Wastes to Wealth
Introduction
Hello steemians, thanks for stopping by again to read my post. I’ll be taking us out of the world of Chemistry learners to Chemistry wealth makers’ world around us . Sometimes ago, I was discussing with a friend of mine over the issue of unemployment and the dynamic economy shift to entrepreneurship. I asked her how she’s been coping without Job all these years (she was looking good), she said she’s been converting waste to wealth. Our discussion that day inspired me to research into the actual possibilities and opportunities to convert waste to wealth in our environment. Chemistry revolves all around us; there are varieties of chemical substances (both natural and synthetic) which are unwanted and considered as wastes in our immediate environment.
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Hence I’m writing this article to open our eyes to potential wealth creation opportunities lying around us.
Wastes to Wealth
Wastes are materials which are considered to be useless and unwanted. Solid wastes are either biodegradable (easily decomposed by natural agents like microorganisms, oxygen, water e.t.c.) or non-biodegradable(materials that can't be broken down by natural agents).
The landfill system is the most hygienic way of disposing biodegradable wastes, however, it encroaches on the use of land for other commercial, industrial or residential purposes. The open dumping is mostly practiced in the developing countries but it is the least environmentally friendly. The non-biodegradable wastes are subjected to incineration or recycled. However, incineration is capital intensive and very low percentage of the non-biodegradable wastes are being recycled. The good news is that there are ways of mopping up these excess wastes from the environment and t the same time converting them to wealth.
Used Tyres to Classy Furniture
Tyres are non-degradable chemical substances made from natural rubber, synthetic rubber(from artificial elastomers), cabon black, fabric, wire and other chemical compounds. They are made strong due to this polymer component in such a way that they can bear weight of vehicle, human and loads. However, they are subject to wear and tear of the road, the tyre thread decreases till the safety margin is reached or exceeded.
Picture taken by me
Picture taken by me
Pixhere CC by 2.0
Pixabay CCO licensed
Pixhere CCO Lisenced
Picture taken by me
Biodegradable wastes could also be used in creating wealth although this would involve more technical chemical processes. Throughout the world now, there is campaign for clean and safe air through minimal air pollution. Countries are embracing environmental friendly fuels especially biofuels. Orange peel wastes could be used as the substrate for bio-fuels production. The peel oil has been said to be a veritable essential oil that could be used for aromatherapy, anti-bacterial, in anti-acne treatment.
Furthermore, orange peel is being researched into for the production of biodegradable plastics due to its richness in limonene which could be used as a building block for biodegradable plastics and a wide range of other chemical products.
Picture taken by me
Most tyres expire six years from the day of manufacture whether used or not. Tyres age dangerously because of a chemical process commonly referred to as oxidation, which occurs due to exposure to oxygen, when this occurs, the tyres become unsafe for use on the road. What do we do with these wastes? My friend gathers old used tyres and turns them into tables and chairs for offices and homes. I went to her house, and what I saw amazed me.
Used wine bottles to Glass tiles or Glittering floors
Glass bottles are non-biodegradable, 90% of bottles used end up in landfill sites. Less than 10% are re-used or recycled. In America, only 28% of glass bottles used are recycled. Researchers have discovered several ways by which these used excess wine bottles could be converted to useful materials which would fetch money. One of such involves the collection of old glass bottles(green, brown, clear bottles) which are then cleaned, crushed and pulverized into fine powdery form to make glass tiles which could be used on walls, counter-tops, floors and pools. Glasses of same colour and thickness collected and pulverized together to prevent explosion at high temperature due to differences in coefficient of expansion.
Some could also be used as aggregates mixed with building materials like sand and cement to make glittering floors.
Food wastes
Anaerobic digestion of common food wastes have been reported to present a viable way of both providing renewable energy and cleaning up the environment. These food wastes could be used as feed-stock for biogas production in the absence of air. The biogas produced would then replace the liquefied petroleum gases used as domestic fuels.
Orange peels
Biodegradable wastes could also be used in creating wealth although this would involve more technical chemical processes. Throughout the world now, there is campaign for clean and safe air through minimal air pollution. Countries are embracing environmental friendly fuels especially biofuels. Orange peel wastes could be used as the substrate for bio-fuels production. The peel oil has been said to be a veritable essential oil that could be used for aromatherapy, anti-bacterial, in anti-acne treatment.
Furthermore, orange peel is being researched into for the production of biodegradable plastics due to its richness in limonene which could be used as a building block for biodegradable plastics and a wide range of other chemical products.
Yam and cassava peels to bioethanol
All over the world, there is agitation for renewable and sustainable form of energy. More countries are shifting focus from fossil fuels to biofuels which re renewable from agricultural feedstock and therefore sustainable. Biofuels are also more environmental friendly than fuel products from crude oil. Bioethanol is being used s substitute for petrol (gasoline) Bioethanol production has been fostered in many developed countries using carbohydrates like maize, sugarcane and so on. However, using these staple crops would compete with the demands food crops, hence the research into food and fruit waste s possible substrate for bioethanol production. Reports revealed that both yam and cassava peels could yield significant proportion of bioethanol especially cassava peels.
Conclusion
Looking at the future from this point of view, I see a future of little or no waste, a system in which the environment yields its wealth without the limitation of excess waste, a system in which there is no dearth of innovative ideas in turning waste to wealth. I foresee a system of sustainable and renewable wealth. That time starts now.
What are the wastes in your environment that you could convert to wealth? Think bout it.
Thank you for taking time out to read my post.
References
- http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/7677/Groups+turn+glass+waste+into+building+material+to+reduce+waste+in+Seychelles
- https://recyclenation.com/2014/02/recycle-wine-bottles/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tire
- http://www.tiresafetygroup.com/tires-expire-in-six-years/
- https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/orange-peels-could-be-made-into-biodegradable-plastic
- http://theconversation.com/orange-is-the-new-black-gold-how-peel-could-replace-crude-oil-in-plastics-47121
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17597269.2015.1045276
- http://seahipaj.org/journals-ci/june-2015/IJIESTR/full/IJIESTR-J-2-2015.pdf
Hummm, turning waste into wealth. So all those waste that I always paid for to be disposed of are actually wealth. That means I use to pay money to throw wealth away, maybe because we call it a waste, it's better we find another name to call it so that people can actually value it. Cool article @conas
Thanks. Yes, nothing is a waste in itself, one just needs to disvover the use. Even human faeces is being processed into manure cakes.
This is what we ecologists refer to as environmental sustainability. Wastes that could harmful to the functioning of the ecosystem now being utilized judiciously. A very good initiative by your friend. How I wished she is on steemit to showcase some of her products.
A good article by all means.
Thanks, she's more of a businesswoman now. But i have some of her catalogue and she has given me permission to showcase them.
Thanks, I appreciate your comment.
Your friend is the real MVP in saving the environment together with creating beautiful products out of it.
Yes she is, some of us are learning the art from her. There are many more opportunities now. Thanks for stopping by.
When you are done learning, you will teach us too.
No, problems, be ready to pay for the training.
Hi @conas!
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I think in the field of Chemistry, there's nothing like waste. It just that we must look beyond the present limitations, and face the reality. We must take the bull by the horn and convert all what we have generated as waste due to our affluence into wealth. Turning waste to wealth apart from the fact that we cleaned up the environment, it can also serves as a good means of industrial revolution in this part of the world
Yes, that's the idea. Thanks gor stopping by.
My regards to your friend, for her creativity and thanks for the motivation.
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