Science

Microwave Zaps Plastic Back Into Oil

Using a tweaked-out industrial-strength microwave oven, the Global Resource Company has developed a technique that turns plastic into oil and gas. Key to the process is the oven, known as the Hawk-10, which emits 1200 different microwave frequencies. When hit with the right wavelength, hydrocarbon molecules that make up the plastic are broken down. Beyond […]

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Using a tweaked-out industrial-strength microwave oven, the Global Resource Company has developed a technique that turns plastic into oil and gas.

Key to the process is the oven, known as the Hawk-10, which emits 1200 different microwave frequencies. When hit with the right wavelength, hydrocarbon molecules that make up the plastic are broken down.

Beyond providing fuel and cleaning up landfill-clogging waste, the process also makes recycling easier.

"Take a piece of copper wiring," says Meddick. "It is encased in plastic – a kind of hydrocarbon material. We release all the hydrocarbons, which strips the casing off the wire." Not only does the process produce fuel in the form of oil and gas, it also makes it easier to extract the copper wire for recycling.

A New York scrap metal company has already promised to buy a Hawk-10 to break down plastic-containing automobile leftovers.

Giant microwave turns plastic back to oil [New Scientist]

Image: D'Arcy Norman*