Source: Good News Network
Scientists have invented a process that can turn non-recyclable glass into everything from tires to toothpaste.
Currently, only a small amount of glass is actually recyclable. Because of the effort that is required to sort and separate the smaller fragments, they tend to be discarded or sent to the landfill – but researchers from the University of Queensland have come up with a way to turn mountains of non-recyclable glass into useful items.
University PhD candidate Rhys Pirie said that a chemical found in drain cleaner can break down glass into silica which can then be extracted for commercial uses for substances such as adhesives, detergents, ingredients in cleaning compounds, cements, binders, and coatings.
Tom’s of Maine, famous for its natural toothpastes, for instance, uses hydrated silica—which is a naturally occurring element in nature—either as a thickener for its toothpaste, a mild abrasive for cleaning, or as a whitening agent.
“We are taking waste glass…
The post Researchers Have Developed Process for Turning Non-Recycleable Glass into Toothpaste (And Other Useful Things) appeared first on FeedBox.