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.
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.
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