We are a step closer to the dream of fueling a car on waste with the revelation that dissolving polystyrene in biodiesel increases power output. The stunning revelation made by mechanical engineers at Iowa State University can in turn also solve the polystyrene waste menace; as it is a potential environmental hazard owing to heavy use in beverage and the packaging industry.
Efficiency booster
The research states that polystyrene dissolves in biodiesel just like snowflakes dissolve in water and increases its viscosity, building pressure inside the fuel injector causing fuel to be injected sooner into the engine and hence, increasing the overall output. Concentration of polystyrene up to five percent by volume enhances the power output by the same rate.
Limitations
However, this does not mean we can add any amount of polystyrene to increase the fuel efficiency. Output begins to decline with polystyrene concentration anywhere above 5%. When the concentration reaches 15 percent, the fuel gets too thick and the fuel injection pump overheats.
Challenges
• As the concentration of polystyrene increases, so do emissions
of carbon monoxide, soot, and nitrous oxides.
• It does not work with other liquid fuels, or even petroleum-based diesel.
Despite the above drawbacks, adding polystyrene to fuel could be a feasible solution as long as emissions are brought back into line. Moreover, it would definitely be preferable to landfilling. Recycling is always a better option, but polystyrene is so lightweight and bulky that it’s uneconomical to ship to recycling plants.
Via: EcoGeek