Q46. With reference to polyethylene terephthalate, the use of which is so widespread in our daily lives, consider the following statements:
- Its fibers can be blended with wool and cotton fibers to reinforce their properties.
- Containers made of it can be used to store any alcoholic beverage.
- Bottles made of it can be recycled into other products.
- Articles made of it can be easily disposed of by incineration without causing greenhouse gas emissions.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
a) 1 and 3
b) 2 and 4
c) 1 and 4
d) 2 and 3
Answer – A
- Statement 1 is correct: PET fibers make them highly resistant to deformation, so they impart excellent resistance to wrinkling in fabrics. They are often used with other fibers such as rayon, wool, and cotton, reinforcing the inherent properties of those fibers while contributing to the ability of the fabric to recover from wrinkling.
- Statement 2 is incorrect: The low softening temperature of PET—approximately 70 °C (160 °F) makes it dangerous to human health and country liquor and country-made foreign liquor cannot be sold in such bottles.
- Statement 3 is correct: Polyethylene terephthalate is the most widely recycled plastic. For instance, PET bottles and containers are commonly melted down and spun into fibers for fiberfill or carpets.
- Statement 4 is incorrect. The emission of greenhouse gases is one of the major disadvantages associated with the disposal of PET by incineration process. Polyethylene, like other plastics, is not inert and is known to release additives and other degradation products into the environment throughout its lifetime
For UPSC Prelims Resources, Click here
For Daily Updates and Study Material:
Join our Telegram Channel – Edukemy for IAS
- 1. Learn through Videos – here
- 2. Be Exam Ready by Practicing Daily MCQs – here
- 3. Daily Newsletter – Get all your Current Affairs Covered – here
- 4. Mains Answer Writing Practice – here
Visit our YouTube Channel – here
