archive

• polymers from alkenes


  • conditions - high temperature and pressure, catalyst
  • difficult to dispose - non-biodegradable and produces toxic fumes when burnt
  • waste polymers can be processed by:
  • combustion for energy production
  • use as organic feedstock for production of plastics and other organic chemicals
  • recycling to produce new polymers
  • cracking to produce useful organic molecules
  • pros and cons of combustion:
  • + energy production (as alternative to fossil fuels) - energy used for electricity
  • − toxic waste products formed - eg HCl (acid rain), CO2 (global warming), CO (toxic / poisonous)
• polymers from alkenes


  • conditions - high temperature and pressure, catalyst
  • difficult to dispose - non-biodegradable and produces toxic fumes when burnt
  • waste polymers can be processed by:
  • combustion for energy production
  • use as organic feedstock for production of plastics and other organic chemicals
  • waste polymers may be treated in the future by:
  • recycling to produce new polymers
  • cracking to produce useful organic molecules