recycling polymers

Question 1

recycling polymers

Answer 1

• conserves finite fossil fuels
• decreases the amount of waste going into landfill
• costly to sort by hand
• mixing of polymers makes them unusable

Question 2

PVC recycling

Answer 2

• release toxic hydrogen chloride and dioxides when burnt
• solvent used to dissolve the polymer
• the solvent is then recovered by precipitation and used again

Question 3

using waste polymers as fuel

Answer 3

• can be incinerated to produce heat with generates steam to turn the turbines which produces electricity

Question 4

feedstock recycling

Answer 4

• reclaiming monomers from waste polymers
• can be used as raw materials for the production of new polymers

Question 5

bioplastics

Answer 5

• made from plant based materials
• renewable and sustainable

Question 6

biodegradable polymers

Answer 6

• broken down by bacteria into water, carbon dioxide and other biological compounds

Question 7

photodegradable polymers

Answer 7

• contain bonds that are weakened by absorbing light