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Advanced Catalytic Methods for Plastic Depolymerization with Metallic Moieties
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This paper reviews existing research on methods to break down plastic waste using metal-based catalysts, such as metal complexes and metal-organic frameworks. These catalysts can convert long plastic chains into smaller molecules that could be reused to make new materials, offering a possible approach to reducing plastic pollution.
According to data from the UN Environment, approximately 400 million tons of plastic waste is produced globally each year, and this figure is projected to rise to about 1100 million tons by 2050. Plastic pollution is a serious global concern as it continues to pollute our environment. It affects human health, causing lethal diseases like cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory disorders, and metabolic disorders. Preventing these hazardous effects is the need of the hour. Despite their wide range of applications, the non-biodegradability of plastics and the rising volume of plastic waste pose a significant threat to the global ecosystem. Depolymerization offers an efficient route to convert plastic polymers into simple monomers for recycling. Catalytic depolymerization is an emerging technique that breaks down long-chain polymers into simpler monomers, which can be reused as starting synthons for the preparation of materials with versatile applications. Numerous catalysts have been developed and gained recognition for their ability to depolymerize plastics, thereby reducing their harmful environmental impacts. Metal-based compounds, particularly metal complexes and metal–organic frameworks have shown high efficiency in catalytic depolymerization, significantly mitigating the effects of plastic pollution. This chapter explores advanced catalytic strategies for plastic depolymerization, focusing on metal-based compounds such as metal complexes and metal–organic frameworks, which are promising catalysts for converting plastics into valuable, eco-friendly small molecules.
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