plastic recycling
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esearchers from Sweden’s
Plastic recycling is generally inefficient
Chalmers University of Tech-
and only reclaims a relatively small amount
nology have developed a
of material for further use. The advanced
The researchers suggest that renewable
circular economy technique
recycling method proposed by the research-
energy can be used to power this advanced
that sees mixed waste con-
ers uses thermochemical technologies and
recycling process, which would be more
verted into raw carbon atoms to be used
sees waste being heated to 600–800°C to
energy efficient that currently used methods
in the production of plastic.
convert it to gas, after which hydrogen is
for disposing of mixed waste. Unused heat
added to subsequently produce plastic.
from the process could be harvested for
Mixed waste usually ends up in landfills
waste, and can be recycled using heat and electricity,” said Thunman.
or being incinerated. The Swedish scientists
“The key to more extensive recycling is
were looking to develop a technology that
to look at residual waste in a whole new
The research was carried out as part
could utilise molecules in plastic, paper,
way: as a raw material full of useful carbon
of the FUTNERC project, which is helping
wood and food waste, all of which are
atoms. The waste then acquires value, and
the chemical industry reduce greenhouse
full of useful carbon atoms that otherwise
you can create economic structures to col-
gas emissions. The processes have been
go unused.
lect and use the material as a raw material
tested through collaboration with a plastic
worldwide,” said Thunman.
manufacturer, Borealis.
“There are enough carbon atoms in
use elsewhere too.
waste to meet the needs of all global
The researchers were inspired by the
“Our goal is to create a circular economy
plastic production. Using these atoms, we
natural carbon cycle, whereby plants absorb
for plastics,” said Anders Fröberg, CEO of
can decouple new plastic products from
CO2 for nutrients and then release it back
Borealis. “Our plastic products are key to
the supply of virgin fossil raw materials,”
into the atmosphere when they die, where
the transformation to a sustainable society,
said Henrik Thunman, Professor of Energy
it is used again to grow more plants in
so it’s important for us to support research
Technology at Chalmers and one of the
the future.
like this. We already have projects that cre-
“However, our technology differs from the
ate circularity for our plastic products, but
“If the process is powered by renewable
way it works in nature because we don’t
more solutions are needed. Therefore, we are
energy, we also get plastic products with more
have to take the detour via the atmosphere
pleased with these excellent results, which
than 95% lower climate impact than those
to circulate the carbon in the form of carbon
can help bring us a step closer to our goal.”
produced today, which effectively means
dioxide. All the carbon atoms we need for
The study describing the technique was
negative emissions for the entire system.”
our plastic production can be found in our
published in the Journal of Cleaner Production.
authors of the new study.
46
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