Unconventional Method Seeks to Enhance Plastic Recycling

Major chemical companies are supporting the development of pyrolysis plants that can convert plastic waste into hydrocarbon feedstocks, which can then be used to produce new plastics. This process involves subjecting the plastics to high temperatures without oxygen, resulting in the breakdown of the plastics into smaller molecules called pyrolysis oil. However, there are critics of this practice, as highlighted in a cover story in Chemical & Engineering News.

Advocates of pyrolysis argue that it can address the limitations of traditional recycling methods, which only manage to capture around 9% of plastics in the United States, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Nevertheless, environmentalists remain skeptical, and some jurisdictions, like California, do not consider pyrolysis as a form of recycling at all, as stated by Senior Editor Alex Tullo. Critics claim that pyrolysis facilities cannot effectively handle the mixed plastic waste they claim to, as residual contaminants significantly impede the process. Another criticism is that pyrolysis is essentially a form of incineration. Additionally, concerns about scale have been raised, as the current capacity of pyrolysis and other chemical recycling methods in the United States is only around 120,000 tons, which is a tiny fraction compared to the 56 million tons of plastics produced in North America in 2021.

Industry executives assert their strong commitment to recycling and are actively pursuing large-scale implementation of pyrolysis. Companies are constructing larger facilities to increase capacity. Many are also exploring methods to handle more mixed waste, such as using catalysts and adsorbents to filter out particulate matter and remove the most reactive compounds from the feedstock stream. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in pyrolysis, with petrochemical companies investing in infrastructure to process the products of pyrolysis plants, and engineering companies licensing the technology to third parties interested in entering the industry. The success and practical application of this technology will play a crucial role in shaping public perception of the plastics industry.

This article is republished from PhysORG under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.