DEALING WITH PROBLEM POLYMERS

DEALING WITH PROBLEM POLYMERS

1. Combustion

   • Plastics have a high calorific value, they can be burnt in power stations
     • The chemical energy transferred can be used to drive turbines and generate electricity
   • Plastics contain large amounts of carbon so when they are combusted they relase carbon dioxide
     • Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse and is linked to climate change
   • Depending on the plastic, other toxic or polluting gases, like HCl, can be made
     • These gases can be removed by using gas scrubbers, where a base such as CaO neutralises the acidic gas

2. Organic Feedstock

   • After waste has been sorted into different types, a series of chemical reactions can be used to break down the plasitc polymers into small organic molecules
     • This allows the recovered chemiclas to be used in other inductrial

3. Biodegradeable polymers

   • Biodegradeable polymers can naturally decompose because organisms can feed on it

4. Photodegradable polymers

   • Photodegradable polymers can naturally decompose because they break down when exposed to sunlight