Chemical recycling of plastics to useful organic compounds by oxidative degradation

Anne Pifer, Ayusman Sen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

81 Scopus citations

Abstract

The degradation of plastic waste can be facilitated by a process in which polymers react with nitrogen oxides and dioxygen under relatively mild conditions. Polystyrene generates a mixture of benzoic and nitrobenzoic acids. Both high and low-density polyethylene produce mixtures of short- chain α,ω-diacids (including adipic acid) in good yields. A mixture of acids is also formed from nylon-6,6. Other polymers that are degraded to oligomeric materials include polypropylene, polymethyl methacrylate, and polyacrylic acid.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3306-3308
Number of pages3
JournalAngewandte Chemie - International Edition
Volume37
Issue number23
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 17 1998

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Catalysis
  • General Chemistry

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