Engineers from Colorado found an alternative rock minerals for glass production

What do you know about glass, besides the fact that it is very difficult to collect the fragments if glass is broken? Glass is made ??from a mixture of sand, flint or quartz, which are mixed with non-evaporating under normal conditions alkali, and sometimes with metal oxides. glass - is an amazing material. This is the only material that can be recycled an infinite number of times without deteriorating the quality, unlike plastic. Unfortunately, for the production of a huge amount of glass used in our society, humanity develops deposits of flint and other necessary materials. Not so long ago, engineers Colorado Mining School found that there is a way to get the minerals used in the manufacture of glass, without harming the environment. Instead, they learn the mountains of garbage. "In the process of using organic waste (such as egg shells, rice and wheat waste, peanut shells and banana peels), which are rich in primary minerals - said in a press release mining school. - From these minerals and comprise most common oxides used in the manufacture of glass containers and specialized glass ".

First shredded waste in special installations, then dried. Thereafter debris pounded until a white powder containing pure minerals, such as silica, and oxides, which are typically extracted using a huge machinery. The resulting minerals are heated to 3000 degrees, which allows to melt the silica powder is a red substance, which is poured into molds. In them, it hardens and becomes glass.

This creative process can not only save a lot of money by glass, an environmentally-friendly way to put to use a huge amount of waste, turning them into a valuable resource. "Organic waste have the potential to get at least some amount of metal oxides that are required for the production of glass and ceramic products - said researcher Mining School Ivan Cornejo (Ivan Cornejo). The U.S. government has already registered a provisional patent on the "trash glass" on behalf of the researchers. In addition to capacity in the fight against climate change, scientists see new technology revolutionary development that will give a new definition of the mining industry, adding to its range of new sources of minerals. No longer need to break the crust of the earth to meet the growing demand for minerals required in the manufacture of glass, as well as other ingredients that play an important role in the industrial development of the planet.

"The mining industry today - it's mostly open pits around the world - explained Cornejo. - Silica produced in Brazil and China. Now there is no reason to continue to explore the rocks, destroying the environment. Because you can find lots of necessary minerals in the waste of humanity. " Cornejo had previously worked in the firm Corning Inc., Where he participated in the development of coating Gorilla Glass, used today 1 billion smart phones and other high-performance products. His research in the field of turning waste into glass started at the beginning of this year, when he heard a radio report about people trying to decide whether to destroy the forest in order to get to the deposit of calcium carbonate. He and engineer Reymanis Ivar (Ivar Reimanis), as well as researcher Ramalingam Subramanian (Subramanian Ramalingam) started to analyze the food waste to determine the mineral content in them.

In May this year they gathered in the center of its system of structural ceramics at school. Estimated team of scientists, food waste throughout the world may be enough to meet the growing global demand for glass. "Before, it was rotting waste - said Cornejo on 60-gram piece of glass, made from waste banana peels, rice husks and eggshells. Now mining school students test new waste - peanut shells, coffee grounds and avocado seeds. The next item in the study will be the creation of a catalog of minerals that can be obtained from food waste. Engineers are also pursuing federal and industrial funding for the determination of various types of glass produced their food waste.

Glass samples obtained from waste.