Every year 3.4 million tones of unspent grain are collected from the beer industries of the EU, which is approximately equal to the weight of 500,000 elephants. It was considered as waste until a researcher from Queen’s University Belfast developed a low-cost technique for converting the breweries’ leftover barley into a source of renewable energy. The researcher has just used 1 kg of the leftover barley that can be used in 100 soccer fields.

Ahmed Osman is the researcher from Queen’s University Belfast who has developed this technique of converting leftover barley into a source of renewable energy. 1kg of barley is enough to create activated carbon which can be properly used for 100 soccer fields. A full-size soccer pitch is about 120-by-75 yards, which is larger than international FIFA grounds. Osman has described his technique in the Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, which is quite simple if you follow the instructions properly.

He elaborated his process in the journal and the first step is to dry the grain. Then a two-stage chemical and heat treatment procedure will be followed using phosphoric acid and potassium hydroxide wash. They are not only easily available but are available at a very low cost. In Osman’s words “both of which are very low-cost chemical solutions. This then leaves us with activated carbon and carbon nanotubes—high-value materials which are very much in demand.”

The items that the UK usually imports from the Middle East, the US and beyond can now be procured from the local suppliers. Through this technique, the country can not only help the local suppliers but can also make sure that they reduce the emissions and create high-value products.

Osman further explained, “Across the globe there is a real demand for carbon as it is used to create fuel for households, parts for water filters, and charcoal for barbecues. If we are able to take something that would otherwise be a waste and turn it into a useful biofuel, it can only be a good thing for our planet. It could really help to solve global waste and energy problems.”

Osman believes that he could commercialize this method of developing a renewable source of energy from the leftover barley from breweries across the EU. Renewable source of energy, the process of reducing, recycle and reuse; and sustainable development is the need of the hour. Not only such low-cost techniques should be made to reduce waste generating, but more awareness should also be spread.

Awareness about degradable and nondegradable things, also the importance of a clean and healthy environment in one’s life. People should now understand why it is high time to save our planet from the environment and climate change in order to survive. If not now, then there will be other chances given to this race to live.

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