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Potential contribution of nanotechnolgy to the circular economy of plastic materials

Acta Innovations 2020 12 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 30 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Monica Distaso

Summary

This paper reviews how nanotechnology could support a circular plastic economy by improving recycled plastic properties and enabling catalytic breakdown of plastics into reusable monomers. Nano-additives and nano-catalysts are identified as promising tools for shifting plastic management from linear waste to resource recovery.

The problem of plastic accumulation in the environment requires the development of effective strategies to shift the paradigm of used plastics from wastes to resources. In the present contribution, after an overview of the current plastic management strategies, the possible role of nanotechnology to this emerging field is considered. In particular, the challenges related to the use of nano-additives to improve the properties of recycled plastics is discussed based on the fundamental aspects of colloid stabilisation. Finally, the contribution of nanotechnology to the fabrication of effective catalysts for the depolymerisation of plastics into the constituent monomers is outlined.

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