Back to Search
Start Over
Consumer Grade Polyethylene Recycling via Hydrogenolysis on Ultrafine Supported Ruthenium Nanoparticles.
- Source :
-
Angewandte Chemie International Edition . 3/11/2024, Vol. 63 Issue 11, p1-8. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Catalytic hydrogenolysis has the potential to convert high‐density polyethylene (HDPE), which comprises about 30 % of plastic waste, into valuable alkanes. Most investigations have focused on increasing activity for lab grade HDPEs displaying low molecular weight, with limited mechanistic understanding of the product distribution. No efficient catalyst is available for consumer grades due to their lower reactivity. This study targets HDPE used in bottle caps, a waste form generated globally at a rate of approximately one million units per hour. Ultrafine ruthenium particles (1 nm) supported on titania (anatase) achieved up to 80 % conversion into light alkanes (C1−C45) under mild conditions (498 K, 20 bar H2, 4 h) and were reused for three cycles. Small ruthenium nanoparticles were critical to achieving relevant conversions, as activity sharply decreased with particle size. Selectivity commonalities and peculiarities across HDPE grades were disclosed by a reaction modelling approach applied to products. Isomerization cedes to backbone scission as the reaction progresses. Within this trend, low molecular weight favor isomerization whilst high molecular weight favor cleavage. Commercial caps obeyed this trend with decreased activity, anticipating the influence of additives in realistic processing. This study demonstrates effective hydrogenolysis of consumer grade polyethylene and provides selectivity patterns for product control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *HYDROGENOLYSIS
*RUTHENIUM
*HIGH density polyethylene
*POLYETHYLENE
*CONSUMERS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14337851
- Volume :
- 63
- Issue :
- 11
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Angewandte Chemie International Edition
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 175826514
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202317526