Ashley- SCI project 1 mod 2

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School

Southern New Hampshire University *

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Course

100

Subject

Chemistry

Date

Apr 3, 2024

Type

docx

Pages

2

Uploaded by CaptainDragon2977

SCI 100 Topic Exploration Graphic Organizer Topic (Describe the topic discussed in your news story, providing details about the background of the topic.) There is plastic waste currently still being stored in landfills all the way from the 1950’s. Waste management workers and scientists still do not have current answers in how to properly dispose of all the different compositions of plastics, therefore they just sit in the landfills taking up space. These increases using natural land areas littering it with garbage, increase in air pollution, and an increase greenhouse gas emission. Using more and more of our nature for these things only increase our environmental issues. Cornell University is currently working on a method called chemical recycling to help alleviate this issue. Main Idea (Identify the main idea or thesis in the news story you selected) The main idea for this article is to inform readers of a new form of recycling that could revolutionize the way we handle plastic waste. The chemicals they are experimenting with is used to break plastics down into its original form in order to reuse them. This process helps clear landfills and cuts down on the amount of plastic waste. Being able to use this method will create a circular economy, which is turning waste back to a natural resource to be used to make something else. This will work with products such as mail package envelopes, toys, pipes, and bottles. This method will also help decrease air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. There will still be future experimentation and improvisation as they continue to use this technology and as society continues to evolve. Supporting Evidence (Describe the evidence that supports the main idea or thesis of your news story.) 1) Clearing landfills will decrease air pollution 2) Being able to reuse plastics will cut down on plastic waste 3) Getting rid of waste will decrease greenhouse gas emissions Questions (Your questions should be based on the main idea and supporting evidence that you identified.) 1) Pyrolysis turns non-recycled plastics from solid waste to synthetic
crude oil that can be refined into diesel fuel, gasoline, heating oil or waxes. How much solid waste plastic would it take to create 1 liter of crude oil? 2) Gasification turns solid waste into a synthesis gas that can be used for electric power generation. How many kilowatt-hours of electricity would 1 ton of municipal solid waste produce using gasification chemical recycling? 3) If chemical recycling is conducted on a country wide scale, how long would it take to reduce the United States’ landfills by 50%? Information (Identify the types of sources that you could use to find more information about the topic discussed in your news story and the questions you posed.) This research was published by Cornell University and is supported by the National Science Foundation. Additional research has also been discussed in this article such as a paper published by Fengqu You called “Consequential Life Cycle Assessment and Optimization of High-Density Polyethylene Plastic Waste Chemical Recycling”. In that paper You discussed analyzes the frame work of equipment, processes, and environmental effects to the end product. There is ample information in this subject and would be able to find multiple resources for this research if needed further information. The article by Fengqu You was the original article that inspired Cornell University to further this experiment. Using the mathematical factors, You had come up with allowed this to be a continuously tested experiment until we find what is the best solution. A person can always google about chemical recycling and find tons of information, but these articles are very viable and well researched, so they are both great sources for this topic.
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