Scientist finds technique to dispose of thermocol

Pune: While doing an experiment in the laboratory, a senior scientist from Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) hit upon a technique for compaction or volume reduction of thermocol to promote a greener 
environment.

He is associated with a city-based NGO which works towards the weekly collection of plastic, e-waste and thermocol and then recycles it with the help of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).

Dr Devidas Naik, a senior scientist from BARC, founded the new technique by which neither the thermocol industry will suffer and nor will it harm the environment.
 
Naik said, “12 to 13 thousand cubic centimetres of thermocol will collapse if it is inserted into the airtight jar filled with 100 ml acetone solvent. The acetone solvent is a cleaning agent and does not have carcinogenic property and it’s commonly used as nail remover. The thermocol contains expanded polystyrene and 97 to 98 per cent of thermocol has air in it. So, when the thermocol is inserted into the solvent, it gets dissolved in 3 to 4 minutes having no chemical 

“After inserting 12 to 13 thousand ccs into the solvent, the jar should be closed with its airtight lid. After some time the solvent turns into a clay-like substance. The clay has to be put onto a cotton cloth so that the residue is soaked and the clay then can be used to make artefacts or any structures,” Naik added. 

Naik is on the advisory committee of Poornam Eco-Vision NGO, which is situated at Model Colony in Shivajinagar. The NGO works closely with the PMC on a weekly collection of plastic, e-waste and thermocol. 

Chief Executive Officer of Poornam Eco-Vision Rajesh Manerikar said, “We have been doing weekly collection drive of plastic, e-waste and thermocol is associated with PMC from last several years. The collected materials were given to the PMC for disposal or to recycle. But after the technique introduced by Naik, we started applying this technique with the thermocol that we have collected and the artefacts made out of it are commercialised.”

Naik has also been to Pune to deliver a lecture on the same in April 2017 on Earth Day (22 April). During the lecture, he has shown this technique to the people who have attended it. 

Naik said, “This technique not only keep the environment clean but also it does not shut the businesses of people who are in the thermocol industry.”