【Frontiers in HaiChuan Chemical Technology】A Shanghai-based research team continues to work on the use of green electricity for the catalytic reforming of PET waste plastics to produce formic acid and hydrogen
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Shanghai, June 5 (Xu Jing, Jiang Qianqian, Ge Tianyi) Sunlight, wind, and carbon dioxide – these readily available ‘materials’ from nature – can be used to efficiently convert PET waste plastics such as those from mineral water bottles and disposable packaging into formic acid, a material widely used in industry, as well as hydrogen fuel. On the 5th, reporters learned from Shanghai Jiao Tong University that a research team led by Professor Zhao Yixin from the School of Environmental Science and Engineering at the university has used \"green electricity\" generated by photovoltaic and wind power technologies to upgrade the recycling of PET waste plastics. This approach not only yields industrial chemicals and fuels with high added value but also enables the resourceful conversion of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2). June 5th is World Environment Day, and this year’s theme for World Environment Day is “Building a Clean and Beautiful World Together”. In recent years, Professor Zhao Yixin’s research team has been continuously working on the catalytic reformation of PET waste plastics using green energy to produce formic acid and hydrogen, thereby \"upgrading\" the recycling process for such plastic waste through the use of photovoltaic and wind power technologies. PET (polyethylene terephthalate) can be found everywhere in daily life. Although it is convenient to use, if a large amount of such PET waste that is discarded after use is not recycled in a proper and effective manner, it will not only cause environmental pollution but also represent a waste of carbon resources. Driven by the rapid growth in the production capacity of \"green electricity\" based on photovoltaic and wind power technologies, since 2021, Professor Zhao Yixin’s team has been at the forefront of research on using green electricity to catalytically reprocess PET waste plastics to produce formic acid and hydrogen. The corresponding research findings were published in the international academic journal Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters.
“In the initial studies, we used renewable ‘green electricity’ catalytic technology to convert PET into formic acid and hydrogen, thereby reducing the energy consumption associated with traditional water electrolysis for hydrogen production. ”Zhao Yixin said that the team has recently worked together with Professor Martin from Peking University to \"upgrade\" PET recycling processes. Through the catalytic oxidation of PET waste plastics using green electricity, along with a reduction reaction with carbon dioxide (CO2), PET waste plastics can be converted into formic acid alone. This not only increases the efficiency of formic acid production but also facilitates the resourceful conversion of the greenhouse gas CO2. It is estimated that with the \"upgraded\" recycling strategy, recovering one ton of PET plastic waste can generate economic benefits of around $557, demonstrating high commercial value. The relevant research findings were published in ACS Catalysis, a top academic journal in the field of catalysis, with Professor Zhao Yixin, Associate Professor Wang Tianfu, and Professor Martin serving as co-corresponding authors.
Schematic diagram of electrocatalytic reforming of PET waste plastics and CO2 to produce formic acid; provided by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
However, Zhao Yixin also said that to move the research on using \"green electricity\" to catalyze the upgrading of waste plastics recycling from the laboratory stage to industrial application, a series of theoretical and technical challenges must be overcome: \"Certain catalysts are required in the recycling process.\" Low-cost, high-performance catalysts can save costs, reduce energy consumption, and increase the yield of useful materials; such catalyst materials are in urgent need of development and research. ” Furthermore, to achieve large-scale industrial application, the development of processes and equipment is also a key focus and challenge for future research. “Despite numerous challenges, this technology for converting waste plastics offers an effective pathway for **developing a circular economy and building a low-carbon society, and it still holds broad prospects for application and development. ”Zhao Yixin said. (End)