Work

Microwave‐assisted co‐conversion of waste plastic and CO 2 to syngas over reconstructed ZnO – Fe 3 C / SiC

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Chemical recycling offers an efficient pathway for upcycling waste plastics into high‐value resources, although it is still facing challenges. Herein, we demonstrate microwave‐assisted synergistic conversion of waste plastics and CO 2 into syngas over ZnFe 2 O 4 /SiC, which undergoes reconstruction into ZnO–Fe 3 C/SiC. SiC converts microwave energy into heat and transfers it directly to the catalytic layer, enabling polyethylene to generate hydrogen and carbon species. Fe 3 C acts as a dynamic carbon reservoir for capturing and transferring carbon species. Meanwhile, CO 2 dissociates on the ZnO surface to form CO and oxygen species. The oxygen species further combine with the carbon species provided by Fe 3 C to generate additional CO, thereby achieving in situ carbon elimination and catalyst self‐stabilization. This work presents a microwave‐assisted strategy that couples plastic valorization with CO 2 utilization, offering new insights into sustainable syngas production from carbon‐containing waste.

Source: AIChE Journal

DOI: 10.1002/aic.70631