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Thermo-chemical recycling of plastics as a sustainable approach to the plastic waste issue
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This paper reviews thermo-chemical recycling as a promising solution for plastic waste, covering pyrolysis, gasification, and related processes that convert plastic into fuels and chemicals. The authors discuss challenges around removing harmful additives, energy consumption, and the need to design polymers with built-in recyclability.
Abstract Plastic waste has become a global environmental crisis due to its non-biodegradable nature and widespread accumulation in ecosystems. As the volume of plastic waste continues to increase, effective and sustainable methods for plastic waste management are critical. Traditional mechanical recycling methods are falling short of addressing the full spectrum of plastic pollution and in the framework of the circular economy zero landfill is required. Thermo-chemical recycling has emerged as a promising solution to overcome these limitations. Thermo-chemical recycling includes various processes that convert plastics into valuable products such as fuels, monomers, and chemicals. This paper explores the potential of thermo-chemical recycling as a sustainable solution to the plastic waste problem, examining its principles, types, benefits, challenges, and future prospects. Moreover, the targeted product is presented depending on the polymer recycled type. Specific focus is set on the research conducted in our laboratory and the results obtained. Furthermore, challenges remain in removing harmful additives; energy consumption, environmental impact, and recommended procedures are discussed. The advancements in this field present a viable approach to reducing plastic waste and creating a circular economy for plastics. Key challenges and future research directions for the redesign and manufacturing of polymeric materials with built-in recyclability are also outlined.
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"This review evaluates thermochemical, catalytic, and chemolysis technologies for converting recovered plastic waste into value-added petrochemicals such as hydrogen, synthesis gas, and bio-crude oil, assessing their commercial feasibility and environmental sustainability. Researchers identify key opportunities and challenges in plastic-to-fuel conversion while recommending future research directions to improve process efficiency and reduce costs."
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Right now, only about 9% of plastic waste actually gets recycled, and most of what does get recycled turns into lower-quality material—not a real solution to the mountains of plastic piling up in our environment (and breaking down into the microplastics we're increasingly finding in our bodies). This review rounds up newer "chemical recycling" methods that can break plastic waste down to its molecular building blocks and even transform it into useful products like lubricants, offering a more promising path to actually reusing plastic instead of just downgrading it. These technologies are still working through real challenges like cost and efficiency before they can make a major dent in the plastic p
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