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Upcycling Real-World Post-Consumer Polyolefins Plastics Into Light Olefins Via Microwave-Assisted Processing
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DOI:10.1002/cey2.70277.png)
Abstract
En 中文
The rapid accumulation of plastic waste, particularly post-consumer polyolefins (POs), poses severe environmental and economic challenges worldwide. Recycling of post-consumer POs remains inefficient due to difficulties in separating mixed plastics, complex additive compositions, and high processing costs, resulting in recycling rates of less than 9%. To address these critical issues, this study utilized an innovative microwave-assisted catalytic upcycling approach for the efficient upcycling of complex post-consumer POs mixtures into valuable light olefins. Using the microwave-assisted catalytic upcycling approach, gas yields reached up to 80 wt.% from post-consumer POs mixtures, accompanied by a high selectivity (> 70 wt.%) toward valuable light olefins. The upcycling of POs under microwave conditions is fully investigated, including additives in real-world plastics, mixtures of different POs, reusability of catalyst, and more. Techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life-cycle assessment (LCA) further indicate that the process is economically viable, with a positive net present value (NPV) of +$81.67MM, and environmentally favorable, with a gate-to-gate greenhouse gas footprint of only 0.0468 kg CO2 eq/kg ethylene-equivalent product, substantially lower than conventional steam cracking. The microwave-assisted catalytic upcycling approach offers an efficient, scalable, and cost-effective solution for upcycling post-consumer plastic mixtures, thereby advancing the principles of a circular economy.
Keywords:
light olefins
microwave
polyolefins
post-consumer
upcycling
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