Chinese researchers have developed new technology that can convert plastic waste into jet fuel a development that could cut reliance on traditional fuel and improve environment.
Chinese researchers have developed a new technology that can convert plastic waste into jet fuel, a breakthrough that could reduce dependence on conventional fuel sources and help address environmental challenges linked to plastic pollution.
More than 460 million tonnes of plastic are produced globally every year, creating increasing environmental concerns due to the material’s resistance to natural breakdown.
Traditional disposal methods, including landfills and incineration, have been criticized for generating pollution and failing to recover the potential value of plastic waste.
Amid these challenges, a team of researchers from the Shanghai Advanced Research Institute of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Fudan University has developed a chemical approach that can convert waste plastics into aviation fuel components at a potentially lower cost, Chinese media reported.
The technique uses hydrogenolysis of polyolefins, a process designed to break down long hydrocarbon chains under relatively mild conditions while allowing control over the final products.
Role of Polyolefins and New Catalyst
Polyolefins, mainly polyethylene and polypropylene, make up more than 60 percent of plastic waste. Their hydrocarbon structures contain chains that can potentially be transformed into C8-C16 hydrocarbons, which are key components of aviation fuel.
However, these materials are highly stable and difficult to chemically break down. To overcome this challenge, researchers developed a new catalyst containing cobalt and nickel.
According to the study, cobalt improves the performance of nickel by enhancing its ability to activate hydrogen and break long carbon chains while reducing unwanted breakdown into gases.
Promising Laboratory Results
The researchers reported that the new catalyst directed the reaction toward medium-sized hydrocarbons needed for jet fuel production. The process achieved an 82.3 percent liquid product yield and 79 percent selectivity toward C8-C16 alkanes under mild operating conditions.
Unlike earlier methods that depended on expensive metals, the new approach uses nickel and cobalt, which are more widely available and less costly, potentially improving the chances of future large-scale use.
Challenges Before Commercial Use
Despite promising results, researchers said the technology remains at the laboratory stage and requires further development before industrial application.
Scaling up the process, designing suitable industrial reactors and preparing waste plastic materials effectively are among the challenges ahead. Impurities in plastic waste can affect catalyst performance and reduce efficiency.
Potential Environmental Benefits
Researchers said life-cycle assessments suggest that, when powered by renewable energy, the process could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80 percent compared with conventional production methods.
