The discussion revolves around the potential methods for breaking down ABS plastic for recycling, including concerns about its carcinogenic properties and the environmental implications of plastic waste. Participants explore various approaches, including enzymatic breakdown, thermal recycling, and alternative disposal methods.
Participants express differing opinions on the best approach to handling ABS plastic, with some advocating for recycling while others propose destruction or alternative disposal methods. There is no consensus on the most effective or safe method for breaking down ABS plastic.
Participants note the complexity of the chemical processes involved in breaking down ABS and the potential for harmful byproducts, but there are unresolved questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of various proposed methods.
Is ABS carcinogenic?LightningInAJar said:Summary:: How?
Is there a process to break ABS plastic down into safe non carcinogenic chemicals? Maybe even down to its basic elements? Maybe an enzyme exists? I want to recycle my 3D printed objects that didn't turn out well.
At least 1 of three chemicals in ABS is cancer causing. It is stable when combined hence why it can be used to make Legos. But I don't want to reuse the plastic. I would prefer there be less of it left on Earth by breaking all the bonds in it.256bits said:Is ABS carcinogenic?
To recycle, just reheat.
Or perhaps you need smaller pieces by just grinding the bad part up.
LightningInAJar said:Summary:: How?
Is there a process to break ABS plastic down into safe non carcinogenic chemicals? Maybe even down to its basic elements? Maybe an enzyme exists? I want to recycle my 3D printed objects that didn't turn out well.
This is not how chemistry works. The polymer isn’t carcinogenic. Acrylonitrile is, but it’s one of the monomers. The polymer is perfectly harmless as it is, but if you were to “break down” the polymer into its constituent monomers, you’d end up with a stinky poisonous soup. Best case scenario, you burn it all completely and end up with a bunch of CO2. More likely is it wouldn’t burn completely and the fumes would contain the carcinogen that you seek to avoid. The best thing you can do is recycle or reuse the harmless plastic.LightningInAJar said:At least 1 of three chemicals in ABS is cancer causing. It is stable when combined hence why it can be used to make Legos. But I don't want to reuse the plastic. I would prefer there be less of it left on Earth by breaking all the bonds in it.
What makes you think there are too many plastics? And why does that make destruction a better alternative than recycling? And what makes you think that the energy and processes used in destroying that plastic will be better than letting the plastic remain?LightningInAJar said:There are too many plastics out there. At some point we will need to break it down completely. It would need to be well contained in any process to break it down. But in my mind it makes more sense to do it in a controlled fashion than have it end in the ocean or a landfill and end up in water supplies. Maybe a UV laser could break even the CO2? Or like I said before, an enzyme that can eat it and output something safer?
https://www.vandenrecycling.com/en/what-we-do/buy-and-sell-plastic/abs/ABS plastics are recyclable – this includes sheets, shower trays, car parts, skeletal waste and ABS pipe. Recycled ABS is becoming increasingly popular as raw ABS can be expensive to use in manufacturing.
The more we use the more we buy. I don't know who specifically recycles ABS. I know the filament requires a higher temperature each time it is melted which causes nozzle clogs unlike PLA plastic. I don't know if recycling resets its physical properties. Who could I send old part to to make it usable again?TeethWhitener said:What makes you think there are too many plastics? And why does that make destruction a better alternative than recycling? And what makes you think that the energy and processes used in destroying that plastic will be better than letting the plastic remain?
If you think there are too many plastics, then the answer is to stop consuming things made from plastic. Are you simply never going to use your 3D printer again? Or are you just going to go out and buy more plastic to feed it instead of recycling what you already have?