Fast and efficient
The process is both fast and efficient, recovering 94% of the possible TPA within just four hours.
The catalyst is not only durable but also recyclable, maintaining its effectiveness through repeated use. Moreover, the method is designed to work with mixed plastics, selectively targeting polyesters for recycling. This selectivity eliminates the need for pre-sorting, offering a significant economic advantage to the recycling industry.
When tested on real-world materials such as plastic bottles, clothing, and mixed plastic waste, the process remained highly effective, even breaking down colored plastics into pure, colorless TPA.
Moving forward, the researchers aim to scale up the process for industrial applications, ensuring it can efficiently manage large volumes of plastic waste.
The study was recently published in Green Chemistry, a journal published by the Royal Society of Chemistry.