/others/sci-tech
4) Plants that give crude oil
Sugar producing plants
Information taken from- FYBSc A New Course in Botany (Volume II) Textbook by
Prof Sarangdhar,Dr Golatkar, Dr Patel, Dr Katdare
5)Using plants to remove pollutants from the soil
FYBSc Zoology Textbook Vol II(Part II) by S.S Bhattacharya
6) Images taken using Google search
If Oscars were given for a job well done, I’d nominate you! Congratulations...
ReplyDeleteHey thank you very much, going to post some more blogs on solutions to reduce waste, working of solar energy, renewable energy. Just need to find time
Delete