Catalyst Promises to Ease Plastic Recycling Nanoparticles convert polyolefins into high-value upcycled products

摘要

PLASTICS RECYCLING continues to draw the attention of researchers and industrial firms working to tackle the growing global pollution crisis in single-use plastics(see,"Industry Breaks the Mold for Discarded Plastics,"http://bit.ly/2Do11Qe,and"How Industry Tackles Plastics Plague,"http://bit.ly/2v6SfOT).Now,the U.S.Department of Energy's Ames Laboratory,Ames,Iowa,has developed a novel catalyst that converts polyolefin plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene-commonly found in everyday plastic items such as grocery bags and food containers-into high-quality components suitable for producing high-value products such as fuels,solvents and lubricating oils.It could potentially turn these and other used plastics into an untapped resource,believe the researchers.