New process gives recycling boost to plastics

Developed by researchers at Washington State University, the process converted 90 per cent of plastic within an hour at moderate temperatures. The effort was led by graduate student Chuhua Jia and Hongfei Lin, associate professor in the Gene and Linda Voiland School of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering. Their work is detailed in Chem Catalysis.

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"In the recycling industry, the cost of recycling is key," Lin said in a statement. "This work is a milestone for us to advance this new technology to commercialisation."

According to WSU, the most common mechanical recycling methods melt the plastic and re-mould it, a process that lowers its economic value and quality for use in other products. Chemical recycling can produce higher quality products, but it has required high reaction temperatures and a long processing time, making it too expensive and cumbersome for industries to adopt. Consequently, around nine per cent of plastic in the US is recycled every year.