The globally popular, chewy gummy bears are a childhood memory for many adults. Can you imagine? One day, gummy bears could be made from recycled wind turbine blades. American scientists are developing a new composite resin that could be used to recycle wind turbine blades into gummy bears after they reach their useful life.
To achieve carbon neutrality, many countries are vigorously promoting renewable energy sources such as wind power and photovoltaics. However, wind turbine blade recycling remains a challenge. Current wind turbine blades are mostly made of fiberglass. Older models can be as long as half a football field, while newer 15MW turbine blades are longer than a 100-meter runway. Blade recycling is challenging, so retired wind turbine blades are often crushed and landfilled.
To make wind power more environmentally friendly, researchers at Michigan State University have created a new composite resin using fiberglass, plant-derived polymers, and synthetic polymers to create wind turbine blades. These specialized blades can be recycled, broken down, and remade into wind turbine blades, as well as other products—for example, chewy candy.
The research team presented their findings at the American Chemical Society conference on the 23rd. "We recycled food-grade potassium lactate and used it to make gummy bears, which I also eat," said author John Dorgan, according to The Guardian.
"The carbon atoms from corn or grass are no different from the carbon atoms from fossil fuels; they are both part of the global carbon cycle. We have shown that biomass in the field can be made into plastics and then recycled into food," Dogen explained.
Hydrolysis of the newly developed resin in an alkaline solution produces potassium lactate, which can be purified and made into candies or sports drinks. Alkaline digestion also releases polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), a common acrylic material used in windows and car taillights.
“What’s special about this resin is that at the end of its life cycle, it can be dissolved and released from the matrix and reused over and over again. That’s the goal of the circular economy,” Dorgan said.
Source: Environmental Information Center (https://e-info.org.tw/node/234857)
