Chemistry

Elas Muoz Neyra Code: 00-1257-005 A solution for a plasticised world Since the massive production of polyethylene plastic bags in the early 80s, it has gained an important role in our daily life. Strong, cheap to produce and very light makes polyethylene (PE) bags our choice when going shopping or when we have to gather all garbage at home. Plastic bags have multiple uses. Paper can be used to replace plastic bags uses, but paper bags are not as strong as plastic bags are, so polyethylene bags are essential for multiple tasks. But, is this useful material dangerous to our environment, and thus our planet? Easy to answer. Yes, it is. Plastic bags take around 400 years to decompose1. During this decomposition process, polyethylene bags are around the world, contaminating the environment as they decompose, because they release toxic substances present in their structure (toxic metals)2. And in their production, factories also release carbon dioxide to the air. Also, they are dangerous to animals. One whale found in the shores of Normandy was found to have around 800 kg. of plastic residues in his stomach3. This affects not only big animals such as whales, but to small too. A dead turtle was found in the shores of Buenos Aires with a plastic bag in her throat. Turtles tend to confuse these bags with jellyfishes. Only 15% percent of plastics are recycled4, and the rest is dumped into rivers or burnt. This problem is hard to solve, since burning plastic bags will only produce poisonous gases that pollute the air and contributes to the greenhouse effect and thus increase the hole in the ozone5. In addition, there are more plastic bags in our planet causing problems. Right now there are about 1000 millions of plastic objects somewhere on earth6. But there are many solutions to this problem. One is to use degradable plastic bags. The first type is the oxo-degradable bag. This type of bag degrades by an oxidation reaction, that is, when its in contact with oxygen present in the air. Factors that help in the degradation of the bag are sunlight, tension and heat. The polymer of high molecular weigh is broke down into smaller molecules, which react easily. The bag is transformed into carbon dioxide, water and biomass, with the help of microorganisms present in the environment. These bags are cheaper than PE bags. They are made with corn or potato starch, which are natural substances obtained from vegetables. This natural compound allows the bag to degrade easily, and in a period of 2 or 3 months, the bag, technically, disappears. But there is one thing to mention about this bag. Prices of production are quite high in comparison to the PE bags. They are more expensive, while PE bags are less expensive. Since there is a problem about prices, most people will prefer to use PE bags in third world
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http://www.degradable.com.ar/default_19.html http://www.novachem.com/appl/prodfinder/docs/Polyethylene/MSDS/SURPASSNotColored_MSDS_ES .pdf 3 http://www.degradable.com.ar/default_19.html 4 http://www.degradable.com.pe/ 5 The burning of PE produces carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. 6 http://www.nacion.com/ln_ee/2008/junio/05/aldea1565046.html

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Chemistry
Elas Muoz Neyra Code: 00-1257-005 countries. And so will do companies in these countries due to production costs. In Peru so far there are two big supermarkets that put in practice the use of bio-degradable bags. One out of many in the entire country. And the small supermarkets in other cities and small towns? And stores in general that still use PE bags? Until we create a bio-degradable consciousness in our country, a recycling consciousness should be put in practice. We cant change the mind of many years of practice, but we can start by increasing the life-use time of PE bags. Use many times the same plastic bag to carry things, or just buy one very resistant bag. Or just buy cloth bags instead of reusing PE bags. Peruvians are told to be good at inventing things; I think its time for us to show that. We can do big plastic bags using the ones that were thrown, and in some way, re-use these wasted plastic. Or instead of using cloth for clothe, we can recycle PE bags to make a dress. There are so many ways we can use PE, but we only think in throwing to the garbage and contribute with pollution. We must not allow this from happening, if we want to give a good future to our sons, our grandsons, to our grand-grandsons and so. During the research at Davy an experiment was made by the IB students to produce degradable bags with potato starch. In some parts of the world some bas are made with the same procedure we followed. The results were good. A resistant layer was obtained after the solution containing the processed starch dried. The layer was placed outside the science buildings to test their resistance to humidity and water but it decomposed easily. This poses a problem because if the bag is wetted by rain or any other water source it will no longer be useful. In my opinion there are two main problems with this potato starch bags. One is the likely problem of shortage of the main material these bags are produced with. In Peru the potato is consumed and produced in great amounts7. A reduction of production to sell would represent a problem to the Peruvian economy and to other countries economy. Secondly the cost benefit relationship of using bags produced by starch. Using a bag which will only be used a few times is not a good choice if there are PE bags that will last longer and are cheaper. But should we risk costs if a matter of pollution is in between? Until bio-degradable consciousness is developed in our society, and more supermarkets, stores and all class of businesses start using bio-degradable bags instead of PE bags, then, finally we can reduce pollution. Until that day, we will have to keep recycling all sort of things made of PE, and doing that is a good step. Its true, we cant talk about terminate pollution of PE, because there will always be pollution produced by plastics but what we can do is to reduce its use and depend less on them. Recycling and changing PE bags for degradable bags, are two answers to the pollution problem. Is up to us how to find many others, before we cant do anything to counter the problem, and thus, have big problems in not a far future.

http://www.minag.gob.pe/papa_prod.shtml

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