6.29 - Dealing with polymer waste Flashcards
What are the reasons as to why polymer use is on the rise?
- They can be manufactured on a large scale
- Lighter in weight than traditional alternatives
- They are unreactive
What is the main issue with polymers?
Their disposal
What are 3 ways of disposing of polymers?
- Recycling
- Incineration
- Use as a chemical feedstock
As far as polymer waste is concerned, what does recycling mean?
Converting it into other materials
What are the two stages in recycling?
Sorting and processing
What happens in the sorting stage?
The polymers are sepearted into groups, so that each group contains one type of polymer only
What happens in the processing stage?
Waste is chopped into small pieces and washed. Material is then used to make other materials, by metling, moulding or fibre production
What is incineration?
Using the polymer waste as fuel to produce energy
What is the main concern with incineration?
It is bad for the environment
What does use as a feedstock involve?
Converting polymer waste into chemicals that can be used to make new polymers
What are biodegradable polymers?
Polymers that can be broken down by microbes
What are they often made from?
Plant matter
What is a drawback of using biodegradable polymers?
Land is needed to grow the plants themselves
