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Plastic Recycling

  • 01-06-2006 1:51pm
    #1
    Drax
    Closed Accounts Posts: 511 ✭✭✭


    Does anybody know how they recycle plastic? As in the science bit. I mean is it somehow 'melted down' and reformed or is it dissolved in something? Just been to the recycle centre and there are always loads of people there ... I think if the facilities are there, people will use them... good to see! Just got me thinking...


Comments

  • #2
    Orlee
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,274 ✭✭✭Orlee


    There are four main methods of plastic recycling

    Pyrolysis
    Plastics waste is heated in a vacuum producing a mixture of gaseous and liquid hydrocarbons not unlike petroleum. A means of reusing scrap tires.

    Hydrogenation
    Plastics waste is heated with hydrogen. This 'cracks' the polymers into a liquid hydrocarbon.

    Gassification
    Plastics waste is heated in air producing a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen gases. This is used to produce new raw materials such as methanol.

    Chemolysis
    Individual plastics are chemically treated and turned into the raw materials for making the same plastics.

    Or so I hear!!


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