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An electricity-powered future for mixed plastic waste chemical recycling
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This review examines how electrifying chemical recycling processes — which break plastic waste back into reusable monomers — could help close the loop on the 91% of global plastic that is never recycled, while also addressing challenges like industry inertia and the intermittent supply of renewable electricity needed to power these technologies.
In contemporary times, global plastic waste production has doubled in comparison to two decades ago, with only 9% effectively recycled. The polymer industry is undergoing a transition to address the disparity between plastic production and end-of-life waste management. Chemical recycling offers a solution by converting plastic waste into its constituent building blocks, or monomers, which can be utilized in the production of new, high-quality plastics. This concise review provides an overview of conventional chemical recycling technologies employing heated reactors, before delving into ongoing efforts towards electrifying the chemical recycling process. A conceptual framework for a fully electrified value chain aimed at achieving plastics circularity is outlined and analyzed. Additionally, attention is given to the challenges posed by industry inertia towards adopting electrified technologies, as well as performance issues stemming from the intermittent nature of renewable energy sources and the availability of long-duration renewable electricity storage options.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.