Advanced Recycling Methods for Plastics

♻️ New Preprint Alert! ♻️ As global plastic waste levels continue to rise, the need for innovative chemical recycling strategies grows more urgent. In our latest study, we explore how catalytic pyrolysis can convert mixed plastic waste into valuable products, supporting the shift toward a circular economy. 🔬 We focus on a realistic feedstock—a mixture of polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET)—commonly found in multilayer packaging, a notoriously difficult-to-recycle waste stream. 📌 Key contributions: Investigated catalyst:feedstock ratio, polymer composition, and heating rate effects using TGA. Developed a kinetic modeling framework to predict degradation behavior under varying conditions. Evaluated catalyst deactivation through shifts in thermal profiles and quantified acidity loss using pyridine and collidine adsorption. To our best knowledge, we provided the first kinetic and deactivation study on co-pyrolysis of PP and PET—a major step forward in understanding mixed plastic waste behavior during catalytic recycling. 📉 Our findings show that PET’s high coking tendency significantly accelerates catalyst deactivation, underscoring the need for tailored strategies in mixed waste pyrolysis. 🔗 Read the full preprint here: https://lnkd.in/eBcU_6Az We hope this work sparks discussion and collaboration in the field of sustainable plastic recycling and catalytic process engineering. #Catalysis #PlasticsRecycling #CircularEconomy #ChemicalEngineering #Kinetics #HZSM5 #Pyrolysis #Sustainability #PlasticWaste

An enzyme used in laundry detergent can recycle single-use plastics within 24 hours! Scientists at King's College London have developed an innovative solution for recycling single-use bioplastics commonly used in disposable items such as coffee cups and food containers. The novel method of chemical recycling, published in Cell Reports Physical Science, uses enzymes typically found in biological laundry detergents to "depolymerize"—or break down—landfill-bound bioplastics. Rapidly converting the items into soluble fragments within just 24 hours, the process achieves full degradation of the bioplastic polylactic acid (PLA). The approach is 84 times faster than the 12-week-long industrial composting process used for recycling bioplastic materials. This discovery offers a widespread recycling solution for single-use PLA plastics, as the team of chemists at King's found that in a further 24 hours at a temperature of 90°C, the bioplastics break down into their chemical building blocks. Once converted into monomers—single molecules—the materials can be turned into equally high-quality plastic for multiple reuse. https://lnkd.in/dihT48pz

CARBIOS, a bio-tech research company, has developed an enzyme called LCCICCG that efficiently breaks down PET plastic, including polyester-rich clothing like t-shirts. This groundbreaking process transforms plastic waste into #reusable pellets, revolutionizing #recycling by converting tons of PET waste into new plastic. CARBIOS intends to scale up operations and pursue partnerships with major brands, as it aims to license its technology to provide a #sustainable solution to the global plastic waste crisis. Innovations like the LCCICCG enzyme offer real hope for cutting down fashion waste. https://lnkd.in/gXcmXkrB #upcycling #apparelindustry #apparel

Really interesting advancement in #recycling research and technology from the University of Colorado Boulder. Scientists have discovered a way to recycle PET (the type of plastic we often see in soda bottles and other packaging) using electricity and chemical reactions. Innovations in efficient and impactful recycling methods are sorely needed today. Although the university’s researchers noted the process needs a lot of work before it can be optimized and applied on an industrial scale, the advancement serves as a brief look into how such innovations can help the world advance toward a #CircularEconomy. If this process does become scalable, it could mean much more plastic waste is recycled, broken down and reused – which means consumers will be able to purchase products with more #recyclable packaging and feel better about their impact when that packaging winds up in the recycling bin once again. When it comes to circularity I am a firm believer that it won’t be a one-silver bullet answer. It will be a collection of technologies which will redefine our industry. https://lnkd.in/gbBuka9V