IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v14y2023i1d10.1038_s41467-023-40005-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Photothermal recycling of waste polyolefin plastics into liquid fuels with high selectivity under solvent-free conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Yingxuan Miao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Yunxuan Zhao

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse

    (The University of Auckland)

  • Run Shi

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Li-Zhu Wu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Tierui Zhang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

The widespread use of polyolefin plastics in modern societies generates huge amounts of plastic waste. With a view toward sustainability, researchers are now seeking novel and low-cost strategies for recycling and valorizing polyolefin plastics. Herein, we report the successful development of a photothermal catalytic recycling system for transforming polyolefin plastics into liquid/waxy fuels under concentrated sunlight or xenon lamp irradiation. Photothermal heating of a Ru/TiO2 catalyst to 200–300 °C in the presence of polyolefin plastics results in intimate catalyst-plastic contact and controllable hydrogenolysis of C-C and C-H bonds in the polymer chains (mediated by Ru sites). By optimizing the reaction temperature and pressure, the complete conversion of waste polyolefins into valuable liquid fuels (86% gasoline- and diesel-range hydrocarbons, C5-C21) is possible in short periods (3 h). This work demonstrates a simple and efficient strategy for recycling waste polyolefin plastics using abundant solar energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Yingxuan Miao & Yunxuan Zhao & Geoffrey I. N. Waterhouse & Run Shi & Li-Zhu Wu & Tierui Zhang, 2023. "Photothermal recycling of waste polyolefin plastics into liquid fuels with high selectivity under solvent-free conditions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40005-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40005-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-40005-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-023-40005-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Wei-Tse Lee & Antoine Muyden & Felix D. Bobbink & Mounir D. Mensi & Jed R. Carullo & Paul J. Dyson, 2022. "Mechanistic classification and benchmarking of polyolefin depolymerization over silica-alumina-based catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Hua Zhou & Yue Ren & Zhenhua Li & Ming Xu & Ye Wang & Ruixiang Ge & Xianggui Kong & Lirong Zheng & Haohong Duan, 2021. "Electrocatalytic upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate to commodity chemicals and H2 fuel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Mujin Cai & Zhiyi Wu & Zhao Li & Lu Wang & Wei Sun & Athanasios A. Tountas & Chaoran Li & Shenghua Wang & Kai Feng & Ao-Bo Xu & Sanli Tang & Alexandra Tavasoli & Meiwen Peng & Wenxuan Liu & Amr S. Hel, 2021. "Greenhouse-inspired supra-photothermal CO2 catalysis," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 6(8), pages 807-814, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Gui Zhao & Jiayi Lin & Mengying Lu & Lina Li & Pengtao Xu & Xi Liu & Liwei Chen, 2024. "Potential cycling boosts the electrochemical conversion of polyethylene terephthalate-derived alcohol into valuable chemicals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Yuantao Peng & Jie Yang & Chenqiang Deng & Jin Deng & Li Shen & Yao Fu, 2023. "Acetolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate for upcycling and life-cycle assessment study," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Kumar, Manish & Bolan, Shiv & Padhye, Lokesh P. & Konarova, Muxina & Foong, Shin Ying & Lam, Su Shiung & Wagland, Stuart & Cao, Runzi & Li, Yang & Batalha, Nuno & Ahmed, Mohamed & Pandey, Ashok & Sidd, 2023. "Retrieving back plastic wastes for conversion to value added petrochemicals: opportunities, challenges and outlooks," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 345(C).
    4. Zhengwei Yang & Zhen-Yu Wu & Zhexing Lin & Tianji Liu & Liping Ding & Wenbo Zhai & Zipeng Chen & Yi Jiang & Jinlei Li & Siyun Ren & Zhenhui Lin & Wangxi Liu & Jianyong Feng & Xing Zhang & Wei Li & Yi , 2024. "Optically selective catalyst design with minimized thermal emission for facilitating photothermal catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    5. Yuqi Ren & Yiwei Fu & Naixu Li & Changjun You & Jie Huang & Kai Huang & Zhenkun Sun & Jiancheng Zhou & Yitao Si & Yuanhao Zhu & Wenshuai Chen & Lunbo Duan & Maochang Liu, 2024. "Concentrated solar CO2 reduction in H2O vapour with >1% energy conversion efficiency," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    6. Jun Qi & Yadong Du & Qi Yang & Na Jiang & Jiachun Li & Yi Ma & Yangjun Ma & Xin Zhao & Jieshan Qiu, 2023. "Energy-saving and product-oriented hydrogen peroxide electrosynthesis enabled by electrochemistry pairing and product engineering," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    7. Shenghua Wang & Dake Zhang & Wu Wang & Jun Zhong & Kai Feng & Zhiyi Wu & Boyu Du & Jiaqing He & Zhengwen Li & Le He & Wei Sun & Deren Yang & Geoffrey A. Ozin, 2022. "Grave-to-cradle upcycling of Ni from electroplating wastewater to photothermal CO2 catalysis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    8. Guo, Yang & Li, Tengfei & Li, Dan & Cheng, Jiahui, 2024. "Efficient reduction of CO2 to high value-added compounds via photo-thermal catalysis: Mechanisms, catalysts and apparatuses," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 189(PB).
    9. Hua Zhou & Yue Ren & Bingxin Yao & Zhenhua Li & Ming Xu & Lina Ma & Xianggui Kong & Lirong Zheng & Mingfei Shao & Haohong Duan, 2023. "Scalable electrosynthesis of commodity chemicals from biomass by suppressing non-Faradaic transformations," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.
    10. Yue Li & Xingwu Liu & Tong Wu & Xiangzhou Zhang & Hecheng Han & Xiaoyu Liu & Yuke Chen & Zhenfei Tang & Zhen Liu & Yuhai Zhang & Hong Liu & Lili Zhao & Ding Ma & Weijia Zhou, 2024. "Pulsed laser induced plasma and thermal effects on molybdenum carbide for dry reforming of methane," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-9, December.
    11. Jingkai Lin & Kunsheng Hu & Yantao Wang & Wenjie Tian & Tony Hall & Xiaoguang Duan & Hongqi Sun & Huayang Zhang & Emiliano Cortés & Shaobin Wang, 2024. "Tandem microplastic degradation and hydrogen production by hierarchical carbon nitride-supported single-atom iron catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    12. Li, Jie & Yu, Di & Pan, Lanjia & Xu, Xinhai & Wang, Xiaonan & Wang, Yin, 2023. "Recent advances in plastic waste pyrolysis for liquid fuel production: Critical factors and machine learning applications," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 346(C).
    13. Yuyang Pan & Huiyan Zhang & Bowen Zhang & Feng Gong & Jianyong Feng & Huiting Huang & Srinivas Vanka & Ronglei Fan & Qi Cao & Mingrong Shen & Zhaosheng Li & Zhigang Zou & Rui Xiao & Sheng Chu, 2023. "Renewable formate from sunlight, biomass and carbon dioxide in a photoelectrochemical cell," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    14. Qinghai Chen & Hao Yan & Kai Zhao & Shuai Wang & Dongrui Zhang & Yaqian Li & Rong Fan & Jie Li & Xiaobo Chen & Xin Zhou & Yibin Liu & Xiang Feng & De Chen & Chaohe Yang, 2024. "Catalytic oxidation upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate to commodity carboxylic acids," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.
    15. Hoan Thi Lai & Chinh Van Tran & Nga Thuy Tran & Phuong Hien Ho & Van Huyen Luu & Ha Manh Nguyen & Hoai Phuong Thi Nguyen & Dinh Duc Nguyen & Duong Duc La, 2025. "Sustainable Removal of Phenol from Aqueous Media by Activated Carbon Valorized from Polyethyleneterephthalate (PET) Plastic Waste," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-15, January.
    16. Taeeun Kwon & Byeongchan Ahn & Ki Hyuk Kang & Wangyun Won & Insoo Ro, 2024. "Unraveling the role of water in mechanism changes for economically viable catalytic plastic upcycling," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-15, December.
    17. Xiaodong Li & Li Li & Xingyuan Chu & Xiaohui Liu & Guangbo Chen & Quanquan Guo & Zhen Zhang & Mingchao Wang & Shuming Wang & Alexander Tahn & Yongfu Sun & Xinliang Feng, 2024. "Photothermal CO2 conversion to ethanol through photothermal heterojunction-nanosheet arrays," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
    18. Deng, Jin & Feng, Youneng & Li, Chun & Yuan, Zhaoran & Shang, Ruihang & Yuan, Shenfu, 2024. "Highly efficiency H2 production for real coal tar steam reforming over Ni-ca/H-Al catalyst: Effects of oxygen vacancy, CaO doping and synthesis methods," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 367(C).
    19. Yaguang Li & Xianhua Bai & Dachao Yuan & Chenyang Yu & Xingyuan San & Yunna Guo & Liqiang Zhang & Jinhua Ye, 2023. "Cu-based high-entropy two-dimensional oxide as stable and active photothermal catalyst," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    20. Tongtong Li & Boran Wang & Yu Cao & Zhexuan Liu & Shaogang Wang & Qi Zhang & Jie Sun & Guangmin Zhou, 2024. "Energy-saving hydrogen production by seawater electrolysis coupling tip-enhanced electric field promoted electrocatalytic sulfion oxidation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-40005-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.