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Polymer‐Based Recycling Strategies for Plastic Waste: A Comprehensive Review
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This comprehensive review evaluates mechanical and chemical recycling strategies for plastic waste, noting that mechanical recycling is widely used but limited by polymer degradation, while chemical recycling offers higher quality recovery but at greater energy and financial cost. The study highlights emerging technologies including AI-assisted sorting, nanotechnology, and biodegradable polymer development as promising approaches for building a more circular plastics economy.
ABSTRACT Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing global environmental challenges, affecting ecosystems, human health, and climate through persistent waste accumulation and microplastic formation. This comprehensive review elaborates on recycling techniques based on polymer, including mechanical and chemical recycling, advantages and limitations they pose. Though mechanical recycling is widely applied, diminishing the degradation and contamination of the polymer lowers its effectiveness. Chemical recycling gives material recovery of high quality but needs plenty of energy and money. The new technologies such as AI, nanotechnology, and biodegradable polymers have the possibility of enhancing efficiency and sustainability of recycling. Economic, regulatory, and behavioral barriers exist at large scales. Recycling technologies have to be engineered to develop a circular economy for plastics, politicians need to be robust, and public awareness has to be enhanced. This summary highlights the need for interdisciplinary thinking in order to enhance plastic waste management and provide sustainable solutions for a brighter future.
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This review examines cutting-edge approaches to plastic waste recycling beyond conventional mechanical methods, covering chemical recycling, biological degradation, and AI-enhanced sorting systems. Each technology is evaluated for its potential to address the growing global plastic waste crisis. Together, these advances point toward more efficient and scalable pathways for recovering value from plastic waste streams.
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This review compares conventional and emerging plastic recycling technologies—including mechanical recycling, pyrolysis, gasification, hydrocracking, and solvent-based methods—evaluating their technical performance, environmental impacts, and economic viability, while advocating for region-specific strategies and AI-assisted sorting to improve recycling outcomes globally.
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