[ RadSafe ] Plastics and radiation exposure

[Ted de Castro]

Yes - that is precisely what I meant - but I was wondering if 
de-polymerization with radiation would get us to the same endpoint and 
if anyone knew what the required exposure might be.

I have seen Lucite degradation from x-rays and it appeared to be going 
in that direction and I know that took some high exposures but was 
thinking that maybe 10^3 to 10^6 times that much exposure just might 
complete the job - and JUST MAYBE possible from an irradiator utilizing 
high level waste as the source.

An interesting conjunction of waste streams.

Thanks for the reference - the video was interesting.  It sounds like a 
solution for many issues - especially Styrofoam - and in some areas the 
electricity is cheap enough to make it profitable.

NOT mentioned is what was left in the device after the oil was made and 
how difficult that might be to remove or dispose of.


On 11/3/2010 8:24 PM, Dahlskog, Leif wrote:
> You mean along the lines of this...
>
> Turning plastic containers, bottle caps, bags, all plastic waste BACK
> into useable oil (where it came from originally), back into gasoline,
> kerosene, Check it out:
>
> http://www.flixxy.com/convert-plastic-to-oil.htm
>
>
> Leif Dahlskog
> Radiation Health Branch
> Department of Health, Western Australia
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu
> [mailto:radsafe-bounces at agni.phys.iit.edu] On Behalf Of Ted de Castro
> Sent: Thursday, 4 November 2010 10:47 AM
> To: The International Radiation Protection (Health Physics) Mailing List
> Subject: [ RadSafe ] Plastics and radiation exposure
>
> Here's an off the wall muse .........
>
> What would be the ultimate end product of plastics to GIGA doses (or
> higher) of photon or maybe beta radiation?
>
> ie.  Would it ultimately de-polymerize to something like what it started
>
> from or an otherwise useful product - like maybe a fuel source?
>
> Just a muse.  NOT considering economic viability or any such thing.
>
> Just - what if a non-pc major "pollutant" - ie. rad waste got recycled
> to the close proximity of another problem waste product - plastics -
> might not something useful POSSIBLY arise.
>
> We all can guess at an answer - but I'm suspecting that someone here
> might KNOW the answer.
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