Plastics have long been indispensable in modern life but infamous for their environmental impact. The demand for them is rapidly growing, yet only a small fraction gets recycled more than once (if at all) before ending up as forever waste.
Scientists at the Dept. of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) have a different vision for the future of plastics. In a new study, they demonstrate a novel, biorenewable plastic material that can be indefinitely recycled in a circular system, rather than being used once and discarded.
The finding builds on the 2019 discovery of a next-generation plastic known as poly(diketoenamine), or PDK, also from the LBNL. Unlike traditional plastics, which degrade with each cycle of reuse, PDK is designed with a type of chemical bond that is reversible, enabling it to be repeatedly deconstructed into its pristine building blocks and then reformed into new products.
The ease with which PDK can be manufactured, used, and recycled — without a significant loss in quality — is a step toward creating a circular plastics economy with minimal environmental impact. However, up until now, the material has still been produced using petrochemicals typically involved in plastics manufacturing, limiting its overall sustainability.
The new study aims to enhance the renewable circularity of plastics,...
Would you like to access the complete CEP News Update?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.
