Researchers at Northwestern University have developed an innovative PET plastic recycling method that is safer, more cost-effective, and significantly more sustainable than traditional approaches. By leveraging moisture from the air, this new process eliminates the need for toxic solvents and excessive energy use, offering a promising solution to the global plastic waste crisis.
This breakthrough could transform PET plastic recycling practices and help establish a truly circular economy for plastics, reducing reliance on virgin materials and mitigating environmental pollution. Northwestern鈥檚聽Yosi Kratish, the study鈥檚 co-corresponding author, explained: 鈥淭he US is the number one plastic polluter per capita, and we only recycle 5% of those plastics. Most of the technologies that we have today melt down plastic bottles and downcycle them into lower-quality products. What鈥檚 particularly exciting about our research is that we harnessed moisture from the air to break down the plastics, achieving an exceptionally clean and selective process.”
PET is one of the most commonly used plastics worldwide, found in beverage bottles, food packaging, and textiles. Unfortunately, its durability means that PET waste persists in the environment for centuries, contributing to the global plastic pollution crisis. Currently, PET plastic recycling relies on energy-intensive processes involving high temperatures, harsh solvents, and expensive catalysts, which produce toxic byproducts and add to the environmental burden.
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Author: Innovation News Network