Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil -- The Environmental Lounge

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Subject: Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil

Author:
larry

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Date Posted: 16:33:49 01/01/08 Tue

looks like cars and electronics will be easyer to recycle.

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.
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/dn12141-giant-microwave-turns-plastic-back-to-oil.html

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