Topic 6.2.9 - Dealing with polymer waste Flashcards
Incineration.
Heat energy to heat factories or homes or produce electricity.
Definition of recycle.
Converting into materials
Feedstock.
Break down polymer waste into gases H2 and CO2 then use these to make chemicals
Biodegradable.
Broken down by microbes in the environment
Why has the use of polymers increased?
Can be manufactured on a large scale
Often lighter in weight
The are unreactive
Solutions to reduce polymer waste.
Not using them unnecessarily eg supermarkets not allowing free plastic bags.
Recycling, feedstock, incineration
Example of recycling a polmer.
PET used to make carpets
What happens in incineration?
Takes polymer waste and converts it into heat energy that can heat homes or produce electricity.
Disadvantages of incineration.
Can cause pollution
E.g PVC also contains chlorine not just carbon and hydrogen
How do you use polymers as chemical feedstock?
Break the polymer into gases mainly H2 and CO
This produces feedstock that can be used in other chemical reactions
What are biodegradable polymers?
Polymers that can be broken down by microbes in the environment
Disadvantages of biodegradable polymers.
Made from plant material so need land to grow the plants
When broken down, the C and H produced can’t be used
