| Submit your comments on this article |
| Science & Technology |
| Millions of tons of plastic waste could be turned into clean fuels, other products |
| 2019-02-07 |
| [Science Daily] A new chemical conversion process could transform the world's polyolefin waste, a form of plastic, into useful products, such as clean fuels and other items. The conversion process incorporates selective extraction and hydrothermal liquefaction. Once the plastic is converted into naphtha, it can be used as a feedstock for other chemicals or further separated into specialty solvents or other products. Wang became inspired to create this technology after reading about the plastic waste pollution of the oceans, groundwater, and the environment. Of all the plastics produced over the past 65 years (8.3 billion tons), about 12 percent have been incinerated and only 9 percent have been recycled. The remaining 79 percent have gone into landfills or the oceans. The World Economic Forum predicts that by 2050 the oceans will hold more plastic waste than fish if the waste continues to be dumped into bodies of water. Wang said the technology could convert up to 90 percent of the polyolefin plastic. "Plastic waste disposal, whether recycled or thrown away, does not mean the end of the story," Wang said. "These plastics degrade slowly and release toxic microplastics and chemicals into the land and the water. This is a catastrophe because once these pollutants are in the oceans, they are impossible to retrieve completely." More at the link. |
| Posted by:Groter Ghibelline6734 |