The most recent testing of the trash can of the future’s photocatalytic process featured monitoring emissions, which is of course important for safety in the immediate environment, and in the bigger picture. Safety and ease of use at home are very important design constraints.
The process in the container cannot be hazardous, or “off-gassing” noxious substances. This first monitoring test, I tracked CO2, TVOC or “Total Volatile Organic Compounds” and HCHO or Formaldehyde. Fortunately, for the most part, everything stayed in the green GOOD zone, with the exception of CO2 inside the container which came up “OKAY.”
The physical design so far uses galvanized steel, aluminum, UV light. The UV can neutralize some VOCs and HCHO, and has also been known to reduce CO2.
—In order for this to be a truly effective climate action solution and product, emissions monitoring is a from-the-beginning design constraint that has to be met. Another one is for the test to remain short duration, because the other goal besides safety is speed of effectiveness.
Another goal is for the process and product to translate to different circumstances, such as a public recycling bin, or maybe I should decycling or upcycling bin!
At this point I think it is quite ridiculous for any companies to persist in mass producing plastics as they have been, prone to accumulation and very slow to break down. It makes great sense to make biocompatible materials that have known catalysts for their expedient breakdown.—
In other testing news, while I was waiting for other components I tested a full spectrum light in the container with the others. I saw a little bit of cracking in the plastic bottle, but there was too much heat. The full spectrum light was/is not part of the original plan.
What is part of the plan is using photochemically complementary lights that that cause “redox” or oxidation-reduction reactions. Photosynthesis is a great wonderfully efficient example of this light driven electron transfer. The combination of reactions or interactions transform into harmless and even desirable byproducts. PET for example, is after all a chain of Carbon, Hydrogen and Oxygen units.
Next though, before going too much further with lighting, is radiation monitoring. Radiation should be offset by the container materials.