Biochar: the Solution to the Next Green Revolution
1. Purpose of research \r To investigate the feasibility of using municipal cellulosic wastes as feedstock for production of biochar in pyrolysis, the effects of metal catalysts in pyrolysis, and the applicability of the produced biochar as a fertilizer\r 2. Procedures \r A. Investigation into the characteristics of (metal catalyzed) pyrolysis of various cellulosic wastes \r 1. The cellulosic waste (and catalyst) was weighed and put into a boiling tube. The tube was stopped with a plastic bung with holes. A plastic tube and a thermocouple were inserted through the holes. The other end of the plastic tube was submerged. \r 2. A Bunsen flame was used to pyrolyse cellulosic waste. Temperature and time of reaction were recorded. Gas produced was collected underwater. Biochar and bio-oil were obtained and weighed. \r B. Evaluation of adsorptive capabilities of different materials \r 1. Blue light absorbances of KH2PO4 solutions (mixed with vanadate-molybdate reagent to form yellow solutions) at different concentrations were found and an absorbance-concentration curve was established. \r 2. 5g of each material being evaluated was sandwiched between two pieces of filter paper before being put into a suction funnel. KH2PO4 solution was poured into the funnels. The setups were left overnight and filtrates were collected. \r 3. Collected filtrates were mixed with vanadate-molybdate reagent. Concentration of phosphates in each filtrate was found by the curve.\r 3. Data \r I. Highest percentage conversion from waste to biochar: 94.1% (paper towel, iron wool) \r II. Highest sequestration rate of carbon: 98.6% (paper towel, zinc) \r III. Lowest pyrolysis temperature: 162°C (paper towel, copper) \r IV. Best catalyst in terms of speed of biochar production: copper (+47.7%) \r V. Highest speeds of biochar production (w/ and w/o catalyst): 46.4g/hr (paper towel, copper) and 27.7g/hr (sawdust) \r VI. Adsorptions of KH2PO4: 14.4% (biochar from sawdust)/ 9.02% (sawdust)\r 4. Conclusions \r The pyrolysis of cellulosic waste to biochar was achievable at school laboratory conditions, with satisfactory results in carbon sequestration, production speed and percentage conversion. \r Under catalysis by various metals, the production of either biochar or pyrolytic gas and oil can be optimized, providing a low-cost way to derive fuel and sequestration-ready carbon, both crucial as answers to looming crises. The use of copper greatly speeds up pyrolysis and lowers the pyrolysis temperature, further increasing the economic potential of the process. \r Biochar is also an effective means to soil management, as shown in field and laboratory experiments. Its adsorption capability far exceeds that of untreated cellulosic waste, retaining nutrients to be taken by plants instead of leaching away. It was also shown to improve fruit yield and induce ripeness in tomato, making it obvious that biochar is also a viable fertilizer. \r All in all, metal-catalyzed biochar production from municipal cellulosic waste and the subsequent use of biochar as fertilizer have the benefits of: low feedstock cost, low energy cost, fast production, carbon sequestration, soil management and waste recycling. It is a remedy to some of the most persistent and serious global problems: food and energy crisis, water pollution, excessive greenhouse effect alongside waste treatment.
『吸凍！』--再造保麗龍的第二個春天
中文摘要 本實驗先尋求將廢棄保麗龍磺酸化為陽離子交換樹脂(本實驗稱”保麗龍膠”)的方法。將保 麗龍依：丙酮溶解→硬化→打碎→與濃硫酸共煮三小時→浸於50%硫酸溶液中→沖洗→以水 浸泡的流程，即可達再造的目的；我們測得其磺酸化比例為62.5%。再利用「碘滴定法」(浸 泡式)與「相對電壓檢測法」(流動式)，依次尋求保麗龍膠吸附金屬離子的最佳條件。其中「碘 滴定法」可有效測出銅離子濃度，但手續繁瑣；「相對電壓檢測法」最大的好處是知道保麗龍 膠何時吸附達飽和必須再生。 目前我們所知，要保麗龍膠達到吸附陽離子的最佳效能，其條件依次為：使用細粒的保 麗龍膠；低濃度的金屬離子溶液；質量愈大的保麗龍膠；低溫下較慢的金屬廢水流速及pH 值約為4.30 的銅離子廢水；鈉型的保麗龍膠吸附效能優於氫型。保麗龍膠對不同金屬離子亦 有吸附力，單位體積所含離子數愈少，初始的相對電壓會愈高；在相同莫耳濃度下，不同離 子的吸附力依次為Cr3＋＞Fe3＋＞Ni2＋＞Cu2＋＞Co2＋；分次吸附確可將金屬離子完全去除；由 吸附等溫線觀察得知，可能保麗龍膠為多孔物質，導致500ppm 以下的吸附模式無法明確判 斷，1000ppm 以上則為物理吸附模式；保麗龍膠可以再生也可被覆在砂粒上達到不錯的吸附 效能；最後，我們將吸附過金屬離子的保麗龍廢膠與硫酸鈣、紙漿及些許的石灰(質量依序為 13 克、13 克、7 克、0.04 克)混合，可製成類似紙黏土，做成造型磁鐵，廢物利用十分有趣。 Abstract The Experiment will, first of all, explore the ways to sulfonate expandable polystyrene into cation ion exchange resin (called “polystyrene rubber” hereafter in the experiment). The procedures of treating expandable polystyrene are as follows: acetone dissolve→hardening→smashing→ boiling with sulfuric acid for three hours→immersing in 50% sulfuric acid solution→washing→ immersing in water so that we may reach the goal of reconstruction. We calculate the sulfonated rate to be 62.5%. Then we make use of “Iodine Titration”(immersion method) and “Opposite Voltage”(floating method) to seek for the best conditions of adsorption the metallic ion through polystyrene rubber. The former can effectively calculate the concentration of copper ion, but the procedures are quite complex. The greatest advantage of the “Opposite Voltage” method is that we may know when the adsorption of polystyrene rubber is saturated and should be regenerated. As far as we know at present, the conditions of obtaining the best effect that polystyrene may adsorb the cation ion are as follows: fine particles of polystyrene rubber; low concentration metallic solution; polystyrene rubber of which the mass is greater; at lower temperature, slower waste water flow speed and the copper ion waste water with pH 4.30; the adsorption effect of sodium type polystyrene rubber is better than the hydrogen type. Polystyrene rubber also has adsorption effect toward different metallic ion. The less ion per cubic contains, the higher the original opposite voltage. With the same mole concentration, different ion adsorption effects may range as follows: Cr3＋＞Fe3＋＞Ni2＋＞Cu2＋＞Co2＋. The batch adsorption definitely may erase metallic ion completely. By observing the adsorption isotherm, possibly because the polystyrene rubber is a multi-apertured matter, we find that it is impossible to judge exactly the adsorption model of those metallic ion solutions of which the concentrations are below 500ppm. Those which are over 1,000ppm belong to physical adsorption models. Polystyrene may be regenerated and get an adsorption effect by coating sand particals. In the last analysis, we may make paper clay and magnets of different styles by mixing the adsorbed metallic ion polystyrene rubber with calcium sulfate, paper pulp and a little lime(the mass are respectively 13g, 13g, 7g, and 0.04g). The reuse of waste is really very interesting.
吸〝氣〞大法-QCM 對有機氣體之吸附與偵測
中文摘要：\r 化學實驗中，常常會使用到各種具有揮發性的有機溶劑，如醇類、酸類、醛類及酮類等。\r 當吸入過量的揮發性有機溶劑時，將會對人體造成嚴重的傷害，故使用時格外需要留意。有\r 鑑於此，我們開始著手研究如何偵測氣相中的有機氣體分子。\r 本研究中，我們利用聚苯胺薄膜吸附氣體分子的特性並結合對質量變化極靈敏的石英晶\r 體微天平，自行設計了一套簡單、藥品用量少且不需昂貴儀器的實驗系統。藉由此系統，我\r 們有效的針對各種揮發性有機溶劑進行偵測，並進一步地探討不同氣體分子對於聚苯胺薄膜\r 的吸附現象。\r \r 英文摘要：\r Students usually use volatile organic solvent in laboratorys such as alcohols, carboxylic acids,\r aldehydes, ketones, etc. It will injure our body when we breathe in too much volatile organic\r solvent. For this purpose, we begin to study how to detect volatile organic compound in air.\r In this work, we combine polyaniline membrane which can adsorb gas molecules and quartz\r crystal microbalance which is highly sensitive to mass changes to design a simple and inexpensive\r system which needs only little chemicals. With this system, we can effectively detect different\r volatile organic compounds. Furthermore, we can also study the adsorption of polyaniline\r membrance for different volatile organic compounds.
千金難買「蚤」知道
我們的研究重心是設計簡便的裝置來檢測生活周邊的用水 · 利用生物對於環境污染的生理特徵、活動力、忍受極限 … 等變化，作觀察、實驗之後，將紀錄結果分析、做成表格，進而形成明確、簡易的指標，以供給一般人更容易的了解用水的品質。本實驗不必使用昂貴的儀器來檢測河水與用水，成本低廉的水生生物為本實驗的最佳選擇 · 可於任何地點完成，作為大及化的檢測方法，本實驗參考水樣急性檢測方法一水蚤靜水式，以水蚤在不同眾屬離子、酸鹼值溶液中的實驗結果，用以做為分析水質的標準，佐證我們生活圈附近的水質現況。Our point of study is design the simple and convenient device to measure the water with peripheral life. Utilize the living beings to the physiological characteristic , energy of the environmental pollution, stand limit. Wait for and change, after making observation , experiment. noting down the result will be analysed , make into the form , and then form the clear , simple and easy index , in order to supply common people with the quality of easier understanding water. This experiment needn’t use the expensive instrument to measure river and water . the best choice of the experiment that the cost is based on living beings cheap aquatically. Can finish in any place , as the popular detection method. This experiment consults the acute detection method of water sample — Water flea’s quiet ability of swimming. with the experimental result in different metal and ion sour soda value solution of water flea, use the standard taking making as water quality of analysis, prove the present situation of water quality of adjacent place of our life range.
Powerless Shack Cooler
Purpose of Project: To save energy and to help the underprivileged with a cooler that uses no electricity to make their lives better. Procedure/method followed: STEP 1: Collected 28, used, 2 litre plastic bottles. STEP 2: Chose the window with the best wind flow. Measured the size of the window and the room chosen. STEP 3: A sturdy thick polystyrene board was cut to the size of the window. Holes were drilled to the rim size of the bottles spacing them according to the body size of the bottles. STEP 4: Bottles were cut in half. STEP 5: The bottle necks were slid through the holes with the necks open to the inside of the room and the bodies open to the outside. STEP 6: Fixed a thermometer in the room and measured the temperature and recorded it. STEP 7: Fixed the Powerless Shack Cooler with the necks of the bottles open to the inside and the bodies open to the outside of the room. STEP 8: The temperature variation was checked and recorded every 30 minutes for 3 hours. STEP 9: Another room of the same size and window was also chosen. Fixed a thermometer and temperature variation was checked and recorded every 30 minutes for 3 hours. This served as the control of the experiment. Data/results: The room temperature decreased over time inside the room where the Powerless Shack Cooler was installed onto the window. But the control room maintained the initial room temperature although slight fluctuations in the room temperature were observed over time. Conclusion: The hypothesis was supported. As the air molecules moved through the bottles, it bounced off each other, and off the walls of the container, holding the air. A small volume of air passed at a high velocity. When the molecules moved faster the collision became more often. These collisions and the push increased air pressure. When the container’s space was getting smaller, the molecules picked up speed and the temperature went up. When the air was released out into the room, the volume suddenly expanded. The intermolecular spaces became larger; so less agitation and vibration of molecules took place. The molecules moved slowly. The room temperature reduced. Air inside the room became cooler. During the adiabatic expansion, air molecules used heat energy from the room and converted it into kinetic energy for faster movement.