How circular solutions boost ASEAN's economy: Turning waste into graphene and green fuels (Part 1)

I. Introduction: Singapore's Net-Zero imperative and the resource conundrum

With a revised goal to cut emissions to between 45 million and 50 million tonnes by 2035, Singapore has pledged to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For an island state that now depends on natural gas for almost 95% of its energy needs and has major obstacles in implementing large-scale renewable energy within its boundaries, this goal is especially difficult. In order to achieve these goals, resource management must undergo radical innovation, embracing a truly circular economy in place of conventional linear economic models. The rise of businesses like Prescott Composites, which are committed to providing high-quality, reasonably priced carbon fibre and graphene-based composites, is an example of the kind of innovation that is essential to addressing Singapore's particular sustainability issues.

According to this perspective, turning garbage into valuable items like graphene and renewable energy is not only necessary for the environment but also presents a calculated business opportunity.

II. The graphene revolution: Unlocking value from waste streams through technological advancement

Waste is no longer seen as a liability but rather as a valuable resource due to modern technological breakthroughs. This revolution is led by the sustainable manufacturing of graphene from a variety of carbon feedstocks, such as hazardous and municipal solid waste. Production costs have been drastically reduced by these technological advancements, creating a plethora of new uses that were previously thought to be economically impractical.

Technological Advancements Driving Sustainable and Cost-Effective Production.

The industry has moved beyond early, costly methods, driven by intense research into scalable and sustainable production. Key advancements include:

• Flash joule heating (FJH): This innovative method, created by academic institutions, efficiently turns a range of carbon feedstocks, including coal, plastic trash, and treated municipal solid waste (MSW), into high-purity graphene. Due to its lower energy input and raw material costs (using accessible waste), FJH is significantly less expensive than traditional methods like chemical vapour deposition (CVD) and mechanical exfoliation from graphite. This technique is inherently consistent with a circular economy since it values rubbish and produces a resource that is highly sought after.

• Electrochemical oxidation: New, scalable, and reproducible techniques are used to create high-quality graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets from commercial carbon fibres (and maybe biomass). This method generates high yields of graphene oxide (GO), such as 200 milligrams per gramme of carbon fibre, with characteristics similar to GO obtained from mined graphite but with a greener profile.

• Liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE) optimization: Significant advancements in LPE have improved its scalability and efficiency by raising the yield of graphene and lowering the temperature and exfoliation time required.

• Novel "Dry" processes and plasma methods: Companies like NanoXplore have established patented large-scale dry exfoliation techniques. Furthermore, innovations like the plasma cannon method developed by the Indian Institute of Technology Patna hold promise for producing high-quality, single-layer graphene (85% purity) at an anticipated cost of around US$1.12 per gramme without the use of hazardous chemicals.

General Reduction in Production Prices and New Opportunities:

These technical developments have transformed graphene from a lab curiosity to a material with commercial potential via dramatic reductions in production costs. Graphene prices have dropped dramatically since their early days, when a postage-stamp-sized chunk cost tens of thousands of dollars. Graphene oxide costs between US$100 and US$500 per kilogramme, whereas commercial-grade graphene currently costs between US$100 and US$10,000 per kilogramme, while pricing is based on quality and form factor. The production cost of waste-derived graphene via FJH can be very low, estimated at less than $100 of electricity per tonne, with home plastic waste having the potential to be converted for as little as $30 annually.

For premium graphene, this represents a substantial drop from previous prices of US67,000 to US200,000 a tonne.

The table below illustrates the dramatic shift in graphene production costs:

Table 1: Graphene production cost trends

In order to fully realise graphene's potential and make it more widely available than before, this significant cost reduction is essential. It makes it possible to integrate it into bulk materials and high-volume goods, opening up new uses that were previously economically prohibitive. By focussing on finding the correct graphene for the right application at the right quality and price instead of obsessing about creating perfect single layers, graphene's use is becoming more accessible across a wide range of industries, setting the stage for the numerous applications covered below.

III. The myriad benefits of graphene: Unlocking new frontiers

Graphene is a really revolutionary substance with applications covering significant global concerns due to its exceptional properties, including its unparalleled strength (200 times stronger than steel), electrical and thermal conductivity, flexibility, and lightweight nature.

1. Medical science: Precision and breakthroughs

Graphene has enormous potential to revolutionise healthcare, going beyond theoretical uses to real breakthroughs that rethink treatments and diagnosis:

• Advanced diagnostics: Graphene-based biosensors are becoming increasingly sensitive. For instance, researchers at the University of Illinois have shown graphene's remarkable ability to discriminate between healthy and malignant cells by detecting the distinct electrical hyperactivity of cancer cells. This makes it possible to detect illnesses early and non-invasively. Furthermore, graphene enables real-time monitoring of vital signs, blood pressure, blood glucose, and even specific bacteria in dentistry applications through the use of incredibly sensitive wearable and implanted sensors.

• Targeted therapies & drug delivery: Graphene's large surface area and capacity to cross cell membranes make it an ideal nanocarrier for targeted drug and gene delivery. This could enhance therapeutic success and lessen systemic side effects, particularly in challenging areas like anticancer treatments.

• Biocompatible implants & tissue engineering: Given its electrical conductivity and biocompatibility, graphene is being explored for revolutionary applications in neural implants to restore damaged nerve circuits and tissue engineering scaffolds for bone, nerve, heart, and muscle regeneration.

2. Sustainability: Core to a green future

With its revolutionary impact on sustainability, graphene addresses environmental problems on a broad scale and fosters a truly circular economy:

• Waste valorisation & emissions reduction: The broader use of waste-derived graphene encourages sustainability in addition to the FJH technique of graphene production. For example, the FJH conversion of waste plastic produces high-purity hydrogen (up to 94%) and high-purity graphene, which lowers emissions by 39–84% when compared to alternative hydrogen generation approaches. Additionally, the conversion of MSW by FJH shows a 71%–83% reduction in the potential for global warming when compared to conventional waste disposal.

• Enhanced materials for reduced environmental footprint: Graphene injection greatly improves material properties and environmental performance. For instance, incorporating Flash Graphene into epoxy composites results in products with significantly better mechanical properties and a lower manufacturing environmental impact:

Table 2: Graphene-enhanced Epoxy composite improvements and environmental reductions

This enables the construction of infrastructure that is more robust, lighter, and far less harmful to the environment. For example, graphene-reinforced concrete can reduce cement-related CO2 emissions by up to 30%.

• Advanced environmental solutions: Waste-derived graphene nanosheets are incredibly robust and reusable for industrial carbon capture due to their superior CO2 adsorption properties. Owing to its exceptional properties, graphene is also highly beneficial for desalination and improved water filtration, successfully removing impurities and heavy metals.

• Energy storage optimization: For electric vehicles and renewable energy storage, graphene significantly boosts the energy density and charge-discharge speeds of batteries (such lithium-ion and supercapacitors) to raise the overall efficiency and reliability of energy networks.

• Use case: Prescott Composites' advanced graphene-based structural EV batteries are designed to extend vehicle range (from 300 to 500 miles per charge) and last the vehicle's lifetime when combined with lightweight carbon fibre technology. This helps to reduce total life-cycle carbon emissions per vehicle by 40%.

3. Material science: Redefining performance

Graphene pushes the boundaries of material science, enabling materials with unprecedented properties:

• Lightweight and strong composites: The automotive, sports, and aerospace industries are being revolutionised by its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, which leads to significant fuel efficiency gains (Ford vehicles have been using graphene foam in their engine bays since 2020).

• Use case: By providing high-quality carbon fibre and graphene-based composites at the price and volume needed for broad commercial adoption, Prescott Composites is uniquely positioned to instantly solve the high cost and supply limitations that have previously prevented their deployment. Emissions from vehicles would drop by 50% for every 50% reduction in weight. 

The following analogy to conventional materials helps put graphene's excellent mechanical characteristics in perspective:

Table 3: Mechanical properties comparison (Prescott low cost carbon fiber vs. others)

• Flexible and transparent electronics: Future bending screens, wearable electronics, and sophisticated sensors rely on graphene's flexibility and transparency.

• Thermal management: For electronics, its remarkable thermal conductivity is crucial for efficient heat dissipation, prolonging device life and improving performance (for instance, Huawei has sold 30 million smartphones with graphene sheets for thermal management).

• Emerging quantum materials: One example of the whole new uses being found by continuing research is the creation of carbon magnets from graphene nanoribbons that exhibit magnetic characteristics at room temperature. This is opening the door to advanced quantum computers and electronics.

4. Yet-to-be-discovered applications: The horizon of innovation

Since graphene's entire potential is still being discovered, unthinkable discoveries could be made. Highly tailored nanomaterials for specialised industrial processes, neuromorphic computing (AI systems that mimic the human brain), and advanced robots are examples of emerging fields. As to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), the fragmented nature of many research disciplines highlights significant opportunities for focused research and development to produce revolutionary applications across multiple niches.

Conclusion to Part I: A foundation for sustainable growth

The development of waste-derived graphene and its many uses provide a strong basis for Singapore's aspirations to achieve net-zero. These technologies exhibit a potent synergy between decarbonisation and resource efficiency, demonstrating that economic opportunity and environmental responsibility can coexist. For a country with limited territory, this fundamental change towards considering garbage as a useful resource is essential. Beyond initial production and material advantages, however, the entire influence of these breakthroughs reaches into how Singapore handles its current waste infrastructure and promotes a new generation of industrial development. Part II will explore how these ideas are used to repurpose Semakau Landfill, leverage waste for green fuels, and the substantial economic advantages that Singapore and the larger ASEAN region stand to gain from the growing graphene sector.

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