Work

Research progress on thermochemical conversion technologies for hydrogen production from waste plastics

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: • Critical review of waste plastic thermochemical hydrogen production. • Emerging electrification offers superior specific energy efficiency. • Links catalyst deactivation mechanisms to TEA and LCA insights. • Strategic framework bridges lab potential with industrial realization. Thermochemical conversion of waste plastics presents a pivotal strategy for simultaneously addressing global plastic pollution and clean hydrogen demand. This review provides a systematic synthesis of established pathways, including catalytic pyrolysis and gasification, alongside emerging electrification technologies such as microwave-assisted conversion and Flash Joule Heating (FJH). Beyond descriptive summaries, we strictly benchmark these routes regarding hydrogen yield, energy efficiency, and techno-economic viability. The analysis reveals distinct trade-offs: while gasification currently offers the lowest levelized cost due to economies of scale, emerging electrified pathways demonstrate superior specific energy efficiency and potential negative production costs via high-value co-products. Critical technical bottlenecks are critically examined, with a focus on deciphering catalyst deactivation mechanisms—specifically coking and heteroatom poisoning—and evaluating scale-up constraints based on industrial pilot cases. Furthermore, by integrating insights from Techno-Economic Analysis (TEA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), we clarify the divergence between economic drivers and environmental benefits. The review concludes by proposing a forward-looking strategic framework that prioritizes impurity-tolerant reactor designs and continuous process integration, aiming to bridge the gap between laboratory technical potential and sustainable industrial realization.

Source: Applications in Energy and Combustion Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaecs.2025.100451

Authors: Jiahui Zhu, Ning Cai, Chuanwen Zhao, Haiping Yang

Institutions: Nanjing Normal University, State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion, Huazhong University of Science and Technology

Language: English

Topic: Thermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes

Subfield: Biomedical Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Responsible consumption and production, Affordable and clean energy, Climate action, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $1,910