Recycling Garbage: Can We Break Down Molecules to their Basic Elements?

[tcgastevenson]

I am sure the answer is obvious, but for some reason it escapes me. So here goes.

Radiation can be used to break apart molecules, or so says a geology textbook I was reading. And I know the folks at CERN and Fermi-lab (spelling?) are working with atomic particle matter, and even anti-matter according to an article I read recently, so why can't we disintegrate molecules into their base atomic elements, then recycle the elemental matter?

In other words, why can we not take garbage to be recycled, and break it down to its basic elemental molecular structure and separate it into pure masses of the elements from which it is composed? Is it a matter of not possessing the technology to do it? Is it cost prohibitive? Is it even possible? Am I making any sense?

Thanks.

 

[Kevin_Axion]

Firstly, I'd imagine it to be extraordinarily difficult to hinder the continuous chemical reactions/bonding occurring amongst the elements. Secondly to separate and organize each atom isn't possible with current technologies. Advancements in nanotechnology may increase cost effectiveness and technological capabilities in the future.

 

[Drakkith]

To break molecules apart requires energy. A chemical reaction such as burning gasoline gives off energy, it is Exothermic. However, to break those products of the reaction back into their previous/base elements, requires just as much energy as you got out of burning it in the first place. Gotta conserve that energy. =)

So not only is it a question of having the technology, we also have to account for the costs of the energy used to do this. So for almost everything that is garbage, there is almost no reason to attempt this.

 

[DrewD]

Technically we are already doing this exact thing passively. You just have to wait a few million years for the process to finish.

 

[cragar]

A company called star tech is working on this , And they have a prototype
watch this video and they explain there plasma torch and how it breaks down the garbage and turns it into elements . I don't know how good it works though.