Teacher Preparation Notes on Plastic Identification Lab

Background:
With all the superior attributes of polymers, there are some difficulties with the material. Most plastics deteriorate but do not decompose completely. However, applications for recycled plastics are growing every day. Plastics can be blended with virgin plastic (plastic that has never been processed) to reduce cost without sacrificing properties. Recycled plastics are used to ma e polymeric timbers for use in picnic tables, dec s, fences, and outdoor toys, saving natural lumber. Plastic from !"liter bottles is spun into fiber for carpet production. #he plastics industry uses polymer pellets to ma e plastic containers. $n %&'', the (ociety of the Plastics $ndustry, $nc. ((P$) introduced the polymer identification coding system. #he codes are molded or imprinted on the bottom of most plastic containers. )or plastics to be recycled, they must be separated by type. #he polymer recycling codes enable us to distinguish between the common types of polymers. However, visual sorting is not efficient enough to be practical on a large scale. *ne physical method of separating polymers is by density differences. #he plastics to be recycled are shredded and placed into a li+uid such as water. #he plastics that are denser than water will sin , while those less dense than water will float. #he floaters and sin ers are recovered separately, and the process is repeated with other li+uids having different densities. #his can be done on a small scale with readily available li+uids. (tudents in this lab will note and record which plastics float, and which sin on a solvent by solvent basis.

Plastic Identification Codes

,, PP, density -.&-"-.&% g.m/ 0, /1P2, density -.&!"-.&0 g.m/ !, H1P2, density -.&,"-.&3 g.m/ 4, P(, density %.-,"%.-3 g.m/ 5, 6, density %.%'"%.5- g.m/ %, P2#2, density %.5'"%.5& g.m/

Student Safety Issues:

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#he ethanol is flammable. 7eep open flames and spar sources away from the solvents. 7now the location of the fire safety e+uipment8 review use of that e+uipment before beginning wor . Wear goggles and apron. Wash spills with water. 9void ingesting the chemicals. Wash hands after the e:periment.

Disposal of Solvents:
9ll of the li+uids may be disposed of safely at the sin . 9ll of the solids may be discarded with ordinary solid trash or cleaned and ept for future lab activities.

Ti e:
#eacher Preparation; 5- minutes <lass #ime; ,- minutes

!aterials:
, test tubes per lab group #est tube rac (one per lab group) Mas ing tape = mar ers for labeling test tubes <olored Plastic samples (see teacher preparation sheet for sources of plastic) , types of solvent (see teacher preparation sheet for solvent preparation) #oothpic s , plastic disposable transfer pipettes per lab group

"ints:
%. Pull all e+uipment the day before lab and put it on a lab cart or in an area of the room where lab groups will have access to their supplies. !. >e sure to mi: solvents ahead of time and place them in mar ed capped bottles. ?ote " (aturated Mg<l! ta es several days to prepare saturated.

#he choice of solvents will depend upon the plastics actually used. #hese solvents wor well for the plastics used in this e:periment.
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Solvent (ituated Mg<l! %-@ ?a<l in water water %;% ethanol; water 0;5 ethanol; water

Density g# L %.50 %.-' %.--.&0 -.&!

(aturated Mg<l! "" place !- g Mg<l!A4H!* in a %--"m/ bea er, add ,- m/ H!*, and stir daily for one wee . %-@ ?a<l in water "" place , g ?a<l in 0, m/ of water. %;% ethanol; water "" add !, m/ &,@ ethanol to !, m/ of water. 0;5 ethanol; water "" add 54 m/ of &,@ ethanol to !3 m/ of water. Bn nowns "" find plastics whose identities are certain and that are colored uni+uely. Bse these as un nowns. When plastics are labeled with their recycling numbers, as more and more products are, identification is automatic. Pieces of plastic should be cut to very small siCes, appro:imately s+uares ! mm on an edge.

$n preparing the plastic samples for this e:periment, the following sources can be used;
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,, PP, density -.&-"-.&% g.m/, white plastic from a +uart siCe yogurt container. 0, /1P2, density -.&!"-.&0 g.m/, yellow plastic from a s+ueeCable mustard Dar. !, H1P2, density -.&,"-.&3 g.m/, blue plastic from a Miracle White E bottle. 4, P(, density %.-,"%.-3 g.m/, red plastic from a plastic party plate. 5, P6< or 6<, density %.%'"%.5- g.m/, gold plastic from an old credit card.
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%, P2#2, density %.5'"%.5& g.m/, green plastic from the clear part of a Mountain 1ewF soda bottle.

$ther Possible Plastics poly"0"methyl"%" pentene ?ylon polymethymethacrylate #eflon

Density -.'5 %.%0"%.%4 %.%'"%.!!.!

Possible Source clear plastic lab ware plastic machine parts Ple:iglas plumbers Doint tape

Data table: Solvent saturated Mg<l! %-@ ?a<l in water water %;% ethanol; water 0;5 ethanol; water %ns&ers:
G%. 9n un nown plastic floats on water but sin s under %-@ ?a<l. (uggest the composition of this plastic. 9%. Polystyrene floats on water but sin s under %-@ ?a<l.
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Density g# L %.50 %.-' %.--.&0 -.&!

float !,5,0,,,4 !,0,,,4 !,0,, 0,, ,

Sink % %,5 %,5,4 %,!,5,4 %,!,5,0,4

G!. #he same principles used here are used by gas station attendants to chec antifreeCe. 2:plain what is done and the basis for the procedure. 9!. 9 small sample of fluid is drawn into a plastic tube containing colored plastic beads of nown density. >y noting which colors float and which sin , the attendant is able to determine the appro:imate density of the fluid which suggests a concentration of ethylene glycol (or propylene glycol) for the antifreeCe. #he ethylene glycol concentration determines the temperature to which protection is afforded.

'eferences: Plastic Recycling <odes "http:##&&&( id ichiganspe(org#pdfs#docu ents#identification(pdf Plastic $dentification #ests " http:##&&&(a ericanche istry(co #s)plastics#hands)on)plastics#ac tivities#plastics)analysis)lab)lesson#plastics)analysis)lab)&s(ht l http:##d&b*(unl(edu#che istry#s allscale#SS+,-(ht l