Using Recycled Colored Glass To Purify Ground Water
Language
Reading Level
Listen to Article
Though glass is generally a better candidate for recycling than plastic, it may come as a surprise to you that not all glass is considered equal - Since there is more demand for clear glass, most recycling plants focus on those, in lieu of colored glass, which often ends up in landfills. Now, a team of researchers from the UK's University of Greenwich has come with a great way to re-use recycled colored glass - To filter pollutants from ground water.
Led by Material Chemistry professor Dr. Nichola Coleman, the method involves mixing ground colored glass, lime and caustic soda and then heating it to 100°C (212°F) in a sealed stainless steel container. This helps transform the mixture into a naturally occurring mineral called tobermorite that is known to dissolve heavy metals from underground water reserves as well as, wastewater.
Dr. Coleman believes that man-made tobermorite can be used inside filtering devices and also to create barriers between clean and contaminated water - a task that is currently fulfilled by carbon-producing cement. If her method is adopted universally, it would provide recyclers with an added incentive to process colored glass, not add to our landfills and, help keep our waters clean without harming the environment - A win win for everybody.
Resources: Sciencedaily.com, gizmag.com
Cite Article
Learn Keywords in this Article
261 Comments
- dudealmost 14 yearsAWESOME
- dudealmost 14 yearsno wallie!!!!!
- dude almost 14 yearsyes!!!!! I don't want the world to go wallie
- paint_splatterlight9almost 14 yearsThat's really awesome
- char120almost 14 yearsWow! How did they find this out?
- strawberryalmost 14 yearswow that seems cool
- Hiccupalmost 14 yearsThe world is constantly revealing itself!
- cookiemonster11almost 14 yearsThat is very good for the environment
- 1234567890almost 14 yearsboo is better then this !!!!!!!!
- dcqueen101almost 14 yearsthats soo weird that glass can reduce pollution UNDER WATER!!!!!!!!!