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A two-stage strategy for upcycling chlorine-contaminated plastic waste

Author

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  • Pavel A. Kots

    (University of Delaware)

  • Brandon C. Vance

    (University of Delaware
    University of Delaware)

  • Caitlin M. Quinn

    (University of Delaware)

  • Cong Wang

    (University of Delaware)

  • Dionisios G. Vlachos

    (University of Delaware
    University of Delaware)

Abstract

Chemical upcycling of polyolefin plastic waste to lubricant, wax and fuel-range hydrocarbons over metal-based catalysts is a crucial technological solution to the enormous environmental threat posed by plastic waste. However, currently available methods are incompatible with chlorine-contaminated feedstocks. Here we report a two-stage strategy for upcycling chlorine-contaminated polypropylene. First, magnesia–alumina mixed oxide at 30 bar H2 and 250 °C serves as a chlorine trap by rapidly forming solid chloride, resulting in nearly complete chlorine extraction from the polyolefin melt. This enables the upcycling of plastic waste with up to 10% polyvinyl chloride content to lubricants over ruthenium-based catalysts, in the second stage. The strategy is also applicable to chlorinated aromatics and alkanes. The proposed strategy renders hydrocracking and hydrogenolysis catalysts less sensitive to the chlorine impurities in feedstocks while eliminating HCl emissions and chlorine contamination in products. It could incentivize further progress in plastics upcycling.

Suggested Citation

  • Pavel A. Kots & Brandon C. Vance & Caitlin M. Quinn & Cong Wang & Dionisios G. Vlachos, 2023. "A two-stage strategy for upcycling chlorine-contaminated plastic waste," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(10), pages 1258-1267, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:6:y:2023:i:10:d:10.1038_s41893-023-01147-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-023-01147-z
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Pavel A. Kots & Tianjun Xie & Brandon C. Vance & Caitlin M. Quinn & Matheus Dorneles Mello & J. Anibal Boscoboinik & Cong Wang & Pawan Kumar & Eric A. Stach & Nebojsa S. Marinkovic & Lu Ma & Steven N., 2022. "Electronic modulation of metal-support interactions improves polypropylene hydrogenolysis over ruthenium catalysts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    2. Park, Ki-Bum & Oh, Seung-Jin & Begum, Guzelciftci & Kim, Joo-Sik, 2018. "Production of clean oil with low levels of chlorine and olefins in a continuous two-stage pyrolysis of a mixture of waste low-density polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 157(C), pages 402-411.
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoyan Qiu & Jize Liu & Xinkai Li & Yuyan Wang & Xinxing Zhang, 2024. "Click dechlorination of halogen-containing hazardous plastics towards recyclable vitrimers," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-11, December.

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