Catalytic Chemical Sorting of Intractably Mixed Plastics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Bath
Department Name: Chemistry
Abstract
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Related Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Award Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/X039129/1 | 01/02/2024 | 29/09/2024 | £404,011 | ||
| EP/X039129/2 | Transfer | EP/X039129/1 | 30/09/2024 | 31/01/2027 | £346,417 |
| Description | The project has discovered a catalytic system which is able to selectively depolymerise polyethylene terephthalate, is a polyester resin that's used to make plastic bottles, clothing, and other products, into a usable monomer, in the presence of additives and contaminants which would be present at the end of life of the products. Computational chemistry modelling is being carried out to cast some light on the mechanism of this process. |
| Exploitation Route | It is too early to say but going forward, the catalysts discovered on the project might be 1) applied to the chemical recycling of other type of plastics or 2) upscaled and taken up by industry. |
| Sectors | Chemicals |
| Description | Collaboration with University of Birmingham (Prof Andrew Dove) |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | In the project, we collaborate with the team of Prof Andrew Dove at the University of Birmingham, which is carrying out experimental work related to the chemical recycling of PET and other plastics, while at we are modelling using computational chemistry the mechanism of reaction of interest, and providing insight for rational catalyst design. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The team at Birmingham provides us with experimental results to investigate computationally, and with confirmation (or not) of some of the predictions our models make. |
| Impact | Too early at this stage, although publications are being drafted. |
| Start Year | 2024 |