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PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste

Author

Listed:
  • L. Jiang

    (Durham University)

  • A. Gonzalez-Diaz

    (Durham University)

  • J. Ling-Chin

    (Durham University)

  • A. Malik

    (Durham University)

  • A. P. Roskilly

    (Durham University)

  • A. J. Smallbone

    (Durham University)

Abstract

Polyethylene furandicarboxylate (PEF) is considered as a renewable-based solution to its fossil-based counterpart polyethylene terephthalate (PET). However, due to its lengthy and energy-intensive production process, PEF has not been established at a commercial scale. Here we present a new study on PEF produced from industrial carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and non-food-derived biomass to provide an alternative for PET. We assess PEF production from an energy consumption, environmental impacts and production cost point of view at an industrial scale using mass and energy balance, life-cycle assessment and payback period. The results show that emissions and energy consumption can be reduced up to 40.5% compared with PET. Abiotic depletion (fossil) (6.90 × 104 MJ), global-warming potential (3.75 × 103 kg CO2-equivalent) and human toxicity potential (2.18 × 103 kg 1,4-dichlorobenzene equivalent) are the three most substantial impacts in producing one tonne of PEF. By applying optimal design and mature technology, PEF produced from industrial CO2 and biowastes could be a feasible and competitive substitute for PET and other materials.

Suggested Citation

  • L. Jiang & A. Gonzalez-Diaz & J. Ling-Chin & A. Malik & A. P. Roskilly & A. J. Smallbone, 2020. "PEF plastic synthesized from industrial carbon dioxide and biowaste," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 3(9), pages 761-767, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:3:y:2020:i:9:d:10.1038_s41893-020-0549-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-020-0549-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Ji, Y. & Liu, W. & Yong, J.Y. & Zhang, X.J. & Jiang, L., 2023. "Solar-assisted temperature vacuum swing adsorption for direct air capture: Effect of relative humidity," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    2. Chen, S. & Shi, W.K. & Yong, J.Y. & Zhuang, Y. & Lin, Q.Y. & Gao, N. & Zhang, X.J. & Jiang, L., 2023. "Numerical study on a structured packed adsorption bed for indoor direct air capture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    3. Zhang, Chen & Zhang, Xinqi & Su, Tingyu & Zhang, Yiheng & Wang, Liwei & Zhu, Xuancan, 2023. "Modification schemes of efficient sorbents for trace CO2 capture," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    4. Zhang, Z.X. & Xu, H.J., 2023. "Thermodynamic modeling on multi-stage vacuum-pressure swing adsorption (VPSA) for direct air carbon capture with extreme dilute carbon dioxide," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 276(C).
    5. Liu, W. & Ji, Y. & Wang, R.Q. & Zhang, X.J. & Jiang, L., 2023. "Analysis on temperature vacuum swing adsorption integrated with heat pump for efficient carbon capture," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 335(C).
    6. Yuantao Peng & Jie Yang & Chenqiang Deng & Jin Deng & Li Shen & Yao Fu, 2023. "Acetolysis of waste polyethylene terephthalate for upcycling and life-cycle assessment study," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    7. Liu, W. & Lin, Y.C. & Jiang, L. & Ji, Y. & Yong, J.Y. & Zhang, X.J., 2022. "Thermodynamic exploration of two-stage vacuum-pressure swing adsorption for carbon dioxide capture," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).

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