INDUSTRY BREAKS THE MOLD FOR DISCARDED PLASTICS Efforts aim to bolster recovery and effective processing

摘要

SIGNIFICANT ADVANCES are taking place in chemical recycling technologies for dealing with discarded plastics.In addition,waste collection collaborations needed to underpin the eventual commercialization of such technologies are progressing.Various chemical processes under development aim to convert specific polymers back into monomers.For example,BP,London,is targeting polyethylene terephthalate(PET)with its Infinia depolymeriza-tion chemical recycling technology.Infinia breaks down PET waste into its constituent monomers.After contaminant removal and purification,the recycled terephthalic acid(PTA)and monoethylene glycol(MEG)are interchangeable with monomers produced from a traditional hydrocarbon feedstock.