Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil

[Sundowner]

I guess I don't keep up with materials technology like I should. So this seems to me like a pretty cool process to present to a recycle company in one neat little package.

Regards,
Sun

Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil

A US company is taking plastics recycling to another level – turning them back into the oil they were made from, and gas.

All that is needed, claims Global Resource Corporation (GRC), is a finely tuned microwave and – hey presto! – a mix of materials that were made from oil can be reduced back to oil and combustible gas (and a few leftovers).

Key to GRC’s process is a machine that uses 1200 different frequencies within the microwave range, which act on specific hydrocarbon materials. As the material is zapped at the appropriate wavelength, part of the hydrocarbons that make up the plastic and rubber in the material are broken down into diesel oil and combustible gas.

GRC's machine is called the Hawk-10. Its smaller incarnations look just like an industrial microwave with bits of machinery attached to it. Larger versions resemble a concrete mixer.

"Anything that has a hydrocarbon base will be affected by our process," says Jerry Meddick, director of business development at GRC, based in New Jersey. "We release those hydrocarbon molecules from the material and it then becomes gas and oil."

Whatever does not have a hydrocarbon base is left behind, minus any water it contained as this gets evaporated in the microwave.
Simplified recycling

"Take a piece of copper wiring," says Meddick. "It is encased in plastic – a kind of hydrocarbon material. We release all the hydrocarbons, which strips the casing off the wire." Not only does the process produce fuel in the form of oil and gas, it also makes it easier to extract the copper wire for recycling.

Similarly, running 9.1 kilograms of ground-up tyres through the Hawk-10 produces 4.54 litres of diesel oil, 1.42 cubic metres of combustible gas, 1 kg of steel and 3.40 kg of carbon black, Meddick says.

Watch a video of tyre powder being reduced by the Hawk-10......

Full Article:
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn12141-giant-microwave-turns-plastic-back-to-oil.html
Props to:
slashdot.org/

[Nilsen]

Not a bad idea.

How much energy does the microwave use in the process?

[Meatwad]

Thats easy. Just let my wife use the microwave and anything turns to oil

[JCLerch]

Originally posted by Nilsen
How much energy does the microwave use in the process?

Your not allowed to know the answer to that question!

Knowing that the machine takes a pile of plastic + 2 quanta energy, and leaves you minus a pile of plastic and one quanta of energy is dangerous to the profitability of the manufacturer.

Of course I could be wrong.....

[1K3]

Originally posted by Meatwad
Thats easy. Just let my wife use the microwave and anything turns to oil

I hope she doesn't use it for cooking oil:eek:

[Meatwad]

It might explain why i havent been feeling good lately..........