ALTERNATIVAS DE BAJO IMPACTO AMBIENTAL PARA EL RECICLAJE DEL POLIESTIRENO EXPANDIDO A NIVEL MUNDIAL

Abstract

The article presents a bibliographic review on alternatives of low environmental impact for the recycling of expanded polystyrene worldwide, based on the use of natural resources and the environmental impacts associated with them. The environmental impact of each technique was determined through the construction of an Excel matrix where the frequency of use of: (I) primary, secondary or tertiary techniques, (II) natural resources used and (III) environmental compartments affected. Primary sources that address the issue of expanded polystyrene treatment worldwide were consulted. It was found that the best techniques for the recycling of polystyrene are primary and tertiary specifically manual crushing and use of green solvents such as d-limonene and p-cymene, to leave the secondary and tertiary treatments in last positions, agglutination and generation methods of energy respectively.