Applications
- Sustainable recycling of mixed plastic waste into valuable monomers.
- Production of monomer feedstocks for new plastic synthesis.
Advantages/Benefits
- Eliminates the need for organic solvents by using an aqueous ionic liquid system
- Enables direct recycling or upcycling of mixed plastics without sorting
- High monomer yields for efficient reuse in new plastic synthesis
Background
Traditional plastic recycling methods struggle with mixed plastic waste, requiring costly separation steps and often resulting in materials of lower quality. Many current chemical recycling techniques rely on organic solvents, which pose environmental and safety concerns. There is a need for sustainable, efficient plastic recycling processes that work with mixed waste streams.
Technology Overview
Berkeley Lab researchers have developed an aqueous ionic liquid-based process that selectively breaks down plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA), into their monomeric components. This process is designed to efficiently depolymerize mixed plastic waste and eliminates the need for organic solvents and mechanical separation. This method uses ionic liquids (ILs) in a water-based system, eliminating the need for organic solvents and mechanical sorting. Cholinium lysinate [Ch][Lys] demonstrated the highest efficiency, achieving nearly complete breakdown of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polylactic acid (PLA) at 160°C within six hours.
Unlike conventional recycling methods, this approach processes mixed plastics directly, reducing costs while maintaining high monomer yields—98% lactic acid (PLA) and 99% terephthalic acid (PET). These monomers can be repurposed for new plastic synthesis or as carbon sources for microbial fermentation. By enabling the continual reuse of plastic-derived materials, this technology supports long-term material sustainability and reduces plastic pollution.
Development Stage
Demonstrated at 1L scale.
Principal Investigator(s)
- Blake Simmons
- Chang Dou
- Hemant Choudhary
- Ning Sun
Status
Patent pending
Opportunities
Available for licensing or collaborative research