TAGS: Green and Bioplastics
Chemists of Professor Stefan Mecking’s group at the University of Konstanz have developed a more sustainable method for chemically recycling polyethylene-like plastics. The researchers use “breaking-points” on a molecular level to disassemble the plastic back to its molecular components.
The new method works without extremely high temperatures, is therefore more energy-efficient and has a significantly higher recovery rate (approx. 96 percent of the starting material) than established processes.
Key to Better Recycling of Plastics
Stefan Mecking and his team used “breaking-points” on a molecular level enabling a deconstruction of the chain into smaller molecular building blocks. Key for the method are polymers with a low density of predetermined breaking-points in the polyethylene chain, so that the crystalline structure and material properties are not compromised. These types of materials are also very suitable for 3D printing.
The research team demonstrated this chemical recycling on polyethylene-like plastics based on plant oil. The recycling stage requires temperatures of only about 120 degrees. Furthermore, the chemists also performed this recycling method on mixed plastics as they occur in waste streams. The properties of the recycled materials are on a par with those of the starting material.
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Recyclability is an important aspect for future technologies based on plastics. Re-utilizing such valuable materials as efficiently as possible makes sense. With our research we want to contribute to making chemical recycling of plastics more sustainable and effective,” Stefan Mecking adds.
Source: University of Konstanz