Alexei Volkov
Plastic waste is a growing global issue, with production doubling since the beginning of the 21st century. However, several innovative methods and technologies are being developed to convert plastic waste into valuable commodities. These technologies include pyrolysis, solvolysis, and catalytic hydrogenation, which can convert plastic waste into products such as fuel, oil, waxes, light olefins, monomers, and even bricks and school bags. Additionally, initiatives in waste management and recycling, such as the use of mobile apps and grassroots movements, are empowering communities to address the issue of plastic waste and turn it into wealth.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chemical upcycling techniques | Reductive depolymerization, solvolysis, catalytic hydrogenation, pyrolysis |
| Pyrolysis products | Pyrolysis wax oil, fuel, black carbon |
| Plastic waste collection | Sorted and processed, sold to recycling entrepreneurs |
| Composting | Vermiculture compost, co-compost |
| Plastic waste conversion | Tiles, bricks, paver blocks, mile stones, school bags, diesel fuel, furniture |
| Fuel | For tractors, energy generation, vehicle fuel |
| Energy generation | Solar, wind, waste-to-energy, incineration, depolymerization, anaerobic digestion |
| Waste management | Separate collection of perishable, paper, plastic, glass, metal |
| Recycling | Paper, plastic, metal, glass, electronic waste |
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What You'll Learn
Plastic waste upcycling
Upcycling is different from downcycling, where the recycled material does not retain the properties of the original material. In contrast, upcycled plastic waste can be reused without degrading its value or performance for the next use. For instance, some companies are turning plastic bottles into fabric to create robes worn by Buddhist monks in Thailand.
One innovative process called pyrolysis can turn waste plastic into valuable commodities such as pyrolysis oil, which can be used as fuel, and black carbon, used in print cartridges. Pyrolysis is a type of chemical recycling that involves high temperatures of between 500 and 600 degrees Celsius in the absence of oxygen. Other upcycling methods include reductive depolymerization, which transforms plastic waste into value-added products, and solvolysis, which uses different solvents to convert plastics into liquid fuel.
Another example of plastic waste upcycling is the process of converting polyethylene, commonly found in milk cartons, food containers, and plastic bags, into soap. Guoliang "Greg" Liu, an associate professor of chemistry, discovered that polyethylene has a similar chemical structure to fatty acids, which are used as a chemical precursor to soap. By heating and quickly cooling the long carbon chains in plastics, they can be transformed into surfactants, which are used to create soap, detergent, and more.
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Chemical recycling
Plastic waste has grown at an alarming rate over the decades, and traditional treatments such as landfill and incineration cause air pollution and waste valuable land. Chemical recycling is a promising method to convert plastic waste into wealth.
There are several chemical recycling technologies, including pyrolysis, gasification, hydro-cracking, and depolymerisation. Pyrolysis is the most frequently researched chemical recycling method. It involves heating plastic waste in the absence of oxygen, resulting in the production of oil, gas, and char. Oil and gas can be used as fuels or chemical feedstocks. Gasification converts plastic waste into syngas, a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, which can be used as a clean fuel or a feedstock for chemical processes. Depolymerisation breaks down polymers into their original monomers, which can then be used to produce new plastics with minimal quality degradation.
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Mechanical recycling
The mechanical recycling process typically begins with the collection of end-of-life plastic products from separate and mixed waste streams. Once the plastic waste arrives at the recycling plant, it undergoes sorting and separation by colour or thickness. The plastics are then shredded into smaller pieces to facilitate reuse. A washing process removes dust, dirt, and any traces of food, drink, or labels, ensuring the plastic is clean before progressing to the next stage.
After washing, the plastics undergo another round of sorting and controlled processing before being sent to extrusion. At this stage, the plastics are converted into homogeneous pellets, which can then be used in the manufacture of new products.
One example of successful mechanical recycling is demonstrated by Pretty Plastic, a Dutch company that creates unique and aesthetically pleasing tiles made from 100% recycled PVC building materials, such as window frames, downpipes, and gutters. Mechanical recycling can also be applied in the electronics industry, as evidenced by Samsung's Galaxy S23 phones, which are made from 80% recycled plastic and 22% recycled glass.
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Biological recycling
The biological recycling of plastics specifically targets plastics with hydrolysable ester bonds or amide bonds in the main chain, breaking them down into oligomers or monomers. These monomers can then be purified and repolymerised to create new plastic materials with the same characteristics and properties as virgin materials.
One of the limitations of biological recycling is that not all types of plastic materials or polymers are susceptible to being recycled by this method. Generally, only polymers that are considered biodegradable or have elevated biodegradability can be biologically recycled. This is because biological recycling processes are based on the biodegradation of polymers or the cleavage of their chains. Polymers that are more inert and have high stability are less suitable for these methods.
However, there is ongoing scientific research to obtain microorganisms with higher capacities to degrade a wider range of materials, as well as efforts within the plastic industry to produce more materials with biodegradable characteristics.
Biorecycling has the potential to promote a circular economy, where plastic waste is continuously reincorporated into new products, leading to social, economic, and environmental benefits, including reduced plastic pollution and dependence on fossil fuels.
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Plasma gasification
The process involves feeding a mixture of MSW and PSW into a gasification reactor, where it is subjected to high temperatures and pressures created by the plasma. This causes the waste to break down into its constituent gases, liquids, and solids. The gases produced are dominated by CO and H2, which can be used as a fuel source or further processed to produce valuable chemicals. The liquid products can include oils similar to diesel or gasoline, and the solid products are typically ash, which has been found to be carbonless and non-toxic in nature.
The use of plasma gasification for waste-to-wealth applications has been the subject of several studies. For example, Mazzoni and Janajreh (2017) investigated the cold gas efficiency (CGE) of plasma gasification of MSW, finding values ranging from ~49%-79% depending on the oxygen ratio. Another study assessed the performance of plasma gasification using specified waste mixtures as feedstock in an Integrated Plasma Gasification Combined Cycle (IPGCC) plant model. This study found that while pure air plasma gas resulted in higher overall performance for solo MSW gasification, increasing the oxygen ratio in the plasma gas improved the performance for all waste mixtures.
Overall, plasma gasification shows promise as a sustainable and efficient technology for converting plastic waste into valuable products, contributing to the circular economy and addressing environmental concerns.
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Frequently asked questions
Pyrolysis is a type of chemical recycling that involves using extremely high temperatures—between 500 and 600 degrees Celsius—in an oxygen-free environment to convert plastic waste into pyrolysis oil, which can be used as fuel.
Recycled plastic can be used to make a variety of products, including school bags, furniture, bricks, tiles, and fuel.
Converting plastic waste into valuable commodities not only strengthens the local economy by creating successful businesses but also helps protect the environment by reducing landfill waste and the need for extracting, transporting, and manufacturing new resources.
