Goldsmiths’ 2013

Making Cornstarch Bioplastic Many plastics are made using petroleum, a product of crude oil. There is a very limited supply of these fossil fuels left. Global oil reserves are estimated at 120 gigatons (1 gigaton = 109 tons). If worldwide consumption of oil is roughly 30 billion barrels per year, and the average barrel of […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

Preparing a polyurethane foam from castor oil Background: There are a huge range of different polymers in use around today with all sorts of useful properties. This has allowed us to create a more comfortable life for ourselves as well as helping us to make all kinds of useful materials at a low cost. One […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

Vulcanisation of latex Activity: The point of the experiment is to look at the modification of the properties of a material made from a natural, renewable resource. Sulphur is added to a suspension of natural latex and the mixture is heated in a process known as vulcanisation. Background: Latex (also known as natural rubber) is […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

Making Plastic from Milk! Milk contains a protein called casein—from the Latin word “caseus” meaning cheese. Casein is a polypeptide which is relatively insoluble in water. Milk is white because of the tiny particles of casein suspended in the solution—not dissolved. This experiment uses the casein present in milk to make a natural plastic. Materials: […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

Polymer Chemistry: Why it is important and how to be more green Dr Matthew Jones and Mr Tom Forder Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies, Bath University Tom is about to complete a PhD on novel initiators for the production of copolymers. http://www.bath.ac.uk/csct/ http://www.bath.ac.uk/csct/dtc/ http://www.bath.ac.uk/chemistry/contacts/academics/matthew_jones/ http://www.bath.ac.uk/csct/people/ What is Green Chemistry???? Paul Anastas’ so called “12 Principles […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

BALEHAUS@BATH A modern innovative low carbon housing system Professor Pete Walker BRE Centre for Innovative Construction Materials Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering University of Bath http://www.bath.ac.uk/ace/people/walker/index.html The BaleHaus is made from timber and straw bales with a lime render. Background Total carbon contribution from existing and new buildings is around 50% of the UK’s […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

The Sustainable Energy Quiz Serena Marshall and Jennifer Crabtree Both Serena and Jennifer are in the final year of their PhD studies within the centre for sustainable chemical technologies. Jennifer is working on molecular modelling of CO2 adsorption, separation and sequestration and Serena is working on responsive vesicles in an aqueous cream emulsion for dermatological […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

Engineers without borders “Engineers without borders” is a sustainable development charity. It is about training people to do things for themselves such as building water pumps and wind turbines and helping them to decide what stuff needs to be developed. http://www.ewb-uk.org/ EWB-UK’s approach puts students and young professionals at the centre of their operations, providing […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

Visit to a waste treatment plant http://www.geneco.uk.com/ Biofuels and electricity from waste In the UK we are fast running out of landfill sites to dispose of our waste also as a member of the EU we are obliged to reduce the amount of waste that can’t be recycled. https://www.gov.uk/waste-legislation-and-regulations#eu-waste-framework-directive Recycling allows precious resources such as […]

Goldsmiths’ 2013

What is a microbial fuel cell? A device in which bacteria digest organic matter and generate (some) power. Dr. Ioannis Ieropoulos and Prof. John Greenman, Bristol Robotics Laboratory A microbial fuel cell (MFC) or biological fuel cell is a bio-electrochemical system that drives a current by mimicking bacterial interactions found in nature. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microbial_fuel_cell In more […]