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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Solvent-free chemical upcycling of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) and poly(lactic acid) plastic waste using SBA-15-functionalized basic ionic liquids
ClearReciclagem química conduzida pelo uso de líquidos iônicos, como estratégia para mitigar a poluição por microplásticos
This study used low-toxicity ionic liquids to chemically recycle PET microplastics under mild temperature and pressure conditions. Ionic liquids offer a greener alternative to the harsh solvents typically needed for chemical recycling. The approach could help address microplastic pollution by providing a more environmentally friendly way to break down and recover value from tiny plastic particles that are difficult to collect and recycle by conventional means.
Chemical Recyclingof Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET)Driven by the Use of Protic Ionic Liquids: A Strategy to MitigateMicroplastic Pollution
Researchers developed a chemical recycling process for polyethylene terephthalate plastic using protic ionic liquids as green solvents, enabling depolymerization under milder conditions than conventional methods. The approach achieved high PET conversion rates and yielded recyclable monomers, offering a more sustainable alternative for addressing PET waste and associated microplastic pollution.
Chemical Recycling of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Driven by the Use of Protic Ionic Liquids: A Strategy to Mitigate Microplastic Pollution
Researchers explored using environmentally friendly ionic liquids to chemically recycle PET microplastics through hydrolysis, recovering the raw material terephthalic acid. The most effective ionic liquid achieved over 80% PET conversion under relatively mild conditions compared to traditional chemical recycling methods. The study suggests that protic ionic liquids could offer a sustainable, less hazardous approach to breaking down PET microplastic waste.
Synergistic Dual Catalytic System and Kinetics for the Alcoholysis of Poly(Lactic Acid)
Researchers developed an improved chemical recycling process using a dual catalyst system to break down polylactic acid (PLA), a common bioplastic, back into reusable building blocks. The approach could improve the circularity of bioplastics and reduce plastic waste from packaging and disposable products.
Single-Step Electrochemical Upcycling of PET: Waste to Value-Added Chemicals, Oral Presentation
Researchers developed a single-step electrochemical method to upcycle PET plastic waste into value-added chemicals and organic materials, targeting the over 70% of plastic that ends up in landfills or oceans where it breaks down into microplastics.
Efficient extraction of polystyrene nanoplastics from water using an ionic liquid
Researchers developed an ionic liquid-based extraction method for efficiently removing polystyrene nanoplastics from water samples. The technique achieved high recovery rates and demonstrated effectiveness for capturing particles at environmentally relevant concentrations. The study offers a promising analytical and remediation tool for addressing nanoplastic contamination in aquatic environments.
Degradation Product-Promoted Depolymerization Strategy for Chemical Recycling of Poly(bisphenol A carbonate)
This paper is not about microplastics — it describes a catalyst-free chemical recycling method for polycarbonate plastic using a diamine reagent under mild conditions, where a degradation by-product accelerates the depolymerization process.
Interfacial configurational entropy tuning strategy enabling liquid alloys for efficient depolymerization of polyolefin waste
Scientists developed a new metal catalyst that can break down plastic waste into useful chemicals without needing high pressure or extra materials. This breakthrough could help solve our growing plastic pollution problem by turning old plastic containers and bags into raw materials for new products. While this research focuses on recycling plastic waste, reducing plastic pollution could eventually help decrease the tiny plastic particles that end up in our food and water.
Process Optimization of Solvents Assisted Polyethylene Waste Recycling
Researchers optimized solvent-based chemical recycling of polyethylene plastic waste to recover high-quality recycled material. The study demonstrates that chemical recycling can be tuned to maximize yield and quality, offering a scalable alternative to mechanical recycling that degrades plastic properties over time.
In silico COSMO-RS predictive screening of ionic liquids for the dissolution of plastic
Researchers screened 9,405 ionic liquids for plastic dissolution capability using computational modeling (COSMO-RS), then validated the most promising candidates experimentally, identifying potential green solvents for plastic waste recycling.
Chemical Recycling of Mixed Plastics in Electronic Waste Using Solvent-Based Processing
Researchers developed a solvent-based chemical recycling process capable of separating and recovering mixed plastics from electronic shredder residue, demonstrating that targeted solvent systems can selectively dissolve specific polymer types and enable higher-quality recycling of e-waste plastics.
Catalytic Amounts of an Antibacterial Monomer Enable the Upcycling of Poly(Ethylene Terephthalate) Waste
Scientists developed a new method to recycle PET plastic waste (commonly used in bottles) into high-value antibacterial material using only small amounts of a special monomer. This approach addresses both plastic pollution and the need for antimicrobial materials, while avoiding the biotoxicity problems of traditional metal-based antibacterial agents. The technique represents a promising way to upcycle plastic waste rather than simply discarding it.
Hypercrosslinked waste polycarbonate to remove heavy metal contaminants from wastewater
Researchers chemically modified waste polycarbonate plastic using a process called hypercrosslinking, turning it into a resin capable of efficiently removing lead and cadmium ions from contaminated water. The material achieved removal capacities around 160 mg per gram for both toxic metals, demonstrating that plastic waste can be repurposed as a tool for cleaning up heavy metal pollution.
Upcycling Waste Polyoxymethylene to Value-added Chemicals Using Reusable Polymeric Acid Catalysts at ppm Levels
Researchers developed a method for upcycling waste polyoxymethylene plastic using a recyclable polymeric acid catalyst at parts-per-million loadings, producing value-added chemicals including solvents, insecticides, and pillar[5]arenes, with the catalyst retaining full efficiency over five reuse cycles.
Oxygen vacancy mediated oxidative reforming of polylactic acid to hydrocarbon
Researchers developed a method to convert polylactic acid, a common biodegradable plastic, into valuable hydrocarbon chemicals using a singlet oxygen-driven catalytic process. The approach uses copper-magnesium co-doped nickel sulfides with oxygen vacancies to selectively break down PLA at specific chemical bonds. Techno-economic and life cycle analyses suggest the process could reduce carbon emissions while providing favorable economic returns, offering a potential solution for recycling biodegradable plastic waste.
Ethyl Lactate Production from the Catalytic Depolymerisation of Post-consumer Poly(lactic acid)
Researchers developed a chemical recycling method using a zinc-based catalyst to break down post-consumer bioplastic (PLA) items — including a phone case, toy, and 3D-printed material — into ethyl lactate, a useful green solvent. This approach offers a way to chemically recycle bioplastics that degrade too slowly in natural environments, supporting a circular economy for plastic materials.
Electrochemical oxidation of polyethylene microplastics: from efficient removal to sustainable valorization
Scientists developed a new method that can remove up to 98% of tiny plastic particles from water in just three hours using a special electrical process. Instead of just destroying the plastic waste, this technique turns it into useful chemicals like acids that can be used to make other products. This breakthrough could help clean up plastic pollution in our water while also creating a way to recycle plastic waste into valuable materials.
Asymmetric Atomic Pt–B Dual-Site Catalyst for Efficient Photoreforming of Waste Polylactic Acid Plastics in Seawater
Researchers developed a new light-powered catalyst that can break down polylactic acid (PLA) plastic waste in seawater, converting it into useful chemicals and hydrogen fuel. The catalyst uses precisely arranged platinum and boron atoms to efficiently drive the chemical reaction. While focused on cleanup technology rather than health effects, this work offers a promising approach to reducing plastic pollution in the ocean before it breaks down into microplastics.
Chemical recycling of post-consumer polyester wastes using a tertiary amine organocatalyst
Researchers developed a metal-free chemical recycling method using a common amine catalyst to break down PET and other polyesters from post-consumer plastic waste — including textiles and multilayer packaging — into reusable monomers with 100% yield. This technique offers a simpler, more efficient path to closing the plastic recycling loop.
Lignin derived hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents for the extraction of nanoplastics from water
Researchers synthesized lignin-based hydrophobic deep eutectic solvents (environmentally friendly liquid mixtures) and demonstrated they can extract both polystyrene and PET nanoplastics from water with over 95% efficiency, offering a sustainable approach to nanoplastic detection and removal that avoids conventional synthetic solvents.
Cutting-edge developments in plastic biodegradation and upcycling via engineering approaches
This review examines how engineering approaches from synthetic biology and metabolic engineering can improve both the breakdown and upcycling of plastic waste. Researchers found that various microorganisms and their enzymes can degrade plastics and convert the resulting monomers into valuable products like biosurfactants, bioplastics, and biochemicals. The study suggests that optimizing microbial pathways and using hybrid chemo-biological approaches could help build a more sustainable circular plastic economy.
Role of Poly(Ionic Liquid) in Aggregation Behavior of Micro‐Particles in Aqueous Solvent
Researchers synthesized novel polymer-based flocculants (poly(ionic liquids)) that outperformed conventional aluminum-based coagulants in aggregating polypropylene and polystyrene microplastics from natural seawater, even under the high-salinity conditions where conventional treatments fail. Removing microplastics from marine environments is uniquely challenging because salt disrupts standard coagulation chemistry; these metal-free flocculants offer a more effective alternative. The work identifies a promising class of water treatment chemicals specifically suited to saltwater microplastic remediation.
Efficient catalytic upcycling of polyester and polycarbonate plastics using NNN-based iron catalyst
Researchers developed an efficient catalytic system using an NNN-based iron pincer catalyst to depolymerize polyester and polycarbonate plastics via hydrogenative methods, enabling either methanolysis into ester monomers or transfer hydrogenation into value-added products. The system provides an eco-friendly alternative for chemical upcycling of plastic waste, addressing the significant environmental burden of polyester accumulation.
The Degradation Product Promoted Depolymerization Strategy for Chemical Recycling of Poly(bisphenol a Carbonate)
Researchers developed a degradation product-promoted depolymerization strategy for chemically recycling poly(bisphenol A carbonate) (BPA-PC) using N,N'-dimethyl-ethylenediamine (DMEDA) as a reagent under mild conditions without catalysts or auxiliary solvents, finding that the degradation product DMI acts as a critical facilitator of the depolymerization process.