New materials to replace steel in fuel drums | Polarjournal
Wiese Island, a deserted island in the Kara Sea, is one of the world’s northernmost weather stations. From earlier times, garbage and thousands of barrels lie on the island. Collecting and disposing of the waste, now under way, is a laborious process. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)

Omsk State Technical University has produced a sample of a polymer that can be used to make containers for transporting fuels and lubricants in Arctic regions. This was announced by the press service of the university. The technology of manufacturing containers from composite polymer materials is one of the strategic directions of the university. These are to replace steel fuel drums. The new barrels do not lose strength at low temperatures and do not become brittle. The new polymer containers can be safely recycled and further processed after emptying.

According to Grigory Russkikh, the director of the Resource Center at Omsk University, the project is expected to be completed by 2024. The idea of using composite materials for the production of containers is not new, but the Omsk development will be special. (Photo: University of Omsk)

Currently, most fuel tanks in the Arctic are 200-liter steel drums. For decades, metal containers have been delivered to weather and research stations in the far north. The empty barrels then lie around in large quantities in the landscape for many years after being emptied. Currently, these “contaminated waste barrels” are being collected at great expense and brought ashore for disposal.

As a result, there are up to 12 million empty metal drums in the Arctic Ocean coastal zone alone. This problem is relevant not only for Russia, but also for other countries operating in the northern regions. Thus, the development of Omsk scientists may also attract interest abroad.

University experts say the new polymer fuel tanks do not need to be stored after use and empty drums could be processed as soon as they are emptied.

“The recycling of empty polymer drums could be organized in several ways. The first option is that suppliers include a mill with the fuel. The drums are shredded and the granules can then be filled into polymer drums and sent to the mainland for further recycling. One barrel can be filled with 30-90 crushed barrels. In this case, the return transport makes economic sense,” Grigory Russkikh, the director of the Resource Center at Omsk University, said in a press release.

In the Arctic Ocean coastal zone alone, there are up to 12 million empty metal drums that will be disposed of in the next few years. (Photo: Heiner Kubny)

Another option is to burn the used barrels. The material will contain catalysts to decompose toxic elements. With this option, the containers can be used as a source of energy. The gas produced during combustion is additionally burned in boilers. The remaining 5% of the mass would be activated carbon, which could be used as filter material.

Heiner Kubny, PolarJournal

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