Design For A Battery Farm: Biomineral Synthesis & Refinement Of Lithium, Sodium & Magnesium In A Zoned Clay Matrix By Sarah Ikerd, Studio Shangri-La Multimedia, July 2025 Sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com http://www.studio-shangri-la.com; https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Ikerd Figure 1: Basic Layout of the Zoned Clay Matrix Abstract In an era of escalating demand for critical minerals, this paper proposes a significant paradigmContinue reading “Design For A Battery Farm: Biomineral Synthesis & Refinement Of Lithium, Sodium & Magnesium In A Zoned Clay Matrix”
Category Archives: investment
The Clownfish & The Anemone: Symbiotic Business Partnerships For A Circular Economy
There is a necessary economic transformation happening towards a Circular Economy to keep us thriving on Earth. A circular economy is an economic system focused on minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency by recycling, reusing, and regenerating materials. With a systems thinking approach to economy and commerce, there can be leaps and bounds of innovationContinue reading “The Clownfish & The Anemone: Symbiotic Business Partnerships For A Circular Economy”
A 4 Quadrant Solution For Waste Management & Plastics
With a high level systems thinking or systems engineering approach, even the most complex situations can be sifted into manageable categories and then simplified into the approachable, actionable steps. The above infographic simplifies the global waste management, and plastics and microplastics quandary into quadrants of solution. A quadrant is an instrument used for surveying, soContinue reading “A 4 Quadrant Solution For Waste Management & Plastics”
Plastic-To-Water Lab Notes: Testing A Desktop UV Reactor With Sound
As the popular quotation goes, “do what you can with what you have.” The exploration of science and life is open to many pathways. In this continued series of experiments, the overall goal is to transmute or catalyze plastic into water with light, and possibly the addition of sound. So, using what amounts to molecularContinue reading “Plastic-To-Water Lab Notes: Testing A Desktop UV Reactor With Sound”
Design Of Experiment & Data Collection: Ionization Levels & Electron Affinity Of Water
Purpose: Seeking to ascertain the energetic differences between Hydrogen, Carbon and Oxygen and the state of liquid water — specifically, the ionization levels of the outer valence electrons. That is, what synergetic light wavelength stimulus could it take to move these elements, that also comprise the basic polymeric makeup of plastics, into a new butContinue reading “Design Of Experiment & Data Collection: Ionization Levels & Electron Affinity Of Water”
DoE Research Notes: Sourcing Sustainable Metallurgy For Photocatalytic Waste-To-Water Receptacles
”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. TheContinue reading “DoE Research Notes: Sourcing Sustainable Metallurgy For Photocatalytic Waste-To-Water Receptacles”
Design of Experiment (DoE): Light Energy + Molecular Dynamics For Transformation Of Plastic Into Water
Author: Sarah Ikerd, Studio Shangri-La, sarah.ikerd@studio-shangri-la.com Visualizations by Meta AI Llama 3 On ResearchGate The next step in creating photocatalytic circular waste receptacles that can transform plastic into water, as in the beautifully illustrated accompanying visualizations by Meta AI, is to specifically hone that process. The first focus will be on the common PET, althoughContinue reading “Design of Experiment (DoE): Light Energy + Molecular Dynamics For Transformation Of Plastic Into Water”
Microscopy, Materials Science & Functional Design For A Circular Photocatalytic Waste Receptacle
The next projected steps in the photocatalysis project for a circular ‘trashcan of the future’ are to get a more specific and efficient by understanding from the macro to the nano levels what is occurring and optimizing for the desired results of producing useful byproducts, most importantly water. That means developing a consist formula orContinue reading “Microscopy, Materials Science & Functional Design For A Circular Photocatalytic Waste Receptacle”
Studio Shangri-La Design + Lab: Bold Projects, Cures & Legacy Value
It comes to this — who will bravely build the cures for the greater value of benefit to society and legacy. On more than one occasion I’ve heard representatives from large institutions say they’re afraid of cures or solutions. From a business or competitive standpoint then, losing profit, running out of challenges or ideas toContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Design + Lab: Bold Projects, Cures & Legacy Value”
Studio Shangri-La Research Notes: Pathways From Plastic To Water
In constructing a process and device that uses a photochemistry to break down or rather transform plastics into useful byproducts such as water and hydrogen, it becomes necessary to delve into of course photonics, chemistry, physics, earth science and of course experimentation, application of the concepts in a learn-by-doing style. Climate action is of courseContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Research Notes: Pathways From Plastic To Water”
Studio Shangri-La Lab Notes: Monitoring Emissions Pt. 2 + Managing Prototype Design
Recently I completed a course on Agile Project Management, and that has been a great accompaniment to beginning the prototype build for a portable photocatalytic or photodegradation system. One important point before proceeding with the fun testing is that all the components truly fulfill the design and product requirements, and address any issues directly asContinue reading “Studio Shangri-La Lab Notes: Monitoring Emissions Pt. 2 + Managing Prototype Design”
Chemistry, Environment + Public Health: Portable Waste To Energy — A Trashcan That Powers Your Home
Waste management is such an important issue right now and for the future of earth that the value of innovation in this area is greater than currency. In other words, sustainable innovations going on right now and their acceleration are tremendously valuable. If anyone tries to hoard technology or charge top dollar, that could haveContinue reading “Chemistry, Environment + Public Health: Portable Waste To Energy — A Trashcan That Powers Your Home”
Olympic Lifting & Beyond: High Performance and “The Hard Deck”
The title here is an unabashed Top Gun Maverick reference. The hard deck is the zone below 10,000-5,000 feet at which a pilot is flying close if not fatally close to the ground. I’m using the hard deck here for some humorous hyperbole, comparing this with pushing oneself in athletic performance past previous limits orContinue reading “Olympic Lifting & Beyond: High Performance and “The Hard Deck””
Eco + Finance: Photosynthetic Money — Hard Currency Meets Carbon Removal
There’s so much money in carbon removal these days that even money itself could get in the game by becoming part of the new wave of green materials science. After all, there’s still plenty of physical currency. And The US Department of Energy has invested a lot into artificial photosynthesis R&D: https://www.energy.gov/articles/department-energy-announces-100-million-artificial-photosynthesis-research That’s right —Continue reading “Eco + Finance: Photosynthetic Money — Hard Currency Meets Carbon Removal”
Tech + Environment: Plasma Arc Gasification & Vaporization / Sublimation Trashcan + Receptacles — Revolutionizing Waste Management
I have a rudimentary design of a trashcan that uses a laser in the process of vaporizing / gasifying or sublimating waste to either produce ideal byproducts like even Oxygen or Water, or quite “simply” keep infinitely re-energizing the process of the can! Fortunately these methods are up & coming in waste treatment plants. ButContinue reading “Tech + Environment: Plasma Arc Gasification & Vaporization / Sublimation Trashcan + Receptacles — Revolutionizing Waste Management”
The Sunday Investor: Future Vision
In order to experience a sustainable world environment, it’s necessary to promote the free flow of technology, ideas and resources. The most important technology to adopt first on a large scale is that of green electric energy. Far from being a new concept, it requires no further justification. Switching modes of energy should no longerContinue reading “The Sunday Investor: Future Vision”
Converting Fossil Fuel Vehicles To Electric + The Debut Of Electric Barges
^^ A gem of a video on auto conversion to get a sense of what would take place! Very interesting. And how about solar boat conversions? >> I can’t make a specific recommendations but there are plenty of products on the online market for converting both cars and boats to solar. Solar and electric conversionsContinue reading “Converting Fossil Fuel Vehicles To Electric + The Debut Of Electric Barges”
Could Cultured Meat Stem Cell Tech Create New Compatible Limbs For People
This Sunday Investor is here on an actual Sunday! Today what I’m wondering is if the stem cell technology employed by and that will be employed by companies like Future Meat, Mosa Meat, supposedly Tyson and so many more can be used to create limbs for people that are compatible with their bodies. It shouldContinue reading “Could Cultured Meat Stem Cell Tech Create New Compatible Limbs For People”