New Circular Polymer May Solve Mixed Plastics Recycling Dilemma

Mixed plastic recycling is technically challenging, so most post-consumer mixed plastic products end up in landfills or incinerato.

Materials derived from mixed plastic precursors should pave the way for a wider range of fully recyclable plastic products and enable an efficient circular economy for durable goods such as ca.

Dr Brett Helms, a staff member at Berkeley Lab's Molecular Foundry, said: "We produce a staggering amount of plastic and products containing plastic each year, but only a fraction of the plastic can be recycled and used to make products of similar quali.

Hybrid Plastics Challenge

Berkeley Lab scientists are solving this hybrid plastic challenge with a custom material called polydiketoenamine (PD.

In the Science Advances article, the researchers describe the process as follo.

Helms explained: “We now know how to tailor PDK plastics to recycle complex products containing multiple materia.

chemical recycling

"The recycled material is the virgin monomer," Helms sa.

Footwear, furniture, mattresses and car interiors are all examples of mixed plastic products that can be recycled through this method if they are made from P.

potential limitations

"The limitations of the process are related to whether other PDK-bound materials degrade in strong acids," Helms sa.

Berkeley Lab holds patents on PDK materials and the manufacturing and recycling process, Helms sa.

Barriers remain until craft becomes mainstream

Helms said: “In the early stages of PDK product development, it is important to collect and sort PDK products for chemical recycling, rather than discarding them in landfil.

Helms said: “It is expected that in three to five years, we will see the first PDK products on the mark.