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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Transformation of Single‐Use Plastics into Lighter Hydrocarbons via an Economical Coal Fly Ash based Zeolite Catalyst
ClearLiquid fuel production from catalytic pyrolysis of municipal plastic waste using synthesized Zeolite from Kaolin
This paper is not relevant to microplastics research — it evaluates a catalytic pyrolysis process using zeolite from kaolin to convert municipal plastic waste into liquid fuel as an alternative energy source.
Thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of a real mixture of post-consumer plastic waste: An analysis of the gasoline-range product
Researchers performed thermal and catalytic pyrolysis on real post-consumer plastic waste mixtures using various catalysts, finding that polymer type strongly influenced gas, liquid, and char yields, and that zeolite catalysts produced gasoline-range hydrocarbon liquids with commercially viable compositions from mixed plastic feedstocks.
Recent Progress in Low-Cost Catalysts for Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste to Fuels
This review evaluated low-cost catalysts — including zeolites, clays, and bimetallic materials — for the pyrolytic conversion of plastic waste into fuel, comparing their effects on product yield and quality and highlighting promising candidates for scaling up plastic-to-fuel processes.
Pyrolysis as a value added method for plastic waste management: A review on converting LDPE and HDPE waste into fuel
This review focuses on pyrolysis as a method to convert waste LDPE and HDPE plastics into liquid fuel, summarizing reactor types, catalysts, and the factors influencing fuel yield and quality. While not about microplastics directly, it addresses the upstream problem of plastic waste accumulation — particularly the conversion of plastics that would otherwise persist in the environment and fragment into microplastics — into usable energy resources.
Impact of Metal Impregnation of Commercial Zeolites in the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Real Mixture of Post-Consumer Plastic Waste
This study tested the catalytic pyrolysis of real mixed post-consumer plastic waste using metal-impregnated commercial zeolites, finding that metal loading significantly influenced product yields and selectivity toward fuel-range hydrocarbons.
Acidic Site-Controlled ZSM-5 Catalysts for Fast Molten-Phase Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste with Tunable Product Distribution
Researchers synthesized ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts with tunable acidity for converting plastic waste into useful fuels through catalytic pyrolysis. The optimized catalyst achieved nearly 100% conversion of high-density polyethylene at 450 degrees Celsius in just 19 minutes, with controllable product distribution between oils and gases. The study provides insights for designing efficient catalysts that could help address both plastic waste accumulation and energy recovery.
Kinetic Analysis for the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Polypropylene over Low Cost Mineral Catalysts
This study analyzed the thermal decomposition kinetics of polypropylene plastic with different low-cost natural catalysts, finding that certain clay and zeolite-based catalysts significantly lowered the temperature needed to break down the polymer. Catalytic pyrolysis could be a practical approach for converting waste plastic into useful fuel oils, helping reduce the plastic waste that generates microplastic contamination.
Plastic pyrolysis over HZSM-5 zeolite and fluid catalytic cracking catalyst under ultra-fast heating
Researchers demonstrated that using induction heating — a fast, energy-efficient method — with catalysts can fully break down polyethylene and polypropylene plastics within 10 minutes, converting them into useful gases and liquid chemicals, offering a more economically viable recycling pathway than conventional plastic pyrolysis.
Environmental Evaluation of Chemical Plastic Waste Recycling: A Life Cycle Assessment Approach
This paper is not relevant to microplastics research; it performs a life cycle assessment of chemical recycling of plastic waste via pyrolysis in Spain, concluding the process produces lower carbon emissions than fossil diesel, but the focus is on industrial energy recovery rather than microplastic environmental impacts.
Harnessing High-Density-Polyethylene-Derived Liquid as a Model Solvent for the Co-Liquefaction of Low-Rank Coals: Toward Sustainable Mesophase Pitch for Making High-Quality Carbon Fibers from Waste Plastics
Despite its title referencing polyethylene recycling and mesophase pitch production, this paper studies an industrial chemistry process for converting waste plastic into carbon fiber precursors via coal liquefaction — not microplastic pollution or environmental health. It examines how hydrogen-rich liquid derived from HDPE plastic can improve coal-to-carbon conversion, and is not relevant to microplastics or human exposure.
Characterization of Energy-Relevant Liquid Products from Vacuum Pyrolysis of HDPE Microplastic
Billions of tonnes of plastic waste, including HDPE microplastics, could potentially be converted back into liquid fuels through a process called pyrolysis. This study tested vacuum pyrolysis of HDPE microplastics at 550°C and characterized the resulting oil, finding it is dominated by alkanes and alkenes similar to light petroleum — suggesting real potential as an alternative fuel or chemical feedstock. While plastic-to-fuel pyrolysis is not a complete solution to the microplastics crisis, this work contributes to understanding the technical feasibility of one pathway for recovering value from plastic waste.
Catalytic pyrolysis of mixed plastic wastes using commercial grade kaolin and Ukpor clay from Nigeria
Researchers used local clay materials from Nigeria as low-cost catalysts to convert mixed plastic waste into liquid fuel through pyrolysis. The study demonstrates that waste plastic can be transformed into usable fuel using affordable, locally available materials — a practical recycling approach for developing regions.
Towards fuels production by a catalytic pyrolysis of a real mixture of post-consumer plastic waste
Researchers tested in-situ catalytic pyrolysis of a real mixed post-consumer plastic waste stream from mechanical-biological treatment facilities, producing a liquid fuel fraction with properties comparable to gasoline, kerosene, and diesel.
КАТАЛІТИЧНИЙ ПІРОЛІЗ ВІДХОДІВ ПОЛІЕТИЛЕНУ ВИСОКОЇ ЩІЛЬНОСТІ: ФАЗОВИЙ РОЗПОДІЛ ПРОДУКТІВ І ХІМІЧНИЙ СКЛАД
This Ukrainian study examined catalytic pyrolysis of high-density polyethylene plastic waste using various catalysts, finding that catalyst choice strongly controls the composition and proportion of gas, liquid, and solid products. The research frames plastic pyrolysis as a strategy to prevent plastic waste from fragmenting into environmental microplastics by converting it into useful fuel products instead. Identifying optimal catalyst conditions is a step toward practical industrial-scale plastic-to-fuel conversion.
Materials challenges and opportunities to address growing micro/nanoplastics pollution: a review of thermochemical upcycling
This review examined thermochemical upcycling technologies including pyrolysis, gasification, and liquefaction as approaches to valorize micro- and nanoplastic waste, assessing the material challenges and opportunities for converting environmental plastic pollution into useful fuels or chemical feedstocks.
Conversion of Polyethylene to Low-Molecular-Weight Oil Products at Moderate Temperatures Using Nickel/Zeolite Nanocatalysts
Incorporating small nickel nanoparticles into zeolite catalysts allowed polyethylene — the world's most widely used plastic — to be broken down into useful low-molecular-weight oils at 350 °C, compared to the 400 °C required without a catalyst. This lower-temperature catalytic process offers a more energy-efficient route to upcycling plastic waste and reducing microplastic pollution from discarded packaging.
Production of combustible fuels and carbon nanotubes from plastic wastes using an in-situ catalytic microwave pyrolysis process
Researchers developed an in-situ catalytic microwave pyrolysis process using ZSM-5 catalyst to convert plastic waste into hydrogen, liquid fuel, and carbon nanotubes, demonstrating a promising route for both energy recovery and valuable material production from plastic pollution.
Preparing Fuel-Range Chemicals via the Direct and Selective Pyrolysis of Disposable Mask Waste for Sustainable Environment
Chemical pyrolysis of disposable facemask waste converts the polypropylene and polyamide components into high-value fuel-range chemicals including liquid hydrocarbon blends, aromatics, and C1-5 gas alkanes, offering a strategy to address mask-generated microplastic pollution while producing sustainable fuels.
Reaction kinetics and product distributions in thermal and catalytic pyrolysis of agricultural mulch films over HZSM-5 zeolite
This study examined how spent plastic mulch films — which shed microplastics into agricultural soils — could be recycled through pyrolysis (heat-based chemical breakdown), including with the help of a zeolite catalyst. The catalyst lowered the temperature needed to break down the films and shifted the mix of chemical products produced, potentially making recycling more efficient. Finding viable disposal routes for agricultural plastic waste is important for reducing the microplastic burden in farmland.
Analysis of Plastic-Derived Fuel Oil Produced from High- and Low-Density Polyethylene
Researchers analyzed the chemical composition and properties of fuel oils produced via pyrolysis from both high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE), evaluating their potential as alternative fuels. The study characterized hydrocarbon distributions and fuel quality parameters to assess the viability of plastic-to-fuel conversion as a waste management strategy.
Thermal conversion of irradiated LLDPE waste into sustainable sponge-like compounds: a novel approach for efficient trace-level oil–water removal
Not relevant to microplastics — this paper develops a sponge-like material from irradiated waste polyethylene via low-temperature pyrolysis in castor oil, testing it as an adsorbent for cleaning up oil spills and organic solvents.
Upcycling of polyethylene to gasoline through a self-supplied hydrogen strategy in a layered self-pillared zeolite
Researchers developed a special zeolite material (a porous mineral catalyst) that converts polyethylene plastic waste into high-quality gasoline with over 80% yield, without needing expensive metals or added hydrogen. This breakthrough offers a practical pathway for recycling one of the most common plastics into usable fuel, potentially reducing plastic waste and reliance on fossil fuel extraction.
Assessment of Co-Pyrolysis of Polypropylene with Triacylglycerol-Based Waste Biomass to Obtain Sustainable Hydrocarbons
Despite its title referencing polypropylene co-pyrolysis, this paper studies the thermal breakdown of polypropylene plastic waste combined with biodiesel industry byproducts to produce renewable hydrocarbon fuels — not microplastic pollution. It examines chemical product yields from waste-to-fuel conversion, and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.
Carbon materials derived from single-use plastics (SUPs) and their applications in pollution mitigation: Challenges and perspectives
This review examines strategies for converting single-use plastic waste into value-added carbon-based materials through thermal, chemical, and catalytic transformation techniques including pyrolysis, carbonization, and chemical activation. The authors assess how these approaches address microplastic contamination risks while contributing to circular economy frameworks by repurposing non-degradable plastic residues.