Scientists break down plastic using a simple, inexpensive catalyst and air.
Scientists break down plastic using a simple, inexpensive catalyst and air.
Harnessing moisture from air, Northwestern University chemists have developed a simple new method for breaking down plastic waste.
The non-toxic, environmentally friendly, solvent-free process first uses an inexpensive catalyst to break apart the bonds in polyethylene terephthalate (PET), the most common plastic in the polyester family. Then, the researchers merely expose the broken pieces to ambient air. Leveraging the trace amounts of moisture in air, the broken-down PET is converted into monomers — the crucial building blocks for plastics. From there, the researchers envision the monomers could be recycled into new PET products or other, more valuable materials.
Safer, cleaner, cheaper and more sustainable than current plastic recycling methods, the new technique, published in the journal Green Chemistry, offers a promising path toward creating a circular economy for plastics.
Read more at Northwestern University
Image: New process converts PET plastic into monomer building blocks, which can be recycled into new PET products or upcycled into higher value materials. (Credit: Catherine Sheila)
