Qatar’s circular economy is thriving due to a surge in recycling facilities.
The Waste Recycling and Treatment Department at Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality achieved significant milestones in 2024, advancing the country’s environmental sustainability and circular economy agenda. Five new recycling factories were inaugurated in the Al-Afja Industrial Area, bringing the total to 21 operational factories. The Mesaieed Waste Treatment Center processed 37,358 tonnes of agricultural compost and generated 250,834 megawatts of clean energy. The center also recovered 12,555 tonnes of plastic, 14,433 tonnes of ferrous metals, and 4,222 tonnes of non-ferrous metals. All waste transfer stations were managed by private sector companies, with 733,763 tonnes of waste received and 702,000 tonnes transferred. The Ministry also issued over 14,500 electronic permits for waste removal and granted 2,600 paper permits for food item disposal. Additionally, the Ministry organized the 4th International Recycling and Sustainability Conference and Exhibition, which attracted 4,800 attendees and featured the signing of several agreements with private sector partners. Overall, Qatar’s waste management efforts continued to progress, with a focus on recycling, sustainability, and collaboration with the private sector.
Researchers Utilize Microorganisms To Mend Bricks In Outer Space – Asian Scientist Magazine
Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) have developed a method to repair bricks damaged in the harsh lunar environment using bacteria-based technology. The method uses the soil bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii to produce calcium carbonate, which binds lunar soil particles together to create bricks. The bricks can be strengthened by sintering, but they are still prone to fractures due to the moon’s extreme temperature variations and meteorite threats. To address this, the researchers used the bacteria to fill in defects in sintered bricks, restoring most of the brick’s strength. This technology has potential in extending the lifespan of structures on the moon and could also be used on Earth as a sustainable alternative to cement. The team plans to test the bacteria’s behavior in microgravity with the Gaganyaan Mission, which could be the first experiment of its kind. This breakthrough is crucial for NASA’s Artemis programme, which aims to set up a permanent habitat on the moon, and could pave the way for longer-term lunar missions.
The HPA marks two decades of excellence with its inaugural conference.
The Heat Pump Association (HPA) is celebrating its 20th anniversary with its first annual conference, “Heat Pumps: How to go further, faster”, on November 26 at the British Library in London. The conference will bring together industry leaders to discuss solutions to accelerate heat pump deployment in the UK. Keynote speakers include Miatta Fahnbulleh MP, Nick Winser, and Paul Kenny. The agenda features sessions on heat networks, green finance, and the Future Homes Standard, with experts such as Dr. Jan Rosenow and Dr. Emily Nurse. The event will conclude with remarks from HPA patron Tom Hayes MP and a networking reception. Tickets are available on Eventbrite with a 10% Early Bird discount until August 1, 2025. The conference aims to provide a platform for knowledge sharing and collaboration to drive the growth of the heat pump sector in the UK. It promises to be an informative and engaging event for industry professionals.
Researchers develop innovative biological building material that absorbs carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere
Researchers at ETH Zurich have created a “living material” that combines conventional materials with microorganisms, such as bacteria, algae, and fungi. The material, which is made with photosynthetic bacteria, can absorb CO2 from the air through photosynthesis and store it in a stable form. The material can be shaped using 3D printing and only requires sunlight, water, and nutrients to grow. It has the potential to be used as a building material, storing CO2 directly in buildings and reducing the carbon footprint of construction.
The material has been tested in laboratory settings and has shown promising results, binding CO2 continuously over a period of 400 days. The researchers envision using the material as a coating for building facades, which could bind CO2 throughout the entire life cycle of a building. The material has already been used in two installations, one in Venice and one in Milan, which demonstrate its potential for use in architecture. The research is part of the ALIVE initiative, which promotes collaboration between researchers from different disciplines to develop new living materials for a wide range of applications.
Exploration of bio-based and biodegradable polyesteramide materials, including their preparation, correlation between structure and properties, and potential uses.
Researchers have been exploring the development of biodegradable polymers, including poly(ester amide)s, as a solution to the growing problem of marine plastic pollution. Poly(ester amide)s are a type of polymer that can be derived from renewable resources, such as plant oils, and have shown promise in various applications, including biomedical devices, drug delivery, and water treatment. Studies have demonstrated the biodegradability of poly(ester amide)s in seawater, with some polymers showing degradation rates of up to 90% within a few weeks. The development of these biodegradable polymers has the potential to reduce marine plastic pollution and provide a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics. Additionally, poly(ester amide)s have been shown to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, making them suitable for use in biomedical applications. Overall, the research on poly(ester amide)s highlights their potential as a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to traditional plastics.
NREL’s Facility for Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has established the Composites Manufacturing Education and Technology (CoMET) facility to support the development of advanced composite materials. The 10,000 sq. ft. facility is a result of a funding partnership between the US Department of Energy, IACMI, the State of Colorado, and NREL. CoMET enables researchers to design, prototype, and test composite structures, addressing scaling issues from small to large structures such as wind turbine blades. The facility also serves as an education center, hosting students and stakeholders to demonstrate new composite technologies. The equipment at CoMET ranges from small to large, allowing for research at scale. The facility collaborates with private and public organizations to work on challenging problems in composite materials and manufacturing. Recent projects include building a 13-meter wind turbine blade, which was validated in NREL’s structural test facility. CoMET aims to make wind energy and water power more cost-competitive and contribute to better recyclability of blades. The facility also has the potential to impact other applications, such as vehicles, buildings, and aerospace, and will continue to advance composites manufacturing and materials research.
Self-Healing Materials for Space Exploration #shortsvideos #education #randomfacts #educational
self-healing materials for space exploration in a breakthrough for space travel Engineers have developed self-healing materials that can repair themselves when damaged these materials could be used to build spacecraft habitats and even space suits for astronauts venturing into deep space the technology mimics biological processes such as how humans SK heals after a cut this Innovation is critical for long-term missions like Journeys to Mars where repairing equipment manually might not be possible it’s another leap toward making interplanetary travel a reality for Humanity
Accurate information drives Reworld’s sustainable circular economy model
Reworld Holding Corp., a sustainable waste solutions provider, was struggling to access reliable data from its various systems and reporting tools. To solve this problem, the company built the Reworld Data Hub using QlikTech International AB’s Talend Data Fabric. This centralized resource brought together key information from hundreds of scattered databases, creating a “connective tissue” for the company’s data. Charles Link, Senior Director of Data and Analytics at Reworld, explained that the goal was to create a common hub of information, not to replicate everything, but to have one place that could provide a unified view of the company’s data.
Link, along with Drew Clarke, EVP at Qlik, discussed how Reworld leveraged Qlik’s technology to improve data access during an interview with theCUBE at Qlik Connect. Clarke noted that Qlik’s acquisition of Talend in 2023 provided a robust cataloging option that has become a key focus for the company. The solution has enabled Reworld to redefine its relationship with data and create a data model that provides users with a single source of truth for the information they need. The result is improved data access and a more unified view of the company’s operations.
Researchers have created a new form of leather, generated by genetically modified bacteria that eliminates the need for animal or plastic products.
Researchers at Imperial College London have created a sustainable and vegan leather alternative that can dye itself, eliminating the need for artificial chemical dyes. The team used genetically modified microbes to produce a flexible substance called bacterial cellulose, which can be grown into various shapes and colors. To demonstrate their technique, they created prototypes of shoes and wallets that self-dyed into black using a dark pigment produced by the bacteria. The process is environmentally friendly, requiring minimal carbon emissions, water, and land use compared to traditional leather production. The researchers also showed that the bacteria can be modified to produce colors in response to blue light, allowing for the creation of patterns and logos. This innovation has the potential to revolutionize the fashion industry, providing a sustainable and vegan alternative to traditional leather and textiles. The team plans to work with the fashion industry to expand their technology and create a wider range of colors, materials, and patterns.
Europe unveiling its most extensive flow battery initiative to enhance energy resilience
Leaders from Flow Batteries Europe (FBE) and the FlexBase Group met in Laufenburg, Switzerland to mark the start of the construction phase of a large-scale flow battery system. The system will have a storage capacity of 1.6 GWh and an output of 800 MW, making it one of the largest of its kind. The flow battery technology offers a safe and environmentally friendly solution for long-duration energy storage, allowing for hours or even days of energy storage. This is crucial for maintaining grid stability during periods of low wind and solar output. The project aims to address energy security at the European level and create a scalable model for managing renewable energy lulls. The collaboration between FBE and FlexBase Group is seen as an important step towards achieving this goal. The project will also inform policy recommendations for regulatory frameworks that support long-duration storage technologies like flow batteries. The International Flow Battery Forum in Vienna will discuss the latest trends in the sector, including the Laufenburg project.