![]() ![]() In an academic paper by a team of researchers from Soochow University, it is noted that oxalate esters are derived from the “.coupling reactions of oxalic acid or oxalic acid derivatives with alcohol” (Ma et al.). ![]() Oxalate esters, which make the chemiluminescence, are key in the creation of glow sticks, and are also formulated using chemical energy. The process utilizes a lot of chemical and heat energy, as peroxide is produced in large amounts at these plants. According to MIT News Office correspondent David Chandler, processing hydrogen peroxide takes place in “.large chemical plants, where methane, or natural gas, is used to provide a source of hydrogen, which is then reacted with oxygen in a catalytic process under high heat”. The raw material required to produce hydrogen peroxide are natural gases such as methane as well as oxygen. Some of the chemicals that create the luminescence of glow sticks are hydrogen peroxide and oxalate esters. The same goes for the automobiles that mine silica, which is needed to produce the glass which is also a part of the glow stick tubes. Each drilling rig, excavation machine, and truck or trailer involved in the process of drilling crude oil uses vast amounts of diesel, which takes a toll on the environment as a whole. Environmental survey technician Grace Smoot states that “One gallon of diesel weighs approximately 7 pounds, but when combusted it produces 22.38 pounds of CO2” (Smoot, 1). Diesel is considered to be a dirty fuel, due to its significantly large carbon footprint. Crude oil is harvested in large amounts due to the high demand for plastics in the industry overall, which suggests that the drilling rigs require refilling quite often. The Ipieca, a global nonprofit oil and gas industry association, states that “.these engines use 20–30m3 diesel fuel per day, depending on the operations performed” (“Offshore Drilling Rigs (2013)”). Crude oil is extracted using drilling rigs, which run on diesel, the world’s primary fuel source for transportation. Harvesting crude oil uses a lot of mechanical and chemical energy, due to the automobiles that drill it out, as well as the fuel that powers them. This oil is known as crude oil, which requires a considerable amount of energy to extract. According to This Is Plastics, a website dedicated to providing statistics about plastic usage, safety, and environmental impact, the main raw material that turns into synthetic plastics is oil, which is later refined into ethane and propane. To start off, the key component in keeping the luminescent fluid of a glow stick intact is plastic, which is what the tubing is made up of. The first phase in the life cycle of a glow stick is the raw materials phase, which consists of a rather environmentally taxing use of energy. The manufacturing, transportation and waste disposal processes in glow stick production use a very high amount of energy in its overall life cycle compared to during its utility, indicating that it causes a significant impact to the environment. As glow sticks are used in a wide variety of areas and for various different reasons, it is important to consider the environmental impact of these rather simple looking instruments. However, there is much more to them than the surface level luminescence they create, in terms of the energy it takes to process, deliver, and eventually, dispose of them at the end of their life cycle. Since they are known to be waterproof, and don’t require external power like a plug or batteries, they are considered to be energy efficient means of portable lighting. Glow sticks are rather versatile in their use, and are a convenient source of light in many different settings. ![]() Glow sticks are also used in military activity, as a way for troops to locate each other in dense forest regions, or to send each other non verbal signals while on a mission. Children often use them as bracelets on Halloween night, as they go trick or treating through the neighborhoods, as a way to locate each other, and even as an accessory to their costumes. They are often seen at concerts, or parties, where people wave them around in the air to create an electric atmosphere, as they sing along to their favorite artist’s songs. Glow sticks are a popular light-up accessory used to bring a little bit of color and energy to a party environment. Embodied Energy in the Glow Stick Life Cycle ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |