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So it's "just" an energy problem? In a hypothetical future with 100% cheap renewable energy, we could recycle plastic over and over?
by RandallBrown 8y ago
So it's "just" an energy problem?
In a hypothetical future with 100% cheap renewable energy, we could recycle plastic over and over?
- nayuki 8y agoIf we have cheap/free energy, we could just synthesize hydrocarbons instead of digging them out of the ground. As an imperfect analogy, we used to mine fertilizers. Now we use energy to create ammonia directly from nitrogen in the air.
- mirimir 8y agoNo, we make ammonia from nitrogen and methane.
- s0rce 8y agoAssuming unlimited energy you could just take CO2 from the atmosphere and react it with hydrogen from water to synthesize all the hydrocarbon precursors you need to then make plastics. The plastics could be burned and you start over again.
- mirimir 8y agoSure, we can burn plastics. But that can be problematic, because they often contain metals (either as filler, or in multiple layers) and are typically contaminated. In a closed system, where you're just cracking plastics, it's arguably easier to deal with contaminants. And I also suspect that you'd use less energy overall.