New Process by Swiss Research Institution Facilitates Plastic Recycling
2025-3-6
Recently, researchers from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich have developed an innovative light-triggered chemical process that can ingeniously decompose polymers into their original monomers, opening up a brand-new path for plastic recycling. The relevant research findings were published in the journal Science.
In the new process, the researchers first place the polymer in a dichlorobenzene solution, and then irradiate it with ultraviolet light to initiate a chemical reaction. The entire process does not require the addition of reagents or other catalysts. It only requires ensuring that the temperature of the solution remains above 90ˇăC and that it continues to be irradiated by ultraviolet light. After the reaction is completed, only monomers and other chemical substances remain in the solution, and the researchers can easily separate and recycle them.
It is reported that when dichlorobenzene comes into contact with the polymer and is irradiated by ultraviolet light, chlorine radicals are generated. The radicals then randomly extract hydrogen atoms from the polymer structure, causing the polymer structure to break down and generating a new radical, which triggers a chain reaction. Although the reaction rate of this process is relatively slow, it has a high yield, is simple to operate, and is inexpensive. It is expected to change the current situation of global plastic recycling.
In the new process, the researchers first place the polymer in a dichlorobenzene solution, and then irradiate it with ultraviolet light to initiate a chemical reaction. The entire process does not require the addition of reagents or other catalysts. It only requires ensuring that the temperature of the solution remains above 90ˇăC and that it continues to be irradiated by ultraviolet light. After the reaction is completed, only monomers and other chemical substances remain in the solution, and the researchers can easily separate and recycle them.
It is reported that when dichlorobenzene comes into contact with the polymer and is irradiated by ultraviolet light, chlorine radicals are generated. The radicals then randomly extract hydrogen atoms from the polymer structure, causing the polymer structure to break down and generating a new radical, which triggers a chain reaction. Although the reaction rate of this process is relatively slow, it has a high yield, is simple to operate, and is inexpensive. It is expected to change the current situation of global plastic recycling.