A surprising new method finally makes teflon recyclable
New research has identified a straightforward and environmentally friendly way to decompose Teflon, one of the most resilient plastics in use today, and convert it into valuable chemical ingredients.
Scientists at Newcastle University and the University of Birmingham have created a clean, energy-saving process for recycling Teflon (PTFE), which is widely recognized for its role in non-stick cookware and in products that must withstand high temperatures and harsh chemicals.
The team found that discarded Teflon can be broken apart and reused with only sodium metal and mechanical movement by shaking -- all at room temperature and without toxic solvents.
One scratch on a PTFE nonstick pan can shed about 9,100 tiny plastic particles during cooking; badly damaged spots can release millions. Replace scratched pans.
Hello please could you send me a link to the recent researches you mentioned about teflon being dangerous at normal cooking conditions I'm really interested and they seem hard to find thank you
At normal cooking tempera-
tures, PTFE-coated cookware releases various gases and
chemicals that present mild to severe toxicity. Only few stud-
ies describe the toxicity of PTFE but without solid conclu-
sions. The toxicity and fate of ingested PTFE coatings are also
not understood. Moreover, the emerging, persistent, and well-
known toxic environmental pollutant PFOA is also used in the
synthesis of PTFA. There are some reports where PFOA was
detected in the gas phase released from the cooking utensils
under normal cooking temperatures. Due to toxicity concerns,
PFOA has been replaced with other chemicals such as GenX,
but these new alternatives are also suspected to have similar
toxicity.
[...]
While in another report, PFOA was reported to release into the gas phase at 7–337 ng (11–503 pg/cm2) per pan from four brands
of nonstick frying pans under normal cooking temperatures
(179 to 233 °C surface temperature). After repeated use, one
brand showed a significant decrease in gas-phase PFOA,
whereas with other brands, there was no significant decline
in gas phase PFOA. This study suggested that residual PFOA
is not completely removed during the fabrication process of
the nonstick coating for cookware. These residuals remain on
the surface and may be off-gassed when heated at normal
cooking temperatures (Ewan et al. 2007).
Decades ago, Kris Hansen showed 3M that its PFAS chemicals were in people’s bodies. Her bosses halted her work. As the EPA now forces the re
teflon/PTFE/PTFA/PFOA type chemicals are going to be the asbestos/lead/cigarettes of our generation probably, but worse because it is affecting the global climate and ecology web and not just poisoning people in their cars and houses. just a massive, massive coverup that has been going on for decades at this point and with consequences that are basically inescapable. you already have teflon in your organs and blood and bones and so do i. limiting further exposure is probably a good idea but i dont think we have longitudinal studies yet on "mortality of people who cooked on teflon for 40 years vs people who didnt" so we just dont know.
sorry to be a doomer and sorry to trigger anyone's contamination ocd but this is one of those things where it potentially may not be helpful to sugar-coat the information
You guys, I just learned that TEFLON was invented by accident in 1946 by a chemist named Roy Plunkett, who was trying to create a new type of refrigerant. He stored a sample of hydrofluoric acid in a container, but when he went to use it, he found that the sample had polymerized to form a white solid, which turned out to be the non-stick coating we now know as TEFLON. The crazy part is that when Plunkett first opened the container, he was exposed to the toxic fumes and almost died. Can you imagine stumbling upon something so revolutionary by mistake?watch full video: https://youtu.be/8Z-dJ1Nycdw?list=PLjBgcvtYPpORE75rfTGw-tot-YdUQkOvo
