Efficient and selective degradation of polyethylenes into liquid fuels and waxes under mild conditions

Jia, Xiangqing; Qin, Chuan; Friedberger, Tobias; Guan, Zhibin; Huang, Zheng

doi:10.1126/sciadv.1501591

Title: Efficient and selective degradation of polyethylenes into liquid fuels and waxes under mild conditions

Journal Article · Fri Jun 17 00:00:00 EDT 2016 · Science Advances

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.1501591· OSTI ID:1466755

Jia, Xiangqing ^[1]; Qin, Chuan ^[1]; Friedberger, Tobias ^[2]; Guan, Zhibin ^[2]; Huang, Zheng ^[1]

Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai (China)
Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)

Polyethylene (PE) is the largest-volume synthetic polymer, and its chemical inertness makes its degradation by low-energy processes a challenging problem. We report a tandem catalytic cross alkane metathesis method for highly efficient degradation of polyethylenes under mild conditions. With the use of widely available, low-value, short alkanes (for example, petroleum ethers) as cross metathesis partners, different types of polyethylenes with various molecular weights undergo complete conversion into useful liquid fuels and waxes. Furthermore, this method shows excellent selectivity for linear alkane formation, and the degradation product distribution (liquid fuels versus waxes) can be controlled by the catalyst structure and reaction time. In addition, the catalysts are compatible with various polyolefin additives; therefore, common plastic wastes, such as post consumer polyethylene bottles, bags, and films could be converted into valuable chemical feedstocks without any pretreatment.

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Research Organization:: Univ. of California, Irvine, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES) (SC-22). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division

Grant/Contract Number:: FG02-04ER46162

OSTI ID:: 1466755

Journal Information:: Science Advances, Vol. 2, Issue 6; ISSN 2375-2548

Publisher:: AAASCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Cited by: 221 works

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Title: Efficient and selective degradation of polyethylenes into liquid fuels and waxes under mild conditions

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