Researchers propose a new chemical recycling method with pyrolysis to effectively break down polystyrene for reusability.
A group of chemical engineers has come up with a new way to recycle polystyrene, possibly making it the first practical method for reusing this commonly used plastic.environmental challengesDeveloped by researchers at the University of Bath in the UK and Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts, US, it promises to transform the recycling landscape by offering an economically viable and energy-efficient process.
“Less than 5% of polystyrene is recycled at present – our work shows that as much as 60% of all polystyrene used today could be replaced by chemically recycled styrene,” he added.Pyrolysis is a process that involves subjecting polystyrene to extremely high temperatures in an oxygen-free environment. This prevents ignition and instead breaks down the polystyrene into monomers, which are then purified and reconstituted into new polystyrene.
Michael Timko, PhD, Professor of Chemical Engineering at WPI, underscores the potential impact of this technique, saying, “Our analysis finds polystyrene to be an ideal candidate for a chemical recycling process. Surprisingly, the process is energetically efficient and potentially economically competitive.”
The new process comprises a pyrolysis reactor, a heat exchanger, and two distillation columns. These components work together to decompose polystyrene into ‘monomer grade’ styrene, which can be reformed into new polystyrene, and ‘light’ and ‘heavy’ petroleum-like by-products that can be reused in various other applications.
Environment Innovation Plastic Pollution
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