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Exploration of operating conditions in the direct aqueous-phase reforming of plastics
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This study explored direct aqueous-phase reforming of polyethylene terephthalate plastic as a way to produce hydrogen and alkanes, testing the effects of temperature, pH, and catalyst type. Platinum catalysts at 220 degrees Celsius produced up to 10 mmol of hydrogen per gram of plastic in 8-hour reactions.
Plastic materials are employed in countless applications, resulting in a high amount of waste and the need for alternatives to landfill. In the current work, an alternative to reduce and revalorize waste plastic using direct aqueous-phase reforming (APR), a catalytic process to produce hydrogen and/or alkanes from organic molecules, is proposed with a focus on polyethylene terephthalate. The effect of operating conditions including temperature (190–235 °C), pH (3–12), and the type of metal catalyst and support, was studied. Pt catalysts yielded at 220 °C 5 mmol of H2/g of plastic in 4-hour reaction tests, which increased up to 10 mmol of H2/g of plastic for an 8-hour reaction time. Additionally, low amounts of short-chain alkanes were detected (<1.4 mmol of alkanes/g of plastic). The production of H2 was also improved by increasing reaction temperature up to 235 °C, and by using Pt-based bimetallic catalysts and supports with well-developed mesopore area. The results obtained confirm the potential of this strategy as a useful and simple way to transform plastic waste, especially PET, into H2.
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H2 Production from Real Wastes of Polyethylene Terephthalate and Polylactic Acid using CNx/Ni2P Nanocatalyst
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Researchers developed a photocatalytic process using a novel nanocatalyst to convert real plastic waste from PET bottles and PLA bioplastics into hydrogen gas. The process achieved maximum hydrogen yields of 124 and 267 micromol per gram for PET and PLA respectively, offering a dual benefit of plastic waste valorization and clean energy production.
Electrocatalytic upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate to commodity chemicals and H2 fuel
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Researchers developed an electrocatalytic process that breaks down waste PET plastic (the kind used in water bottles) into valuable chemicals and clean hydrogen fuel using a specially designed nickel-cobalt catalyst. The process achieved high efficiency at industrial-scale current densities, offering a potentially profitable way to recycle plastic waste into useful products.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.