Researchers from Northwestern University in the US have created what they describe as the “holy grail” of plastic recycling, after developing a method to convert common plastic waste products such as water bottles back into their original monomers.
The catalyst breaks down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into its constituent monomers, which can then be converted into other PET products.
PET plastic is widely used in food packaging and textiles, but it is difficult to break down without mechanical assistance.
Currently, most PET waste is processed by thermomechanical processes that decrease its value, and most PET wastes shipped to recycling centres are downcycled or discarded.
The new process, which is still at the development stage, could provide a road map for recycling centres to more effectively process PET products on a large scale.
