Research centre name - Environmental Engineering Research Centre
(EERC)
Projects undertaken:
Membrane technology adapted from mangroves root
Solid waste to Bio gas Technology
Bioremediation Technology adapted from tree root system
Biomass to Energy Technology
Conversion of plastic to oil using Pyrolysis Technology
In here, I will be elaborating on the membrane technology,
conversion of plastic to oil using Pyrolysis technology and Solid
waste to Biogas technology, Bioremediation technology and biomass
to energy technology.
Membrane technology
This technology was adapted from mangrove roots. In mangrove roots,
there is a special membrane to filter away the salt from salt
water.
The cost of water per cubic meter in Singapore is $1.17. It is very
expensive to desalinate water and we have four source of water
generally. The four taps of water are from precipitation of rain,
import from Malaysia, seawater and NEWater. Water, as we know, is
precious.
The current practice is to discharge wastewater into the sea. Water
is taken from the sea for desalination purpose. This is highly not
energy efficient because by doing so, much useful energy is lost in
the process.
In addition, desalination process uses a lot of heat energy to
separate excess minerals from water. Desalination plants get their
energy from power stations that in turn get the electricity from
burning of fossil fuel.
As we know, burning of fossil fuel to produce energy will result in
emission of harmful waste gases and huge amount of carbon dioxide
into the atmosphere. This effect will cause global warming.
With the adaptation of mangrove membrane technology, the energy
used to create potable water will drastically reduce. This not only
saves cost, but it also save our Planet Earth. On a huge scale, it
will reduce the global warming effect if this technology were used
worldwide. In my own humble opinion, I feel that in the long
future, there will be better innovative technology that will
further address our todays problem in respect to global
warming.
Bioremediation Technology
This technology is use on soil pollution. As it was not feasible
and practical to remove the whole volume of soil, EERC and NTU
develop this Bioremediation technology.
The use of tree root system can to help convert toxic substance and
help release as harmful carbon dioxide in the soil.
Pyrolysis technology
Converting plastic into oil, Pyrolysis technology was developed in
cooperation between EERC and NTU helps to reduce the earth
pollutions effect. This technology is extremely useful in reducing
the Earths pollution. Due of the nature of plastic, it is
generally classified under the non-biodegradable section. Buried
underground, these plastic cannot be degrade into their simplest
form.
It a very concerning issue here because I believe that everyone
should do his or her part to help reduce the Earths
pollutions.
Solid waste to biogas technology
The use of solid waste conversion to biogas technology is very
vital. Compost, fertilizer and methane gases are useful product
from the conversion.
If we can tap into the sustainable energy from solid waste and make
it to be the one of the material to create biogas, we can reduce
the use of energy from fossil fuel. The can help reduced the amount
of harmful gas released into the atmosphere.
Methane, which is the biogas produced are the clean energy produced
by this new technology.
Biomass to Energy Technology
Food, paper, plastic generated in high amount in Singapore each
day. These green waste have the potential ability to convert into
new sustainable energy.
EERC is creating this technology to which will produce bio Hydrogen
and Bio fuel from solid organic waste using HASL-II
technology.
He briefs us on three parts in energy resource management.
Integration
Diversification
Decentralization
Integration
In todays whole we are using up a lot of energy and these are the
breakdown of the source of energy:
Here are the source of energy we are getting from.
38% oil
25% coal
23% gas
14% others
The professor encourages use to create new source of energy and on
the other hand, we should converse our precious energy.
DiversificationProfessor said that we should
diversify our source of energy. Such that energy are never
negligible.
Decentralization
We should never stick to fossil fuel, but also learnt to accept Bio
fuel such as bio-hydrogen, bio-ethanol and bio- diesel.
3. Technology using termites
The technology requires the use of termites to feed on the woody
waste to produce bio-ethanol. Associate Professor Wang says that
microbe living in the gut of termites has potent enzymes able to
efficiently and cost effectively transform woody wastes into sugar
for ethanol production.