Richard Yonck of GeekWire reports on a new technique that could transform plastic waste into fuel.
- Each year more than 390 million tons of plastic are produced globally, half of which are economically challenging to recycle.
- Researchers from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and the Technical University of Munich have found a way to transform this waste into fuel.
- Using a highly-efficient process, the team was able to convert waste products directly into petroleum compounds which resulted in a gasoline-like compound that can be used to generate energy.
- While the research is still in its early stages, it could pave the way for reducing pollution while powering transportation with affordable fuel.
“The process is also appealing because it could be performed in existing refinery settings, using processes that are already being used at industrial scale. In fact, the chemical reaction these catalysts provide is currently utilized by the petroleum industry to improve the octane rating of gasoline.”
Read the full article here.
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