”You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.” ~ Buckminster Fuller
In continuing to post the Design of Experiment series, I document the process of realizing a photocatalytic trash can that can convert waste such as plastics into water and possibly other useful byproduct. The primary desired byproduct is water, for its clear importance to daily life, and incorporation into public receptacles that double or perhaps triple in function.
The device(s) and processes could become possibly revolutionary implementations of circular or infinite technologies, that are inspired by natural processes such as Earth’s weather cycle and nucleosynthesis. This signifies a shift of focus from the finite to the infinite, and from closed to open systems.
One could see a tree as dying with the onset of winter or a star burning out, or one could see that the tree shifts with the cycles of the seasons — in fact, living for up to hundreds or thousands of years — and the star as transforming into or birthing another celestial body like a planetary nebula.
Plus, the clock isn’t all there is to existence. Life, regardless of cyclic measurements of various kinds, is. It is with the days and nights of Earth, as it is with a drifting brown dwarf star, or multidimensional particles that may not be visible to us naturally as individuals, yet we can see their multitude. And different places and perspectives within and around the cosmos create varying perceptions of existence, based on scale and environment.
Along the way with a visionary design to be brought to scale, the compass of scientific and natural instinct is partly guiding the way, that includes innate, inherited knowledge from generations and a resultant sense that transcends a single moment or lifetime. That is then combined with acquiring fresh knowledge, and clarifying research with experimentation.
For an ambitious design concept like the photocatalytic waste receptacle to be truly effective, the entire functioning design must be brought into the world, not just the theory of it or some pieces of it, although that importantly occurs along the way. A fully realized environmental solution to plastic waste is the goal. Along the way, steps and pieces illuminate the path forward — some pre-existing from the work of many others in addition to nature itself — to propel towards new discoveries and interpretations.
To share insights and research is of course important. It’s wonderful to be able to access and cross reference so much information online. After identifying a major issue to address, imaginatively connecting existing information is how this project got started, with looking up relevant information on photodegradation, atmospherics, chemistry and so on. One set of details led to the next, forming a design concept, then do-able physical experiments.
The previous DoE post included postulating how the light frequencies could be configured for catalysis, with correlative harmonics of valence electron ionization levels to move one substance to another. This remains to be tested with the suggested specifications. The previous post also illustrated and here too, thanks to Meta Llama 3, what some containers might look like. The post also included what they might be made of and their shape. As yet, AI has only assisted with the visualizations. I fully acknowledge the potential of Machine Learning in the future of the project.
So, what does one do next when the materials or resources aren’t readily available? As much as one logically can. Hence, the DoE or “design of experiment” approach.
Onwards then to the “hull” of the receptacle, so to speak. The first iteration of the experiment was dubbed the “Black Pearl” since the container was a galvanized steel trunk, and with the purple UV light peeking out, it looked much like a mysterious treasure chest. Speaking of intuitive compass, it turns out the educated guess of using galvanized steel was a good one. Using UVA at 385-400 nm was also a great starting point for the type of light, given pre-existing research and information about sunlight and landfills.
Since those first tests, I have learned that zinc oxide is well documented as an effective photocatalyst. And galvanized steel is part zinc, the oxide produced naturally by exposure to oxygen, which is its powdery coating.
With this first logical choice of material, the next physical step is acquiring the galvanized steel to make a large container. That brings up another important issue: To, at step one with prototyping and considering manufacturing, to have an eye on sustainability, doing things inasmuch as possible the right way the first time around. The first consideration is how and where does the steel come from?
At the foundation, how does one smelt the steel and do it sustainably without toxicity? Fortunately, there are more companies championing ‘green steel’ which is made with other means besides coal and fossil fuel, such as hydrogen and electricity. There’s a promising local example of an electrolysis process with Boston Steel. And larger US company Nucor forges recycled from scrap steel with electric arc furnaces.
Companies like these could be great for sourcing steel to build the shell of the design. Every layer is important. On the other hand, it would be interesting to explore the possibilities of metallurgy, without going too far down the rabbit hole, keeping the purpose of building the device in mind. For example, to get even more efficient within the chain of events and circularity: Making steel from e-waste. That in itself *could be a noble part of the large scale process.
Steel is usually made from iron ore and some carbon. The e-waste could certainly provide for some metals, for different alloys or recipes for steel. (1) Plastic converted to “flash graphene” could account for the carbon. (2) This could potentially make for some interesting and valuable materials results, especially the steel / graphene combination. A graphene coating could perhaps provide an attractive extra anti-corrosive layer on outside of the container, and maybe even have a role with the water nano-filtration, as mentioned in the previous post.
Recent advances in electrochemistry for circularity and sustainability in industrial materials and manufacturing are very encouraging for cumulative results. (3) And all the more reason to keep it green with applicability to upscaling from the very start of the design, or beginning of the supply chain. The most practical way to proceed for now, is to locally source the green galvanized steel, continue designing, taking notes on the process and making connections.
For the steel supply, the prototype will require enough sheets of flash welded steel to make a large public receptacle sized container. Next up for consideration is placing the projected components within the shape of the container. This model is a plastic waste receptacle on one side, and purified water dispenser on the other. So there has to be room for the waste, the light array and then the water filtration system. While the design can advance ahead of the materials, the physical experimentation is essential and right now on the base material itself — and its acquisition.
To conclude for now, when it comes to sustainability and transforming systems for restoration of environment and health of the planet, there is something for anyone who wants to contribute, from large projects to activism, to tasks and lifestyle at home.
- “11 ELEMENTS FOUND IN STEEL & WHY THEY’RE THERE,” https://www.cliftonsteel.com/education/11elementsfoundinsteel
2. Zhu, X., Lin, L., Pang, M. et al. Continuous and low-carbon production of biomass flash graphene. Nat Commun 15, 3218 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-47603-y
3. “Electrochemistry helps clean up electronic waste recycling, precious metal mining,“ University Of Illinois Urbana Champaign, https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1389729699 |
Cotty, S.R., Faniyan, A., Elbert, J. et al. Redox-mediated electrochemical liquid–liquid extraction for selective metal recovery. Nat Chem Eng 1, 281–292 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-024-00049-x