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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Upcycling of Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate Copolymer Through Hydrolysis and Reactive-Filling into Polyurethane Resins
ClearNovel robust upcycling approach for the manufacture of value-added polymers based on mixed (poly)urethane scraps
This study developed a novel process for recycling mixed polyurethane scraps into new value-added polymers. Upcycling thermoset plastics that are currently unrecyclable could prevent these materials from fragmenting into microplastics in the environment.
Atom-economy upcycling of commodity thermoset polyurethane into photocuring 3D printing resins based on selective cleavage—crosslink strategy
Researchers developed a selective cleavage strategy using food-grade ethyl acetoacetate to break biuret crosslinks in thermoset polyurethane waste while preserving urethane and urea bonds, enabling the deconstructed product to be upcycled into photocuring 3D printing resins with up to approximately 90% waste content and strong mechanical properties.
Polymers Recycling: Upcycling Techniques. an Overview
This paper is not about microplastics in a research sense; it is an overview of polymer recycling and upcycling techniques, mentioning microplastic accumulation briefly as motivation but not investigating microplastics directly.
Breakthrough in polyurethane bio-recycling: An efficient laccase-mediated system for the degradation of different types of polyurethanes
A laccase-mediated enzymatic system efficiently degraded multiple types of polyurethane plastics in aqueous solution at mild conditions, breaking polymer chains and reducing molecular weight within days, offering a green biotechnology approach to managing polyurethane waste that conventional recycling and chemical degradation struggle to address.
Valorization of the Isocyanate-Derived Fraction from Polyurethane Glycolysis by Synthesizing Polyureas and Polyamides
Researchers successfully recovered toluenediamine and diethylene glycol from the isocyanate-derived fraction of polyurethane glycolysis, then used these recovered materials to synthesize polyureas and polyamides, demonstrating a circular recycling approach for flexible foam waste.
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.
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.
Upcycling of waste plastics: strategies, status-quo, and prospects
This review examines strategies for upcycling waste plastics into valuable products as an alternative to landfilling and incineration, which generate microplastics and carbon emissions respectively. Researchers survey chemical recycling methods including pyrolysis, gasification, and catalytic processes that can convert common plastics like PET, polyethylene, and polystyrene into fuels, chemicals, and new materials. The study highlights the urgent need for more effective recycling technologies to address the growing gap between plastic production and waste management capacity.
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.
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.
Research progress on chemical depolymerization and upcycling of PET waste plastics
This review examines recent advances in chemical methods for breaking down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) waste plastics into useful raw materials. Researchers surveyed techniques including glycolysis, methanolysis, hydrolysis, and aminolysis that can convert PET back into monomers for reuse. The study highlights chemical depolymerization as a promising approach to reduce plastic pollution while recovering valuable materials from waste.
Revisiting poly(vinyl chloride) reactivity in the context of chemical recycling
This review explores the many chemical reactions that polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can undergo, viewed through the lens of chemical recycling potential. Researchers found that PVC's well-documented reactivity in modification chemistry could inspire new methods for converting PVC waste into useful products. The study suggests that building on existing knowledge of PVC chemistry may help overcome the major challenge of recycling one of the world's most widely used yet least recycled plastics.
Application of Different Chemical Recycling for Plastics
This review examines chemical recycling methods for plastic waste as alternatives to mechanical recycling, focusing on depolymerization via solvolysis, pyrolysis, and purification processes applicable to PET, polyurethane, and polystyrene. The authors discuss how these approaches convert polymer waste back into feedstock monomers that can be repolymerized, addressing value degradation and sorting limitations inherent to mechanical recycling.
A Multi-Streamline Approach for Upcycling PET into a Biodiesel and Asphalt Modifier
Researchers developed a multi-stream process to upcycle PET plastic waste into biodiesel precursors and asphalt modifiers. The soluble fraction served as a carbon source for microbial fermentation to produce lipids, while the insoluble fraction was used as an asphalt additive, demonstrating a comprehensive approach to converting plastic waste into valuable products.
Approaches for Management and Valorization of Non-Homogeneous, Non-Recyclable Plastic Waste
This review examined management and valorization strategies for non-homogeneous, non-recyclable plastic waste, evaluating chemical recycling, energy recovery, and upcycling approaches as pathways to reduce environmental plastic accumulation and recover value from difficult-to-process waste streams.
Current Advances and Challenges in Chemical Recycling of Polymeric Materials
This review examines current advances and remaining challenges in chemical recycling of polymeric materials as an alternative to mechanical recycling, which degrades material properties with repeated cycling. The authors discuss the high efficiency and simpler preprocessing requirements of chemical recycling methods against a backdrop of approximately 150 million metric tonnes of annual global plastic waste generation.
Adaptable Polyurethane Networks Containing Tertiary Amines as Intrinsic Bond Exchange Catalyst
Not relevant to microplastics — this is a polymer chemistry study developing recyclable polyurethane vitrimer materials that incorporate an intrinsic catalyst for bond exchange, improving their thermomechanical properties and recyclability.
Engineered polysaccharide alpha‐1,3‐glucan in highly filled thermoplastic polyurethane systems
Researchers incorporated a plant-derived polysaccharide into thermoplastic polyurethane composites at very high loading levels, demonstrating a bio-based approach to reducing petroleum content in plastic products. This work explores more sustainable alternatives to fully synthetic plastic formulations.
Chemical recycling of polyolefins: a closed-loop cycle of waste to olefins
This review examines chemical recycling methods that can convert polyolefin plastic waste back into olefins, creating a true closed-loop cycle. Researchers describe how pyrolysis, including thermal, catalytic, and solvent-based approaches, breaks down plastic waste into reusable chemical building blocks. The study suggests that chemical recycling holds significant potential for addressing plastic pollution by turning waste into valuable raw materials rather than sending it to landfills.
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.
Understanding visible light and microbe-driven degradation mechanisms of polyurethane plastics: Pathways, property changes, and product analysis
Researchers found that polyurethane plastics break down in water through a combination of microbial action and light exposure, producing secondary microplastics as they degrade. This study reveals a previously underappreciated source of microplastic pollution, since polyurethane is widely used in coatings, foams, and other products that often end up in waterways.
Solving the plastic dilemma: the fungal and bacterial biodegradability of polyurethanes
This review examined the biodegradability of polyurethane by fungi and bacteria, identifying promising microbial species and enzymes capable of breaking down this widely used but environmentally persistent plastic polymer.
Microbial and Enzymatic Biodegradation of Polyurethane: From Depolymerization to Monomer Valorization
A review covered microbial and enzymatic degradation of polyurethane, summarizing the microorganisms and enzymes capable of breaking down this widely used plastic. Identifying effective biodegradation pathways is key to developing biological solutions for polyurethane waste management.
Upvaluing chlorinated plastic wastes
This review explores strategies for upcycling chlorinated plastic waste such as polyvinyl chloride, which poses particular recycling challenges due to its chlorine content. Researchers highlight emerging green methods for converting these materials into valuable chemical products, addressing a critical bottleneck in plastic waste management.