Turn plastic to oil - with a microwave!

[duncan drennan]

I've been wondering a bit about plastics and recycling, but this story gives me hope,

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.

Full story on New Scientist

The article goes on to speak about the use of this machine in a scrap metal yard, which allows for all the "autofluff" to be used to run the machine itself, along with some of the other machines.

If it is all it is made out to be, this is a potentially great machine.

[Dave A]

For some reason that link is cooked for me

I'm becoming increasingly amazed at some of the technological advances of late. Our understanding of matter has come on in leaps and bounds. And yet we've still only scratched the surface.

I was watching a program on an ion drive prototype the other day - just beserk!

[SilverNodashi]

Don't try this at home though, you could end up with a small time bomb!

I was watching a program on an ion drive prototype the other day - just beserk!

mm, can't wait for these kind of gadgets to become reality

[Dave A]

Don't try this at home though,

Sorry - I forgot to give that warning
A little mini sun burning on the kitchen table might prove a little too hot to handle without magnetic gloves.