Study Finds that Styrofoam Increases Biodiesel Power Output

PHYSORG.com
May 4th, 2009 by Lisa Zyga

A study shows that polystyrene - commonly found in packing peanuts, cups, and plates - can be dissolved in biodiesel to improve power output.

(PhysOrg.com) -- By dissolving polystyrene packing peanuts in biodiesel, scientists have found that they can boost the power output of the fuel while getting rid of garbage at the same time.

As researchers Najeeb Kuzhiyil and Song-Charng Kong of Iowa State University explain in a recent study published in Energy and Fuels, polystyrene accounts for about 22% of all high-volume plastics, by weight. Finding a method to convert these waste plastics into energy could potentially alleviate the strain on landfills and generate electricity.
The study, funded in part by the Department of Defense, began with the goal of searching for solutions to trash disposal and power generation under battlefield conditions, where recycling is not usually an option. Although for most materials, recycling is more efficient than converting them into energy, polystyrene is so lightweight and bulky that it's uneconomical to ship to recycling plants, and may be a good candidate for fuel conversion.

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