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Syngas from waste plastics and water using Joule heating

Author

Listed:
  • Qing Ma

    (Hebei University)

  • Yongjun Gao

    (Hebei University)

  • Chengcheng Cai

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Tianfu Wang

    (Shanghai Jiao Tong University)

  • Ding Ma

    (Peking University)

Abstract

The development of innovative, sustainable, and atom-economic methods to tackle the escalating problem of plastic pollution is crucial. A Joule-heating system capable of reforming waste plastics and water into syngas has been developed, which can process 2.5 g of waste plastic (equivalent to a whole plastic food bag) and 5.5 g through ten batches of reaction. Control experiments, kinetics, and in-situ experiments reveal that the proton hopping under the electric field is the key step in reforming gaseous hydrocarbons with water into syngas. Due to its high energy efficiency, this wet reforming system can utilize solar energy as the sole energy source, extracting syngas from waste plastic and water without the need for additional transition metal catalysts. Consequently, this approach offers an efficient strategy for storing solar energy in the form of syngas and offers a sustainable solution to the environmental challenges posed by the accumulation of plastic waste.

Suggested Citation

  • Qing Ma & Yongjun Gao & Chengcheng Cai & Tianfu Wang & Ding Ma, 2025. "Syngas from waste plastics and water using Joule heating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-61051-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-61051-2
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Mengru Wang & Benjamin Leon Bodirsky & Rhodé Rijneveld & Felicitas Beier & Mirjam P. Bak & Masooma Batool & Bram Droppers & Alexander Popp & Michelle T. H. Vliet & Maryna Strokal, 2024. "A triple increase in global river basins with water scarcity due to future pollution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    2. Qing Ma & Yongjun Gao & Bo Sun & Jianlong Du & Hong Zhang & Ding Ma, 2024. "Grave-to-cradle dry reforming of plastics via Joule heating," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    3. Sansaniwal, S.K. & Pal, K. & Rosen, M.A. & Tyagi, S.K., 2017. "Recent advances in the development of biomass gasification technology: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 363-384.
    4. Abdulrasheed, Abdulrahman & Jalil, Aishah Abdul & Gambo, Yahya & Ibrahim, Maryam & Hambali, Hambali Umar & Shahul Hamid, Muhamed Yusuf, 2019. "A review on catalyst development for dry reforming of methane to syngas: Recent advances," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 175-193.
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