3.4.6 Solution to Plastic Pollution Flashcards
1
Q
Why are polyalkenes difficult to dispose of?
A
- Fairly unreactive
- Non-biodegradable
- Hundreds of years to decompose in landfills
- Burning results in harmful combustion products
2
Q
Solutions to plastic pollution
A
- Feedstock recycling
- Mechanical recycling
3
Q
Feed stock recycling
A
- Heating plastic to high temps so polymers break
- Forming monomers
- Used to produce new plastics
4
Q
Mechanical Recycling
A
- Types of plastics separated and washed
- Ground into small pellets
- Heated til they melt
- Remoulded to use again
5
Q
Some issues with recycling
A
- Polypropene can only be reheated and reused a number of times
- Each time it is heated some of the key chains break
- So over time the properties of the plastic degrade
