Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Process Safety and Environmental Protection 33 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Fuel 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Economic feasibility of catalytic cracking of polymer waste for fuel production

This study analyzed the economic feasibility of catalytic cracking of polyethylene and polypropylene plastic waste to produce liquid fuel, finding that the process can be cost-competitive under certain conditions. Converting plastic waste into fuel reduces the amount that degrades into microplastics in the environment while generating economic value.

2023 Revista de Geografia
Article Tier 2

Polyurethane Foam Waste Upcycling into an Efficient and Low Pollutant Gasification Syngas

Researchers modeled the gasification of polyurethane foam waste under various conditions, finding that optimized thermochemical treatment can convert this common polymer waste into hydrogen-rich syngas with low pollutant output, offering a viable energy recovery pathway for difficult-to-recycle plastic foam materials.

2022 Polymers 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Building a bridge from solid wastes to solar fuels and chemicals via artificial photosynthesis

This review examined photoreforming (PR) as a process that converts solid plastic and other waste materials into hydrogen fuel and value-added chemicals using solar energy, combining waste remediation with clean fuel production. The authors assessed photocatalyst design strategies that enable efficient PR of diverse waste streams including polyethylene and polypropylene.

2022 EcoMat 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Fuel cell and electrolyzer using plastic waste directly as fuel

Researchers demonstrated an electrochemical cell that converts solid plastic waste directly into electricity or hydrogen gas without incineration or gasification, using an acidic solution to dissolve polyurethane at 100–200 °C and oxidize it at a porous carbon anode.

2019 Waste Management 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Rapid atom-efficient polyolefin plastics hydrogenolysis mediated by a well-defined single-site electrophilic/cationic organo-zirconium catalyst

Researchers developed a highly efficient catalyst that breaks down polyethylene and polypropylene plastics into small hydrocarbon molecules using hydrogen gas at relatively low temperatures, converting common single-use plastics to fuel-like chemicals within less than an hour. This chemical recycling approach could offer a practical route to deconstruct the plastic waste that mechanical recycling cannot handle.

2022 Nature Communications 69 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2022 Journal of Analytical and Applied Pyrolysis 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Chemoenzymatic Photoreforming: A Sustainable Approach for Solar-fuel Generation from Plastic Feedstocks

Researchers developed a hybrid process combining enzyme pretreatment with solar-driven photoreforming to convert polyester plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel and valuable chemicals under mild conditions. This approach offers a way to clean up plastic pollution while generating renewable energy simultaneously.

2023 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The myth of hazardous-to-wealth concept: transformation of marine microplastics to pyrolysis gas

Researchers collected marine microplastics from a Southeast Asian coastal area and tested whether pyrolysis could convert them into useful syngas, achieving an average syngas yield of about 35% and producing a highly porous char. The study demonstrates a potential waste-to-energy pathway that could both reduce the environmental load of marine microplastics and generate valuable gaseous fuel products. Converting microplastic waste into energy resources could provide an economic incentive for collection and remediation efforts.

2024 Energy Sources Part A Recovery Utilization and Environmental Effects 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Mixed Plastic Waste Gasification in a Large Pilot-Scale Fluidized Bed Reactor Operated with Oxygen-Enriched Air and Steam

Researchers tested gasification of mixed plastic waste in a large pilot-scale reactor using oxygen-enriched air and steam to convert hard-to-recycle plastics into useful synthesis gas. They found that the process could effectively handle the heterogeneous mixtures that mechanical recycling typically cannot. The study presents chemical recycling through gasification as a viable strategy for reducing plastic waste that would otherwise contribute to environmental microplastic pollution.

2024 Energy & Fuels 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Recovery of gaseous fuels through CO2-mediated pyrolysis of thermosetting polymer waste

This study examined CO2-assisted pyrolysis as a method to recover gaseous fuels from mixed plastic waste, testing how CO2 atmosphere affects product yields and composition. The approach offers a potential chemical recycling route that reduces reliance on fossil fuel feedstocks.

2024 Chemosphere 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Rescuing the Environment: Turning (Micro)plastics into Energy Through Gasification

This review examines how plastic waste could be converted to energy through gasification, potentially reducing the amount of plastic entering waterways as microplastics. Converting plastic waste to gas or fuel is presented as one strategy for managing the large global plastic waste burden.

2018 U Porto Journal of Engineering 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Feasibility of gasifying mixed plastic waste for hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage

A techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment of gasifying mixed plastic waste for hydrogen production combined with carbon capture and storage found a minimum hydrogen selling price of US$2.26-2.94 per kg, competitive with fossil fuel hydrogen with carbon capture. The analysis supports plastic waste gasification as both an economically viable and climate-beneficial approach to addressing the plastic waste challenge.

2022 Communications Earth & Environment 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploration of operating conditions in the direct aqueous-phase reforming of plastics

This study explored direct aqueous-phase reforming of polyethylene terephthalate plastic as a way to produce hydrogen and alkanes, testing the effects of temperature, pH, and catalyst type. Platinum catalysts at 220 degrees Celsius produced up to 10 mmol of hydrogen per gram of plastic in 8-hour reactions.

2024 Fuel 5 citations
Article Tier 2

The Present and the Future of Polyethylene Pyrolysis

This review examines the pyrolysis of polyethylene as a waste-to-energy strategy, discussing how key process parameters — temperature, catalyst type, and agitation — influence the yield and quality of liquid oils, fuel gases, and solid chars produced from non-biodegradable petroleum-based plastic waste.

2023 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Photoreforming of Nonrecyclable Plastic Waste over a Carbon Nitride/Nickel Phosphide Catalyst

A carbon nitride/nickel phosphide photocatalyst was used to photoreform non-recyclable PET and PLA plastic waste at ambient temperature, producing clean hydrogen fuel and organic chemicals without precious metals or toxic components. The study demonstrates a low-energy, scalable approach to converting plastic waste into valuable chemical feedstocks using sunlight.

2019 Journal of the American Chemical Society 632 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Nature Chemistry 111 citations
Article Tier 2

Conversion of HDPE into Value Products by Fast Pyrolysis Using FCC Spent Catalysts in a Fountain Confined Conical Spouted Bed Reactor

Researchers studied the catalytic cracking of high-density polyethylene over spent FCC catalyst in a conical spouted bed reactor, finding that this process efficiently converts plastic waste into valuable fuel-range hydrocarbons.

2021 ChemSusChem 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste and Lignin: A Pathway for Enhanced Hydrocarbon Recovery

Researchers investigated co-pyrolysis of plastic waste (polypropylene, polyethylene) with lignin biomass at various ratios and temperatures to recover valuable hydrocarbons. They found that mixing plastics with lignin enhanced the recovery of higher-value chemical products, with the best results at 600 degrees Celsius using polyethylene-lignin mixtures. The study demonstrates a pathway for converting both plastic and biomass waste into useful chemical feedstocks, potentially reducing plastic pollution.

2025 Energies 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Biogas conversion into biopolymers: strategies to boost process performance

This study explores how biogas — a renewable energy source from organic waste decomposition — can be used as a feedstock to produce biopolymers as alternatives to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Developing sustainable bioplastics from waste streams could help address both plastic pollution and greenhouse gas emissions simultaneously.

2022 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into hydro thermal gasification process of microplastic polyethylene via reactive molecular dynamics simulations

Researchers used molecular dynamics simulations to study the hydrothermal gasification process of polyethylene microplastics. The study found that temperature and water content significantly affect carbon conversion efficiency and product distribution, providing insights that could help optimize this technology for converting microplastic waste into useful syngas.

2024 Scientific Reports 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Hydrocarbon Fractions from Thermolysis of Waste Plastics as Components of Engine Fuels

Researchers developed a thermolysis process to convert mixed plastic waste into liquid hydrocarbon fractions suitable for use as fuel additives. The process produced fuels with properties comparable to diesel components. Converting plastic waste into fuel is one approach to reducing the volume of plastic that ends up in the environment as microplastic pollution.

2021 Energies 10 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Scientific Reports 52 citations