Toward polymer upcycling—adding value and tackling circularity

Korley, LaShanda T. J.; Epps, III, Thomas H.; Helms, Brett A.; Ryan, Anthony J.

doi:10.1126/science.abg4503

Toward polymer upcycling—adding value and tackling circularity

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 2021 · Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.abg4503· OSTI ID:1804977

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Center for Plastics Innovation, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA., Center for Research in Soft matter and Polymers, and Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA., Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA.
The Molecular Foundry, Materials Sciences Division, and Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA.
Grantham Centre for Sustainable Futures and the Department of Chemistry, The University of Sheffield, Brookhill, Sheffield S3 7HF, UK.

Plastics have revolutionized modern life, but have created a global waste crisis driven by our reliance and demand for low-cost, disposable materials. New approaches are vital to address challenges related to plastics waste heterogeneity, along with the property reductions induced by mechanical recycling. Chemical recycling and upcycling of polymers may enable circularity through separation strategies, chemistries that promote closed-loop recycling inherent to macromolecular design, and transformative processes that shift the life-cycle landscape. Polymer upcycling schemes may enable lower-energy pathways and minimal environmental impacts compared with traditional mechanical and chemical recycling. The emergence of industrial adoption of recycling and upcycling approaches is encouraging, solidifying the critical role for these strategies in addressing the fate of plastics and driving advances in next-generation materials design.

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Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC02-05CH11231

OSTI ID:: 1804977

Journal Information:: Science, Journal Name: Science Journal Issue: 6550 Vol. 373; ISSN 0036-8075

Publisher:: American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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