Işıl Yeşil Güra, Loai K.E.A. Abdelmohsena and Jan C.M. van Hesta
aBio-Organic Chemistry, Institute for Complex Molecular Systems (ICMS), Eindhoven University of Technology, 5600 MB Eindhoven, The Netherlands
Plastics are abundantly applied in almost every sector of society, from packaging to the automotive industry. Even though European plastic production has decreased since 2018 in order to reduce waste, 54 mt plastic was still produced in 2023 of which almost 80% was fossil based. Polyolefins thereby dominate plastics production1 and therefore also strongly contribute to polymer waste. Their stability and resistance as well as their cheap production are among the reasons why polyolefins are widely used in daily life2. Although these features make them more preferential, they render recyclability difficult. For polyolefin waste treatment, mechanical and chemical recycling methods are considered. Mechanical recycling, employing melting, sizing and extruding, is currently the most practiced recycling method, which has however as drawbacks unwanted degradation and side reactions, leading to reduction in mechanical strength (e.g. downcycling)3. Alternatively, chemical recycling, depolymerizing polyolefins in smaller building blocks that can be reused, has received attention owing to potential economic and environmental benefits, but it has not found widespread application, owing to the high energy demand and broad distribution of the products. The aim of this study is to focus on improving chemical recycling by gaining control over product composition upon polyolefin degradation. In our approach we employ nanoreactors in which the catalytic site could offer substrate selectivity. Here, we show the successful preparation of the nanoreactor templates. Furthermore, we demonstrate the efficient loading of a model catalyst in these structures and their catalytic activity after encapsulation.
1) Plastics Europe. Plastics-the Fast Facts 2024.
2) Jubinville D. et al. A comprehensive review of global production and recycling methods of polyolefin (PO) based products and their post-recycling applications, Sustainable Materials and Technologies. Elsevier B.V. 2020, 25, e00188, DOI: 10.1016/j.susmat.2020.e00188.
3) Zou L. , et al. Chemical recycling of polyolefins: a closed-loop cycle of waste to olefins, National Science Review , 2023, vol. 10, DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad207.