Articles tagged with "chemical-engineering"
Recycling breaks new ground as PET plastics shattered by pure force
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed an innovative mechanochemical recycling method to efficiently break down polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics without the use of heat or solvents. PET, widely used in bottles, packaging, and fibers, is difficult to recycle due to its strong molecular bonds, leading to significant plastic waste accumulation. The team, led by Kinga Gołąbek and Professor Carsten Sievers, utilized metal balls to apply mechanical impacts to solid PET pieces, generating enough energy to trigger chemical reactions with sodium hydroxide (NaOH) at room temperature. This approach enables the decomposition of PET into its original molecular components in a controlled and energy-efficient manner, potentially transforming plastic recycling into a more sustainable process. Through controlled single-impact experiments and computer simulations, the researchers mapped how collision energy disperses through PET, causing structural and chemical changes in localized zones. These impacts created micro-craters where PET chains stretched and cracked, facilitating reactions with NaOH, and even mechanical force alone was sufficient to break some molecular
materialsrecyclingPET-plasticsmechanochemical-recyclingsustainable-materialsplastic-waste-managementchemical-engineeringInnovative catalyst transforms plastic trash into liquid fuels
A research team led by the University of Delaware has developed an innovative mesoporous MXene catalyst that significantly improves the conversion of plastic waste into liquid fuels. This catalyst enhances the hydrogenolysis process, which breaks down polymers in plastics using hydrogen gas and a catalyst. Unlike conventional catalysts that struggle with bulky polymer molecules, the mesoporous MXene catalyst features silica pillars inserted between its stacked two-dimensional layers, allowing polymers to flow more easily and increasing reaction rates nearly twofold. Tested on low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a common plastic, the catalyst not only accelerated the conversion but also improved fuel quality by producing liquid fuels efficiently while minimizing unwanted byproducts like methane. The success of this catalyst is attributed to the stabilization of ruthenium nanoparticles within the MXene layers, which enhances both speed and selectivity in the plastic-to-fuel conversion. This advancement points to a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly method for plastic upcycling, turning plastic waste into valuable fuels and chemicals rather than letting it accumulate as
energycatalystplastic-recyclingMXenenanomaterialssustainable-fuelschemical-engineeringPlastic Recycling Not Requiring Sorting Could Be Coming - CleanTechnica
Northwestern University chemists have developed a novel plastic upcycling process using an inexpensive nickel-based catalyst that can selectively break down polyolefin plastics—primarily polyethylene and polypropylene, which constitute nearly two-thirds of global plastic use. This catalyst enables the recycling of large volumes of unsorted polyolefin waste, bypassing the traditionally labor-intensive sorting step. The catalyst converts low-value solid plastics into liquid oils and waxes, which can be upcycled into higher-value products like lubricants, fuels, and candles. Notably, it can also process plastics contaminated with polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a toxic polymer that typically hinders recycling efforts. Polyolefins are ubiquitous in everyday items such as condiment bottles, milk jugs, plastic wrap, and disposable utensils, and they are mostly single-use plastics with very low recycling rates globally—ranging from less than 1% to 10%. This low recycling rate is largely due to the chemical resilience of polyolefins, which consist of
materialsplastic-recyclingcatalystpolyolefinsupcyclingsustainabilitychemical-engineeringVioleta Sanchez i Nogue’s Journey to Bioprocess Development at NREL - CleanTechnica
Violeta Sanchez i Nogue’s journey to becoming a senior researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) began with a childhood fascination with chemistry sparked by a junior chemistry lab kit. Growing up near Barcelona, she nurtured her passion through hands-on experiences, including an engineering boot camp that exposed her to university-level environmental research. She pursued chemical engineering at the Autonomous University of Barcelona, followed by a Ph.D. in engineering at Lund University in Sweden, where she engaged with NREL’s pioneering work in bioprocess development. Joining NREL in 2015 as a postdoctoral researcher, Sanchez i Nogue contributed to ambitious multidisciplinary projects focused on biofuel production and biotechnology, collaborating with universities, national labs, and industry partners. Her work involves leveraging the natural strengths of microorganisms in bioreactors and spans metabolic engineering, separations, catalysis, and analysis. She values the collaborative environment at NREL, appreciating the daily learning opportunities and the synergy created by diverse expertise. Beyond laboratory
energybioenergybioprocess-developmentchemical-engineeringrenewable-energyNRELbiotechnologyCarbon to candy: China tech could make food from captured carbon gas
Chinese scientists have developed an innovative enzyme-based method to convert methanol into sucrose (white sugar) without relying on traditional agriculture. This biotransformation system uses in vitro biotransformation (ivBT) to synthesize complex carbohydrates from methanol, which can be derived from industrial waste or chemically converted carbon dioxide. This breakthrough offers a sustainable alternative to sugar production that bypasses the need for land- and water-intensive crops like sugar cane and sugar beets, addressing environmental challenges and food security concerns amid climate change and population growth. The research, led by the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, achieved an 86% conversion rate of methanol into sugars, including sucrose and starch, using fast, low-energy enzymatic reactions. This method builds on earlier advances in converting CO₂ into methanol, effectively turning carbon waste into valuable food ingredients. Beyond sucrose, the system can produce a variety of carbohydrates such as fructose, amylose, and cellooligos
energycarbon-capturebiotransformationmethanol-conversionsustainable-manufacturingcarbon-neutralitychemical-engineeringEnzyme breakthrough cuts plastic recycling energy use by 65%
Scientists from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), University of Massachusetts Lowell, and University of Portsmouth have developed a breakthrough enzymatic recycling process for PET plastic that significantly reduces environmental impact and costs. By substituting sodium hydroxide with ammonium hydroxide, the team created a self-sustaining closed-loop system that cuts chemical use by 99%, energy consumption by 65%, and operating costs by nearly 75%. This innovation allows enzymatic recycling to outperform traditional plastic production both environmentally and economically, with recycled PET costing $1.51 per kilo versus $1.87 for virgin plastic. The new method overcomes previous challenges in enzymatic recycling, which struggled with high costs and environmental drawbacks despite its ability to break down complex PET waste types that mechanical recycling cannot process. Ammonium hydroxide maintains optimal pH and regenerates itself during the process, reducing the need for fresh chemicals. Additional improvements in plastic pre-treatment and ethylene glycol recovery further enhance efficiency, enabling complete depolymerization
energyrecyclingenzymatic-recyclingplastic-recyclingsustainabilitychemical-engineeringrenewable-energyPlastics Recycling With Enzymes Takes a Leap Forward - CleanTechnica
A collaborative research effort involving the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the University of Massachusetts Lowell, and the University of Portsmouth has advanced enzymatic recycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET), a common plastic used in packaging and textiles. Building on prior work engineering improved PETase enzymes capable of breaking down PET, the team integrated chemical engineering, process development, and techno-economic analysis to create a scalable, economically viable recycling process. This approach addresses limitations of current PET recycling methods, particularly their incompatibility with low-quality, contaminated, or colored plastic waste, by using enzymes that selectively depolymerize PET into monomers that can be reused or upcycled into higher-value materials. Key innovations in the process include optimized reaction conditions and separation technologies that drastically reduce the need for costly acid and base additives by over 99%, cut annual operating costs by 74%, and lower energy consumption by 65%. These improvements have brought the modeled cost of enzymatically recycled PET down to $1.51 per kilogram
materialsrecyclingenzymesenergy-efficiencyPETchemical-engineeringsustainable-materialsHồ nước thải có thể cung cấp 40 tấn đất hiếm mỗi năm
rare-earth-elementswastewater-treatmentmining-technologysustainable-resourcesenvironmental-sciencechemical-engineeringresource-extractionHồ nước thải có thể cung cấp 40 triệu tấn đất hiếm mỗi năm
rare-earth-elementswastewater-treatmentmining-technologyenvironmental-sustainabilityresource-extractionchemical-engineeringacid-mine-drainage