Which plastics release hydrogen cyanide when they burn?

Plastics that contain nitrogen release hydrogen cyanide as they burn. Examples are polyurethane foam, nylon and acrylonitrile-based plastics such as ABS.

How does hydrogen cyanide harm the body?

Hydrogen cyanide stops cells from using oxygen in aerobic respiration. A short exposure to a high concentration can kill within minutes.

Which plastic is the main source of hydrochloric acid when plastic waste is burned?

PVC is the main source, since every repeating unit carries a chlorine atom. The chlorine is released as hydrogen chloride gas, forming hydrochloric acid with moisture.

CCEA A-Level Environmental Technology 3930

Fossil Fuels

Topic overview Coal, oil and gas in modern society Reserves, lifespan and accessibility Fossil fuel combustion and the IPCC evidence Carbon trading schemes Fossil fuel demand, emerging economies and fuel security Environmental impacts of fossil fuel use

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

Topic overview Sustainable development and climate agreements Emissions and energy efficiency targets for 2020 Renewable energy and demand reduction in policy Nuclear power as an alternative

Macrogeneration

Topic overview Conservation of energy and the simple generator Thermal power stations and steam turbines Direct and indirect renewable electricity Electricity transmission through the National Grid Smart grids and interconnectors Combined heat and power

Microgeneration

Topic overview Microgeneration technologies Benefits of home and community microgeneration The heat pump cycle and coefficient of performance Air source and ground source heat pumps

Energy From Wind

Topic overview Horizontal and vertical axis wind turbines Kinetic energy, wind power and the Betz limit Power curves, rated output and energy losses Swept area, blade length and turbine mass Air density, hub height and turbine siting Power control, yawing and survival speed Choosing a location for a commercial wind farm

Energy From the Sun

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Energy From Biomass

Topic overview Defining biomass and its main categories Energy crops grown for biomass Advantages and disadvantages of biomass fuel Combustion, woodchip and fuel quality Gasification and syngas Biogas and commercial anaerobic digesters

Energy Storage

Topic overview Intermittency and reliability of renewable supply Why renewable energy needs storing Pumped hydro and compressed air energy storage Where energy storage is most beneficial

Plastics for the Future

Topic overview Crude oil as a fuel and a feedstock Refinery gases and the making of polymers Persistent plastic waste and the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Toxic gases from incinerating plastics Biodegradable, photodegradable and compostable plastics Testing photodegradable plastic against polythene Bio-derived polyethylene and a sustainable plastics future

Renewable Energy Investigations

Topic overview Desktop research on renewable energy technologies Choosing an investigation and its variables Apparatus and risk assessment for energy practicals Accuracy and reliability of energy measurements Presenting and analysing energy data Evaluating a method and site-based recommendations

Sustainable Development

Topic overview Population growth and demand for resources The I = PAT equation and the role of technology Ecological footprints, carbon footprints and One Planet Living

Waste Management

Topic overview Landfill dependence and the landfill tax Waste types, priority waste streams and EU directives The waste management hierarchy Recycling at a Materials Recovery Facility Landfill decomposition, methane and leachate Engineered landfill: dry tomb and bioreactor designs

Waste to Energy Technologies

Topic overview Embodied energy Incineration with energy recovery Digester design: solids content, residence time and staging Stages of anaerobic digestion and biogas CHP Composting and catering waste

Land Contamination and Remediation

Topic overview Contaminated land, risk and traditional remediation Bioremediation principles and bioreactor systems Micro-organisms that degrade named pollutants Bioremediation benefits and genetically engineered microbes Phytoremediation of metals and other elements Phytoextraction with Indian mustard and alpine pennycress Biohydrometallurgy and phytomining of ores

Hydrogen Fuel Cells

Topic overview Hydrogen as a fuel: properties and storage Hydrogen production: steam reforming, electrolysis and photocatalysis How a fuel cell works and the PEM cell Alkaline, phosphoric acid, molten carbonate and solid oxide fuel cells Fuel cell applications and the challenges of hydrogen

Transport System Challenges

Topic overview Four key challenges for future transport New vehicle technologies and their infrastructure Bioethanol production and the heat energy of ethanol Biodiesel and the biofuel debate Strategies to reduce transport demand

Energy Performance of Buildings

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Emerging Technologies

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Sustainable Urban and Rural Communities

Topic overview Energy and buildings in sustainable urban developments Transport, waste and brownfield sites Water, drainage and urban green space Energy, water and waste for isolated rural dwellings Local food and communication technology in rural areas

The Code for Sustainable Homes

Topic overview Purpose, levels and assessment of the Code Energy, carbon dioxide and water categories Materials, surface water run-off and waste categories Pollution, health and wellbeing, management and ecology categories Measuring the performance of an existing building Performance profiles, improvements and evaluation

Plastics for the Future

Toxic gases from incinerating plastics

3 things to know
AS 1

Overview

Carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen chloride from burning plastics, dioxins, open burning, flue gas cleaning and the 850°C two-second rule, the energy value of plastics, furniture fires and incineration as an option.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Name three toxic gases released when plastics are incinerated.

Key term

Why is carbon monoxide released when plastics burn?

Key term

Why is carbon monoxide from burning plastic so dangerous?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
Name three toxic gases released when plastics are incinerated.
Model answer
Three toxic gases are carbon monoxide, hydrogen cyanide and hydrogen chloride. Hydrogen chloride dissolves in moisture to form hydrochloric acid.
2
Why is carbon monoxide released when plastics burn?
Model answer
Plastics are made mostly of carbon and hydrogen, and burning with too little oxygen causes incomplete combustion. Some of the carbon then forms carbon monoxide instead of carbon dioxide.
3
Why is carbon monoxide from burning plastic so dangerous?
Model answer
Carbon monoxide binds to haemoglobin far more strongly than oxygen does, forming carboxyhaemoglobin. The blood then carries less oxygen, causing drowsiness, unconsciousness and death.
4
Which plastics release hydrogen cyanide when they burn?
Model answer
Plastics that contain nitrogen release hydrogen cyanide as they burn. Examples are polyurethane foam, nylon and acrylonitrile-based plastics such as ABS.
5
How does hydrogen cyanide harm the body?
Model answer
Hydrogen cyanide stops cells from using oxygen in aerobic respiration. A short exposure to a high concentration can kill within minutes.
6
Which plastic is the main source of hydrochloric acid when plastic waste is burned?
Model answer
PVC is the main source, since every repeating unit carries a chlorine atom. The chlorine is released as hydrogen chloride gas, forming hydrochloric acid with moisture.

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Fossil Fuels

Global Action on Energy Conservation and Climate Change

Macrogeneration

Microgeneration

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