Hundreds of millions of tons of plastic are produced globally every year, and despite our best efforts, a shockingly low percentage of that gets recycled. But these innovations could help turn that around in the near future and beyond:
1. Learning the chemical composition of plastics
One of the biggest problems with plastic recycling is accurately identifying plastic types before they're processed. To address this, scientists combined the power of artificial intelligence, machine learning, and convolutional neural networks to determine the chemical composition of plastics with incredible accuracy.
The system can even tell the difference between consumer plastics and plastics degraded by exposure to the elements.
2. Breaking it down to base components
A team of researchers in China has developed a complex mix of chemical reactions that breaks down recycled plastics into their base components. To add to the accomplishment, they can do this without metal catalysts, high temperatures, or solvents.
The process has achieved chemical yields of up to 99% and works with a wide range of plastics like bottles, films, fabrics, and industrial scraps. What's more, the base chemicals can be reused to make high-value products.
3. Repurposing recycled plastic as medical supplies
A group of students in Ukraine is collecting plastic waste and turning it into filament for 3D printers. The team is using recycled plastic and 3D printers to make affordable, accurate medical tools.
They've created components for a microscope and dental training blocks, and they're working on anatomical bone models.
4. Producing reusable oil
Indian company PolyCycl recently secured funding to expand its method of chemical recycling using thermal decomposition. The system keeps plastics inside the reactor in constant motion to prevent uneven heating and overheating, and it continuously removes any leftover solids to keep the process moving.
The plastic breaks down into oil, which is purified using PolyCycl's own technology, resulting in cleaner, safer oil that can be reused to produce new plastic.
5. More durable roads
An engineer in Texas has found a use for recycled plastic that doesn't involve breaking it down to make new plastics, which would repeat the cycle. Instead, they're processing sorted plastic and integrating it into asphalt that can be used in parking lots and roads.
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The idea is that the plastic will make the asphalt more durable and less likely to crack during bouts of intense heat. At two test sites, the plastic-infused asphalt has held up even on days when temperatures surpassed 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
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