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Abid
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Join Date: Apr 2008
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Is Polyethene (PE) Degradable?

06/05/2008 4:48 AM

Hi Everyboby.

I wish to know if polyethene is degradable.

Thanks
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user-deleted-1105
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#1

Re: Is polyethene degradable?

06/05/2008 4:51 AM

It depends on your definition...

On a geological timescale I think just about everything is degradable.

Including human 'civilisation'.

Del

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PWSlack
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#2

Re: Is polyethene degradable?

06/05/2008 5:13 AM

It's certainly combustible.

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gigaconcept.com
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#3
In reply to #2

Re: Is polyethene degradable?

06/05/2008 11:25 AM

Hey, why not reuse this link: http://www.coleparmer.com/techinfo/chemcomp.asp

All credits to PWSlack

Worked for me to find out I cannot dissolve PTFE on my kitchen table...

As it turns out for LDPE:

Mayonnaise

D-Severe Effect

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PWSlack
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#4
In reply to #3

Re: Is polyethene degradable?

06/06/2008 4:00 AM

Brilliant! Dissolve the PE in mayonnaise!!

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gigaconcept.com
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#5
In reply to #4

Re: Is polyethene degradable?

06/06/2008 7:25 AM

This how they make the special sauce, Sshhhhhhh!

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Slowpoke
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#6

Re: Is Polyethene (PE) Degradable?

06/08/2008 12:48 AM

The answer in part depends on what you want to degrade it into and how fast.

If you are trying to make it into some sort of fuel, there are some pyrolysis processes which should work nice on it. For that matter, it probably burns quite well. If you mean to degrade it back to ethylene, you will have a few problems. There are probably a few solvents (other than mayonaise) that will take care of it and allow you to recycle it.
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