Polymer Disposal
- Chemists have designed ways to remove toxic waste products like HCl before they are emitted into the
atmosphere - The waste gases from the incinerator are scrubbed/reacted with a base or carbonate
- The base reacts with the acidic HCl gas, neutralising it
- eg. CaO (s) + 2HCl (aq)→CaCl2 (aq) + H2O (l)
- Chemists have also developed biodegradable and compostable polymers
Biodegradable polymers
- Biodegradable polymers can be broken down over time by microorganisms
- Common products from this process include carbon dioxide, water and other organic compounds
- The polyester and polyamide condensation polymers are considered to be biodegradable as they can be broken down using hydrolysis reactions
- This is a major advantage over the polymers produced using alkene monomers (polyalkenes)
- When polyesters and polyamides are taken to landfill sites, they can be broken down easily and their products used for other applications
Compostable polymers
- Compostable polymers are commonly plant-based
- Plant starch is being used in the production of biodegradable bin liners
- Sugar cane fibres are replacing polystyrene in the production of disposable plates and cups
- Compostable polymers degrade naturally leaving no harmful residues
