Page 72 - Plastics News August - 2023

IN THE NEWS

UF researchers develop new plastic recycling method
tive method known as chemical recy-
cling, rather than industry-standard
thermal reprocessing.
The team deployed a strategy that
triggered the depolymerisation of the
polymers, causing them to fully revert
to the smaller monomer molecules
from which they originated.
The monomer obtained can then
be utilised to create new polymers
possessing comparable or enhanced

he method significantly reduces Plastic recycling usually comprises characteristics when compared to the
Tthe energy requirements needed three main steps, namely collection, original plastics.
for depolymerisation. sorting, and reprocessing. Consequently, Sumerlin’s team of
Researchers from the University of Sumerlin’s team focused on address- graduate students has developed a
Florida (UF) have developed a new ing the common issues that arise new method that significantly reduces
method for plastic recycling, which is during the last step of reprocessing, the energy needed for depolymerisa-
claimed to reduce energy consump- which involves breaking down sorted tion.
tion while maintaining the quality of plastics into smaller fragments before Sumerlin said: “Our work is a re-
plastic. melting and moulding them to form sponse to the call to action proposed
A team of researchers guided by new products. by the United Nations’ Sustainable
Brent Sumerlin conducted this exper- This method frequently results in re- Development Goals.
imental study, with graduate students cycled plastic of lower quality, as it “New recycling strategies have be-
James Young and Rhys Hughes taking causes the polymer molecules in the come imperative to reduce the nega-
the lead. plastics to break into shorter seg- tive impact of plastic on the environ-
Sumerlin is a professor in the chemis- ments. ment.”
try department at the university. Sumerlin’s group opted for an alterna-

72 PLASTICS NEWS August 2023
72 PLASTICS NEWS
August 2023