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What synthetic chemicals remain in bodies & excrement of the mealworms? Assuming synthetic chemicals are not somehow metabolized into natural chemicals, then t
by aeoleonn 6y ago
What synthetic chemicals remain in bodies & excrement of the mealworms?
Assuming synthetic chemicals are not somehow metabolized into natural chemicals, then the problem remains.
- ars 6y agoSince polystyrene has only carbon and hydrogen in it, the number of problematic chemicals you can make from it is quite limited. Not zero certainly, I'm sure a chemist could find some, but starting from polystyrene (which is very stable) and ending up at a problematic chemical is unlikely because the mealworms are using the polystyrene for energy, so I would assume they fully oxidize it, leaving just CO2 and Water.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- legulere 6y agoYou mean like for instance the known carcinogen styrene? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styrene https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Styrene
- ars 6y agoThat's exactly the point: You're not going to go from polystyrene to styrene without inputting energy (like in a fire). These mealworms are not going to generate it, they can't.
- skinkestek 6y agoIsn't polystyrene just styrene blocks chained together, meaning going from polystyrene to styrene should be quite doable? Full disclaimer, my chemistry knowledge is very shallow (advanced high school level I guess).
- detaro 6y agoDoable, yes, but as the parent said you need lots of energy, because you need to tear the chemical bond apart again, and that is quite strong in polystyrene and thus doesn't easily depolymerize. If I remember right the industrial process for it is at a few hundred degrees C and high pressure. (solvents etc will do all kinds of weird things to polystyrene, but it won't just fall apart into styrene molecules again easily)
- skinkestek 6y agoThanks, makes sense then :-)
- aeoleonn 6y agoSo is the answer then that some synthetic chemicals remain? If so, do you know approximately which ones and in which amounts? Just curious.
- ars 6y ago> So is the answer then that some synthetic chemicals remain? That's the opposite of what he said. He said other chemicals can not be created.