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Converting waste PET plastics into automobile fuels and antifreeze components

Author

Listed:
  • Zhiwen Gao

    (East China Normal University
    Institute of Eco-chongming)

  • Bing Ma

    (East China Normal University
    Institute of Eco-chongming)

  • Shuang Chen

    (East China Normal University
    Institute of Eco-chongming)

  • Jingqing Tian

    (East China Normal University
    Institute of Eco-chongming)

  • Chen Zhao

    (East China Normal University
    Institute of Eco-chongming)

Abstract

With the aim to solve the serious problem of white plastic pollution, we report herein a low-cost process to quantitatively convert polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into p-xylene (PX) and ethylene glycol (EG) over modified Cu/SiO2 catalyst using methanol as both solvent and hydrogen donor. Kinetic and in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies demonstrate that the degradation of PET into PX involves tandem PET methanolysis and dimethyl terephthalate (DMT) selective hydro-deoxygenation (HDO) steps with the in-situ produced H2 from methanol decomposition at 210 °C. The overall high activities are attributed to the high Cu+/Cu0 ratio derived from the dense and granular copper silicate precursor, as formed by the induction of proper NaCl addition during the hydrothermal synthesis. This hydrogen-free one-pot approach allows to directly produce gasoline fuels and antifreeze components from waste poly-ester plastic, providing a feasible solution to the plastic problem in islands.

Suggested Citation

  • Zhiwen Gao & Bing Ma & Shuang Chen & Jingqing Tian & Chen Zhao, 2022. "Converting waste PET plastics into automobile fuels and antifreeze components," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-9, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-31078-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31078-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hairong Yue & Yujun Zhao & Shuo Zhao & Bo Wang & Xinbin Ma & Jinlong Gong, 2013. "A copper-phyllosilicate core-sheath nanoreactor for carbon–oxygen hydrogenolysis reactions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 4(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Hua Zhou & Yue Ren & Zhenhua Li & Ming Xu & Ye Wang & Ruixiang Ge & Xianggui Kong & Lirong Zheng & Haohong Duan, 2021. "Electrocatalytic upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate to commodity chemicals and H2 fuel," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Ingrid E. Meyer-Cifuentes & Johannes Werner & Nico Jehmlich & Sabine E. Will & Meina Neumann-Schaal & Başak Öztürk, 2020. "Synergistic biodegradation of aromatic-aliphatic copolyester plastic by a marine microbial consortium," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-13, December.
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