Mechanochemical catalytic depolymerisation
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023790752
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-10-17
- Filing Date
- 2023-10-17
- Publication Date
- 2025-07-30
AI Technical Summary
Current chemical recycling methods for plastic waste, such as pyrolysis, are unselective and require high temperatures, making them inefficient for converting plastic materials into desired compounds, particularly for polyolefins like polypropylene and polyethylene.
The method involves using catalytically functionalized grinding media, such as sulfated or tungstated metal oxide balls, to mechanically agitate plastic materials, facilitating depolymerization at lower temperatures through mechanochemical cleavage and heterogeneous catalysis, allowing for the selective production of monomers and short-chain hydrocarbons without the need for solvents or additional reactants.
This approach enhances the selectivity and efficiency of plastic depolymerization, achieving a fourfold increase in propene formation rate and significant production of C1–C10 products at room temperature, while maintaining the structural integrity of the catalyst and allowing for easy recovery.
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