The USA invented a way to turn wind turbines into jelly bears ua-energy.org

The USA invented a way to turn wind turbines into jelly bears

Katerina Belousova

This resin system can be used over and over again

Researchers at the University of Michigan, USA, have created a composite resin for wind turbine blades that, at the end of its useful life, can be recycled into chewing candies and sports drinks.

This will help in the fight against waste, reports The Guardian.

Usually, blades are made of fiberglass, which makes their disposal difficult. Therefore, many such elements end up in landfills.

Thanks to the new technology, glass fiber is combined with a polymer of vegetable and synthetic origin. When treated with an alkaline solution, potassium lactate can be obtained from such shovels.

"We recovered food-grade potassium lactate and used it to make gummy bears that I ate," said John Dorgan, one of the researchers.

theguardian.com

Two gummy bears made from a composite resin that can be used to make wind turbine blades

Alkaline cleavage also releases polymethyl methacrylate, a common acrylic material used in car windows and taillights.

"The beauty of our resin system is that at the end of the use cycle we can dissolve it and that frees it from whatever matrix it's in so it can be used again and again in an endless cycle. That's the goal of the circular economy," Dorgan added.

As EcoPolitic before, Ireland for building bridges will use old wind generators.

Related
A platform has been launched in Ukraine to help solve the problem of demolition waste
A platform has been launched in Ukraine to help solve the problem of demolition waste

Its developers suggest rethinking the attitude to secondary materials and seeing them as a valuable resource

Humanity will produce almost twice as much household waste by 2050 – experts
Humanity will produce almost twice as much household waste by 2050 – experts

Economic growth and waste generation remain closely linked

EU is far from achieving its goal of doubling circularity by 2030, – Sheikh
EU is far from achieving its goal of doubling circularity by 2030, – Sheikh

Among the reasons is the linear thinking of consumers and business leaders