Thermal Depolymerization Processing
Now this is something to get bullish about! (if it's all legit, of course). I am a bit skeptical - for instance I have my doubts that this process can be anywhere near 85% energy efficient. (I have my doubts it can be net-energy generating at all). I also have my doubts that metals (like the razor blades mentioned in the article) can be processed in this way (the highest temps I saw in the article were 900 degrees F, only high enough to soften steel) Also, if all this is true and is based on several basically off-the-shelf technologies, this would not be the first time we have heard of this process - concurrent with it's going into production. It would have been theorized 100 years ago, since it is so basic, and would have been the "holy grail" of chemistry and chemical engineering all along. But whatta I know, I'm just a lowly mechanical engineer, so I'm willing to suspend my doubts and stay tuned. Thanks for the link SD.
Edit: after checking out CWT's website and giving this a little more thought, I realize the net steady-state result of this technology, and the biggest challenge therein, would be a HUGE loss of jobs, since the world will have just gotten much less complex. I'd venture we're talking 25 years from now, after the build-out of this technology - and it's associated bull market - is complete. Think about it - how many waste-handling and -processing, transportation, shipping, exploration, mining, military (we won't be fighting wars over resources anymore), etc. jobs would be eliminated once all carbon-based waste becomes recyclable into near-perfect input feedstocks for the original manufacturing industries? I doubt they would be offset by the operational requirements of these recycling plants - they will be made to run lean and mean. Just think, there will be that many more folks available to work in our growing service economy, serving each other coffee and bagels, backrubs, walking dogs, etc.
Edit 2: IMO, This technology would for practical purposes complete humanity's total mastery of it's physical environment. The most serious of our problems eliminated in one fell swoop. Life becomes academic, nothing but blue skies and green grass. Hmmmmm...
Sign In
Register
Help



MultiQuote



