American scientists figured out how to use plastic in a useful way

Experts from the notorious MIT Institute have found a way to recycle plastic.

There are many types of plastic. Therefore, it is difficult to recycle, different types of plastic require special processing conditions. Plus, any plastic at the molecular level has strong carbon bonds, due to which this material is flexible, fairly durable and does not decompose well. But scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have found a way to convert mixed plastic into propane.



For the processing of mixed plastics, specialists have created a catalyst, that is, an accelerating agent. By applying it, it is possible to achieve an increase in the rate of decomposition of plastics of all kinds. By interacting with the material for processing, the catalyst activates the reaction, which results in the production of propane gas.

The catalyst was made from a porous substance with microscopic particles of cobalt, the material is called zeolite. During the penetration of plastic particles into the pores of the zeolite, the polymer chains break at the same points for all types of plastic materials (from plastic bags to polypropylene, which is also a common packaging material). As a result, the plastic turns into propane.

In theory, the catalyst will significantly reduce the cost and time spent on sorting various types of plastic. Tests of the new technology have shown that only 20% of the waste remains from the original plastic. In the future, this development will allow humanity to fully cope with the problem of the accumulation of non-recyclable waste.