Polymers/plastics are petroleum products (like nylon, rayon, etc). Why can't the same method be used that refines these substances out of crude oil in the first place? Seems that catalytic crackers - essentially giant cauldrons boiling crude oil and causing its various byproducts to separate - could be used in reverse? Then, also, there would never be a shortage of fossil fuels ... oh. Never mind.
Polymers/plastics are petroleum products (like nylon, rayon, etc). Why can't the same method be used that refines these substances out of crude oil in the first place? Seems that catalytic crackers - essentially giant cauldrons boiling crude oil and causing its various byproducts to separate - could be used in reverse? Then, also, there would never be a shortage of fossil fuels ... oh. Never mind.