Singapore company BlueRen has developed an environmentally friendly way of converting plastic waste into carbon nanotubes – tiny cylinders of carbon atoms. Carbon nanotubes have many uses as they are light, strong and can conduct electricity. They are 100 times thinner than human hair, but can be 10,000 times stronger than steel. They are widely used in batteries and electronics and can also be used as additives to enhance the strength of concrete. But our technology is about upcycling, and converts plastic waste into high-value products." Up until now, most processes of recycling plastic into nanotubes have been costly and have produced toxic gasses. BlueRen 's method gives a 9 per cent yield - every 1,000 tonnes of plastic waste can be converted to 10,000 tonnes of carbon nanotubes. The patent for the technology is currently pending.
Singapore company BlueRen has developed an environmentally friendly way of converting plastic waste into carbon nanotubes – tiny cylinders of carbon atoms. Carbon nanotubes have many uses as they are light, strong and can conduct electricity. They are 100 times thinner than human hair, but can be 10,000 times stronger than steel. They are widely used in batteries and electronics and can also be used as additives to enhance the strength of concrete. Up until now, most processes of recycling plastic into nanotubes have been costly and have produced toxic gasses. BlueRen 's method gives a 9 per cent yield - every 1,000 tonnes of plastic waste can be converted to 10,000 tonnes of carbon nanotubes. The patent for the technology is currently pending.