A short article in a recent issue of New Scientist (Vol.191/No.2563) may put a smile on the faces of more than a few environmentalist beer drinkers out there.
Researchers at Kobe Pharmaceutical University in Japan have shown that beer bran (a by-product of the brewing process) can be used to clean polluted water.
Activated carbon, an often-used pollution filter material, is expensive and requires a great deal of energy to make (involves heating coal to 900 degrees Celsius).
In contrast, beer bran (readily available wherever beer is brewed), is as much as 100 times cheaper. It certainly never hurts when the environmentally-responsible choice is also a lot cheaper!!
In terms of efficency, beer bran has been found to adsorb benzene and trichloroethylene (two ubiquitous environmental pollutants) at an efficiency of 76.2 and 92.5%, respectively. With similar efficiencies across wide a pH range, beer bran’s future as a pollution fighter certainly looks promising!
I always knew my love of fine ales would some day prove to serve a higher purpose!
Cheers to that!
B.
Written by Bentley on August 20th, 2006 with no comments.
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Sorry things here on the blog have been so quiet as of late! We’ve been doing quite a bit behind the scenes here at EcoSherpa, in preparation for our September ‘official’ launch. Add to that the fact that I’m getting married next weekend (and Sherpa numero uno is my Best Man), and its not so surprising I’ve been struggling to find time for Sherpa blogging.
Anyway, thinking so much about the upcoming wedding causes me to be hyper-aware of all things wedding-related. One business in particular that has crossed my path and caught my attention is Green Karat, an online ‘ecologically responsible’ jewelry store.
So what are they all about? Well, in their own words:
“Our greater goal at greenKarat is to end destructive gold and diamond mining. We do not, however, strive to force that change through radical activism. While activist organizations play a critically important role in educating and motivating consumers, we believe that widespread and permanent change will ultimately occur through the voice of consumer buying decisions.
Our mission is to provide an ecologically and socially responsible jewelry alternative to those who seek change. We want to help you, in some small way, become part of the permanent solution. Together we can make a difference.”
Its always great to see businesses with this kind of mentality!
If you are in the market for some jewelry, be sure to check them out.
B.
Written by Bentley on August 20th, 2006 with no comments.
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