Film-alternatives to petroleum?

dustmite · Jul 25, 2009

Hello,
After reading some reviews on books about the coming slide in petroleum production in the next few decades I wondered to myself, are there or could there be any alternative ways of making film without petroleum? Any ideas? I suppose if it could, it might cost $15.00 a roll....

removed account4 · Jul 25, 2009

they could always use celluloid like they did in days gone by ...
but we all know how that ended

David Brown · Jul 25, 2009

If and when there is no petroleum, film will be the least of the products effected. There will be synthetic substitutes.

richard ide · Jul 25, 2009

Are we not using a synthetic substitute (for celluloid) now?

Bob-D659 · Jul 26, 2009

I'd worry more about $300us per barrel of crude.

GJA · Jul 26, 2009

I would worry more about how much driving your car will cost, and less about a $.25 hike in film prices.

removed account4 · Jul 26, 2009

sorry to divert this thread .. but
people in europe have been driving just fine
with fuel prices about 3-4X what we pay here in america.
they get by with smaller cars, not giant vehicles.
it hurts to pay 200$ to fill a tank with fuel ( diesel ).
i know when i was there last summer, it cost that much ...
maybe if fuel costs almost as much here as in europe,
we wouldn't have so many giant things ( hummers, expeditions, suburbans, escalades &C )
with 1 person in them being driven as if they are the only thing on the road ..

oh well ...

yes, safety film is a synthetic substitute to celluloid

Nick Zentena · Jul 26, 2009

jnanian said:
.
they get by with smaller cars, not giant vehicles.
it hurts to pay 200$ to fill a tank with fuel ( diesel ).
i know when i was there last summer, it cost that much ...
maybe if fuel costs almost as much here as in europe,
we wouldn't have so many giant things ( hummers, expeditions, suburbans, escalades &C )
with 1 person in them being driven as if they are the only thing on the road ..

Most of the really fuel efficient cars on European roads are sold in the US. The problem is you get the more basic engines and not the ones Europeans get.

Most of those small cars are gas guzzlers considering their sizes. City cars aren't aimed at people who worry too much about mpg. If you leave your apartment drive five blocks to work and then drive back gas isn't the problem. Parking in the city is the problem

If you don't believe me do a couple google searches.

Compare the Smart [any model] with the Mercedes E 220CDI.

Even worse compare the BMW mini with the BMW 318D [don't forget the D]

Americans don't think E series Mercedes are small but a 220 CDI gets far better mileage then the new US standards.

Before anybody complains these cars are expensive plenty of cheaper cars with even better mileage.

BTW many SUV on Italian roads. Including the big US ones.

removed account4 · Jul 26, 2009

nick

i totally believe you ...
you make some very good points.
the mini and some of the others
swapped "fuel efficiency" for "fun to drive-ness" ...
who'd pay all that $$ for a car that wasn't sporty little rocket,
besides i guess if you can afford a sports car / trendy european car,
paying for gas is probably at the bottom of your list of things you worry about ...

i am just a naive and forgetful american ---
thanks for reminding me

john

Marc Leest · Jul 26, 2009

The economy has seriuosly crashed with oil prices at $150 per barrel. And this were only economic parameters. If the price hits $500 per barrel due to actual shortage of oil(in about 25 years) film and photography will the least of my worries.

On the other hand there is good news: there exists a chemical process burning any organic material producing carbonmonoxide and this gas can be used to synthesize any oil or fuel. This procedé was invented by Nazi-Germany in WWII and if I am not mistaken, there is a commercial plant in Maleisia that uses the process.

-m-

ps: Fischer–Tropsch process is what i meant

Film-alternatives to petroleum?

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