We are on a mission to transform the world's waste plastic into fuel.
(enrollment is currently closed)
Make fuel from plastic
Quick, safe experiments. No toxic emissions
20 billion gallons of cheap diesel are sitting in recycling bins around the world. We are pioneering the technology to go unlock it. This is our testing platform.
Meet Brayden, 9 year old plastic fuel researcher
Brayden is a local STEM student. He was our first Wastebot user case study.
A growing archive of plastic to fuel experiments
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1
Introduction & Test Experiments
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Introduction to the Course
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Wastebot 2.1 Study Schematics
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Tour Ben's Lab & Talk Trash
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Test 1- Wastebot Demonstration: Fast Food, Single Use Plastic Test -- Timelapse
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Test 2- Mixed Plastic #1, #2, #4, #5, #6, ABS, Mylar. Will This Fuel?
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Bonus: World's Youngest Plastic-to-Fuel Researcher. Meet 9 Year Old Brayden
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Test 2 Follow Up & Repair: Testing The New Visual Bubbler's Performance
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Test 3- 3D Unprinting Plastic - ABS Printer Filament to Fuel
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Test 4- Diesel Blend - Diesel Generator Test Run
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Test 5- Testing .999 fine Silver as a Catalyst to Dewax Milk Jugs & #2 Bags
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Test 6- Hydrogen Generator Set-up. Introducing Pure H2 to #2 Plastic to Test Its Effects
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Test 7- Retest #2 Polyethylene with Professional ZSM-5 Catalyst
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Bonus- Double Distill Wax - Will This Fuel Or Stay Wax?
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#2 Plastic Retest: High Temperature, No Catalyst, Mixed Wax & Plastic???
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Test 8- Breaking Down #1 PET Water Bottles
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2
PDF Downloads
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Lesson 1 Notes: Download
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Lesson 2 Notes: Download
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Lesson 3 Notes: Download
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Lesson 4 Notes: Download
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Lesson 5 Notes: Download
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Lesson 6 Notes: Download
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Lesson 7 Notes: Download
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Lesson 8 Notes: Download
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Creating a Project Team- The 5 People/Skills You Need to Succeed
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Phys.org Article- Zeolite Catalysts Pave the Road to Decentral Chemical Processes
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Paper: Chemical Recycling of PET Plastic Wastes with Different Catalysts
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Paper: Pyrolysis of Polyethylene Terephthalate Containing Real Waste Plastics Using Ni Loaded Zeolite Catalysts
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Paper: Pyrolysis of Plastics to Liquid Fuel Using Sulphated Zirconium Hydroxide Catalyst
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3
Field Testing
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Scottsdale Community College Demo- Medical Waste to Fuel
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ROADTRIP! Testing Plastic Diesel on the Open Highways of Arizona and Picking Up Trash Along the Way
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Gas Bag - Quick Flammability Test
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4
Technical Topics
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Technical Topic: The Science Behind Wastebot, Disassemble & Overview
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Temperature Chart & Design Theory: Small vs. Big, Which is Better? Why?
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Technical Topic: Plastic Types & Uses
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Technical Topic: Hydrocarbons & Catalysts
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CNET- Evolution of the Diesel (3 min)
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Technical Topic: Diesel Fuel Specs & Testing Metrics. Our Early Results
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Technical Topic: BTU Testing Water to Measure Heat Input & Calculate Net Reaction Efficiency
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Technical Topic: Outlining an Encyclopedia of Desktop Chemistry
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How/Where to Buy Catalysts and Reaction Chamber Design
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Technical Topic: Wastebot Breakdown & Maintenance. Troubleshooting Tips
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What Recycles? The Dangers of Mixed Plastics Found in Landfills & Oceans
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5
Big Ideas
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4 Major Industries Collide. What Do They Have in Common?
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Industry Perspectives - 4-Part Video Series (34 minutes)
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3rd Industrial Revolution - The Role of Chemistry in Redesigning the Supply Chain. MPG 2.0
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Drive Away Pollution With Clean Diesel Technology
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The Tipping Point - Plastic Valued as Fuel, Following in the Footsteps of Waste Grease to Biodiesel
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A Changing Marketplace - Who Wins & Who Loses to Distributed Refining?
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Zero Your Plastic Impact - Voluntary Destruction Offset Credits
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Small Farms & Zero Emissions
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6
Bonus Material
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Resource Links
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Off Topic- Post interesting ideas that don't fall under individual lesson discussions.
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Fun Bonus- Solar Station Shed Plans from 2015
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Reviews
Great information, can’t wait to get started with WasteBot!
Jared McClain
Thank you
Ali Ozgoli
I appreciate you sharing your experiences. It was a great course and I really hope that it distribute in whole of the world to reduce wastes and produce energy. I have bought your previous book about biomass gasifier and it works now in my resea...
Read MoreI appreciate you sharing your experiences. It was a great course and I really hope that it distribute in whole of the world to reduce wastes and produce energy. I have bought your previous book about biomass gasifier and it works now in my research office. Thank you again for your efforts.
Read LessDesktop Diesel includes:
Watch as we test our diesel fuel in cars, electric generators, tractors & more. Honest, real world results. The good, bad & ugly.
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Learn at your own pace. Download videos & pdf files.
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Discussion areas. Chat among new friends or ask Ben on-topic questions.
Make your first liter of plastic diesel. Watch it happen!
Wastebot Plastic Recycling Lab gives you the power to run rapid tests and develop solutions to waste plastic that work. Generate data and low cost fuel.
FAQ
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How much fuel can I make?
12 pounds of plastic per gallon on avg. A typical household of 3-4 people with pets makes about 4.5 gallons per month in waste plastic.
- How do I contact you?
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What are the emissions?
Wastebot is a closed loop system. The emissions are diesel fuel fractions. Propane range gases are captured in a gas bag for re-use. Sometimes wax is made, but it can be re-input into the machine. There is light char from labels. Sometimes a small amount of heavy grease residue.
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What plastic types can you recycle?
Soft plastics: #2, #4, #5, #6, ABS make fuel oil. These are the plastics you use in your daily life most. #1 PET plastic recycles with catalyst and some char byproduct. This is the plastic used for soda and drink containers. More work needs to be done. Toxic plastics include: #3 PVC, #7 group (except ABS), Nylon & Silicone.