Recycling of Post-Consumer Waste Polystyrene Using Commercial Plastic Additives

Oh, Sewon; Jiang, Hanning; Kugelmass, Liat H.; Stache, Erin E.

doi:10.1021/acscentsci.4c01317

Title: Recycling of Post-Consumer Waste Polystyrene Using Commercial Plastic Additives

Journal Article · 24 November 2024 · ACS Central Science

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.4c01317 · OSTI ID:2478721

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Cornell University, Ithaca, NY (United States)
Princeton University, NJ (United States)

Photothermal conversion can promote plastic depolymerization (chemical recycling to a monomer) through light-to-heat conversion. The highly localized temperature gradient near the photothermal agent surface allows selective heating with spatial control not observed with bulk pyrolysis. However, identifying and incorporating practical photothermal agents into plastics for end-of-life depolymerization have not been realized. Interestingly, plastics containing carbon black as a pigment present an ideal opportunity for photothermal conversion recycling. Herein, we use visible light to depolymerize polystyrene plastics into styrene monomers by using the dye in commercial black plastics. A model system is evaluated by synthesizing polystyrene–carbon black composites and depolymerizing under white LED light irradiation, producing styrene monomer in up to 60% yield. Excitingly, unmodified postconsumer black polystyrene samples are successfully depolymerized to a styrene monomer without adding catalysts or solvents. Using focused solar irradiation, yields up to 80% are observed in just 5 min. Furthermore, combining multiple types of polystyrene plastics with a small percentage of black polystyrene plastic enables full depolymerization of the mixture. This simple method leverages existing plastic additives to actualize a closed-loop economy of all-colored plastics.

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Research Organization:: Princeton University, NJ (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: National Science Foundation (NSF); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)

Grant/Contract Number:: SC0024412

OSTI ID:: 2478721

Journal Information:: ACS Central Science, Journal Name: ACS Central Science Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 11; ISSN 2374-7943

Publisher:: American Chemical Society (ACS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
Aromatic compounds
Depolymerization
Hydrocarbons
Plastics
Styrenes

Title: Recycling of Post-Consumer Waste Polystyrene Using Commercial Plastic Additives

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