Upcycling of Waste Plastics into Value-Added Chemicals
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The rapid increase in plastic production has led to a severe plastic waste crisis, driving the development of various recycling technologies to mitigate this growing issue. However, these technologies often encounter substantial economic and environmental challenges in their implementation. An increasingly attractive alternative is chemical upcycling, which can transform waste plastics into value-added chemicals. This review systematically examines upcycling technologies applicable to major commercial plastics, including polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyolefins, polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). We focus on key strategies such as solvolysis, catalytic pyrolysis, hydrocracking and hydrogenolysis, along with some emerging approaches such as electrocatalysis and photooxidation, aiming to summarize emerging trends in the catalytic chemical upcycling of waste plastics.
Authors: Jin Xu, Jing Zhang
Institution: East China University of Science and Technology
Language: English
Subfield: Biomedical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4408858906