Sustainable solution
The researchers utilized a molybdenum catalyst and activated carbon—both of which inexpensive, abundant, and non-toxic.
To begin the process, they combined PET with the catalyst and activated carbon and then heated up the mixture. Polyester plastics consist of large molecules with repeating units linked by chemical bonds. Within a short time, these bonds broke apart.
Next, the researchers exposed the fragmented material to air. With just a trace of moisture, it transformed into terephthalic acid (TPA), a highly valuable precursor for polyesters. The only byproduct was acetaldehyde, an easily removable industrial chemical with commercial value.
“On average, even in relatively dry conditions, the atmosphere holds about 10,000 to 15,000 cubic kilometers of water,” Naveen Malik, the study’s first author, said.