Quantitative molecular characterization of polyolefin recyclates

13-Aug-2024 - Polyolefin waste is largely only recycled thermally. Material downcycling dominates here. From an economic and legislative point of view, more upcycling, i.e. the use in product categories of equal or higher value, is urgently required. However, information on the molecular structure of ...

Upcycled plastic membrane helps clean up waste

Plant-derived biosolvents enable the sustainable conversion of plastic waste into valuable membrane materials

10-Feb-2023 - Plastic waste can be used as a raw material for making high performance porous membranes. These could then be used in the chemical industry for the energy-efficient separation of complex chemical mixtures or to clean up waste streams, furtheradding to the environmental appeal of the ...

Chemists develop radical way to make it easier, more profitable to recycle plastic

By modifying carbon-hydrogen bonds, chemists transform plastic trash into tougher, stronger material

09-Feb-2022 - The United States generates more plastic trash than any other country – about 46.3 million tons of it -- or 287 pounds per person a year,according to a 2020 study. The country’s 9% rate of recycling will never keep up. Why so low? The chemistry of today’s plastics makes most difficult to ...

Plastics could see a second life as biodegradable surfactants

A new chemical process provides biodegradable chemicals

30-Apr-2021 - Scientists at the Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics (iCOUP), an Energy Frontier Research Center led by Ames Laboratory, have discovered a chemical process that provides biodegradable, valuable chemicals, which are used as surfactants and detergents in a range of applications, from ...

A mild way to upcycle plastics used in bottles into fuel and other high-value products

29-Jan-2021 - Plastic is ubiquitous in people's lives. Yet, when plastic-containing items have fulfilled their missions, only a small amount is recycled into new products, which are often of lower quality compared to the original material. And, transforming this waste into high-value chemicals requires ...

Getting rid of those plastic shopping bags - acquire chemical raw materials

Plastic waste could be turned into clean fuels, other products

08-Feb-2019 - The United Nations estimates that more than 8 million tons of plastics flow into the oceans each year. A new chemical conversion process could transform the world's polyolefin waste, a form of plastic, into useful products, such as clean fuels and other items. "Our strategy is to create a driving ...

A path to sustainable and biodegradable polyesters

04-Jun-2018 - There's a good chance you've touched something made out of the polyolefin polymer today. It's often used in polyethylene products like plastic bags or polypropylene products like diapers. As useful as polyolefins are in society, they continue to multiply as trash in the environment. Scientists ...

'Nanoparticle taxicab' materials can identify, collect and transport debris on surfaces

07-Nov-2016 - Inspired by proteins that can recognize dangerous microbes and debris, then engulf such material to get rid of it, polymer scientists led by Todd Emrick at the University of Massachusetts Amherst have developed new polymer-stabilized droplet carriers that can identify and encapsulate ...

Borealis Student Innovation Award 2011: recognising high quality olefins and polyolefins theses of outstanding students

25-Jan-2012 - Borealis, has announced the winners of its 2011 Borealis Student Innovation Awards. On January 19, 2012 Alfred Stern, Borealis Senior Vice President Innovation & Technology, presented Rana Qudaih and Dr. Said Mehdiabadi with their awards, certificates and monetary prizes at the Lentos Kunstmuseum ...

Borealis Student Innovation Award 2010 Recipients Announced

27-Jan-2011 - Borealis has selected the 2010 recipients of its Borealis Student Innovation Award. The award recognises the most innovative research papers on polyolefins, olefins or melamine for master’s and doctorate degree students. The winners were presented with an award, certificate and monetary prize at ...