A Canadian company has opened its first (appropriately named) Plastic2Oil plant in Niagara Falls, NY, converting non-recyclable plastics into gases.
The plants are revolutionary in making use of plastics that would normally find their way into landfills. Using a 1,800 lbs.-capacity granulator, the plastics are first shredded then heated in a process chamber. A secret catalyst then breaks down the plastic’s hydrocarbons into smaller ones, producing gases such as gasoline and diesel that power the plants and butane and propane that can be stored and sold.
The efficiency of the plant is striking, as well. The process not only converts 90% of the plastic, but also does so in less than an hour. Atmospheric emissions are reported to be less than those produced by a natural gas furnace, too.
[via Gizmodo and Gizmag]
