Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) ke researchers ne plastic se diesel aur petrol banane ka ek naya aur sasta tarika dhundh nikala hai. Ye process filhal **60%** conversion rate de rahi hai, lekin abhi ismein kuch technical challenges bhi hain.
Waste se Fuel ka naya formula
ORNL ke scientists ne polyethylene (jo plastic bags aur daily use ki items mein hota hai) ko fuel-grade hydrocarbons mein badalne ka tareeka nikal liya hai. Ismein aluminum-based molten salt ka use hota hai, jo catalyst aur reaction medium dono ka kaam karta hai. Sabse achi baat ye hai ki ismein bohot zyada high temperature ki zaroorat nahi padti, ye 200°C se kam temp par kaam karta hai aur ismein koi mehenge noble-metal catalysts ya hydrogen ki zarurat nahi hai.
Kya hai bada risk?
Sab kuch itna smooth nahi hai. Ye aluminum-based system 'hygroscopic' hai, matlab ye hawa se moisture (nami) absorb kar leta hai. Iski wajah se catalyst jaldi degrade ho sakta hai, jo industrial level par continuous use ke liye ek badi problem hai. Team ab carbon-based materials ka use karke is problem ko solve karne ki koshish kar rahi hai.
Waste Management Industry ke liye kya matlab hai?
Waste-to-energy projects hamesha se high cost aur energy consumption ki wajah se struggle karte aaye hain, chahe wo India ho ya koi aur country. Agar ye technology stabilize ho gayi, toh ye plastic processing ko kaafi cheap bana sakti hai. Lekin dhyan rakhein, lab ki success aur commercial factory mein scale-up karna do alag baatein hain. Jab tak ye moisture wali dikkat fix nahi hoti, tab tak ise sirf ek promising R&D breakthrough maana jaana chahiye.