Paul Kearns’ Post

Have a look at our new manuscript published in ChemSusChem Total Capital Investment of plastic recycling plants correlates with energy losses and capacity Jacopo De Tommaso demonstrated that traditional methods for capital cost estimation are not suitable for new technologies such as the chemical recycling of plastics. We propose new correlations that will be for sure useful for engineers !! https://lnkd.in/epKztCct

Bioplastics for long-lasting applications: Bioplastics made from renewable raw materials conserve fossil resources and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, undesirable hydrolytic degradation often stands in the way of their use in technical applications. Employees of the Fraunhofer CCPE are therefore investigating various plastic additives in order to modify the service life of bioplastics and expand their range of applications. Read more: 👉 https://lnkd.in/dsxnywN2 #bioplastics #plastics #additives #circulareconomy #fraunhoferccpe

Recent research delved into the co-pyrolysis of three prevalent plastics: polystyrene, polypropylene, and low-density polyethylene. Understanding such co-pyrolysis processes is crucial for sustainable waste management and the development of advanced recycling technologies. By elucidating the behavior of these plastics in tandem, we move closer to more environmentally friendly solutions for plastic waste. https://lnkd.in/gdfHQptK

To mark #EarthDay, I had a chat with Amanda Jasi from the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) regarding #plastics. Here are two take-home messages: 1 Plastics” are not inherently bad – on the contrary, they are a pretty useful material. The problem is how we manage them, mostly (and unfortunately) in a linear “take-make-dispose” model. 2 Expect trade-offs when comparing alternative products – a win-win situation is highly unlikely. For example, plastics may cause higher resources depletion but have lower acidification and eutrophication impacts than most bio-based materials. https://lnkd.in/dfdPysbB

PHA IS THE FUTURE OF THE WORLD The use of PHA is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to various factors, including an increasing demand for sustainable products among consumers, government regulations aimed at reducing plastic waste, and advancements in bioplastics technology. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) have a number of appealing properties that make PHAs a feasible source material for bioplastics, either as a direct replacement of petroleum-derived plastics or as a blend with elements derived from natural origin, fabricated biodegradable polymers, and/or non-biodegradable polymers. Among the most promising PHAs, polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs) are the most well-known and have a significant potential to replace traditional plastics. These biodegradable plastics decompose faster after decomposing into carbon dioxide, water, and inorganic chemicals. #PHA #biopolymer #biofertilizer #bacteria

Everything revolves around having a great passion for discovering solutions that support the sustainability of our planet and promote progress 💪. As a company mentioned in the report "The Global Market for Advanced Chemical Recycling 2024-2040" by Research and Markets, we are excited to see how more and more companies, 160 in total, share the same concern for the challenges of recycling in the plastics industry. The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the global market for advanced chemical recycling technologies. It covers market drivers, trends, industry developments, capabilities, forecasts for polymer demand segmented by recycling technology, regional demand forecasts, product examples, value chain analysis, life cycle assessments, yields, prices, and challenges. #innovation #sustainability #plastics #recyclingtechnologies

Thrilled to share our latest research on plastic recycling! We’ve shown how a PCP-iridium complex effectively catalyzes the dehydrogenation of post-consumer plastic waste, followed by ethylene metathesis, yielding dodecene with more than 60% selectivity alongside other long-chain alkenes. 🌍♻️ Depolymerization of Waste Polyethylene to Linear Alkenes via Sequential Dehydrogenation and Metathesis - now published in Green Chemistry https://lnkd.in/dun__5BP

The terms "bioplastic," "biobased," "compostable," and "biodegradable" are often associated with environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional plastics. However, what does it actually mean? First of all, there are slight differences between all these terms. But Lisa Erdle explains it in a simplified way: ' When something is biodegradable, it will break down into its component parts, it will mineralise, meaning that it will turn into its natural molecules.' It's however crucial to be cautious about the use of these terms by companies, as they can sometimes be misleading. For example, a product labelled as "biodegradable" may only break down under specific conditions that might not be directly available in natural environments, leading to the persistence of the material. It will for example not likely degrade on your street, and similarly not in the ocean, rivers, lakes or even your compost bin. Shifting from plastic is positive, but responsible practices are crucial. It is very interesting to learn more about this topic! Listen to episode 6 of the Podcast of Captain Forest #HeroesVoice, with Lisa Erdle - Research and Innovation Director at The 5 Gyres Institute: https://lnkd.in/e_fXdKfu - #biodigradable #plasticcrisis #universalplastic

UNEP report distinguishes between Physical and Chemical Recycling The report “Chemicals in Plastics” developed by @UNEP together with @Basel Convention, @Rotterdam Convention and @Stockholm Convention addresses the Full Life Cycle of plastics in different Industrial Sectors with a specific focus on #ChemicalsofConcern, because humans and the environment are exposed to such chemicals present in plastics. Link: https://lnkd.in/dd867yg2   UN Environment Programme (UNEP) correctly classifies mechanical and solvent-based Recycling as PHYSICAL Processes (page 83).   REUSE Polymers Class: #PhysicalRecycling (synonym: #MaterialRecycling) -> #PolymertoPolymer 1.#MechanicalRecycling (needs mono-polymer input) is not capable of separating embedded hazardous chemicals 2.#DissolutionRecycling (synonym: #SolventbasedPurification) separates composites, imbedded additives and hazardous chemicals   DEPOLYMERIZE Polymers Class: #ChemicalRecycling (synonym: #FeedstockRecovery) -> #PolymertoFeedstock 1.Depolymerization (e.g. Solvolysis) 2.Pyrolysis 3.Gasification   The report concludes that many chemicals in plastics and their degradation products during the chemical recycling processes are largely yet to be understood. UNEP informs that the CreaSolv® Process can separate legacy additives such as BFRs. The first plant for the recovery of polystyrene and bromine by separation of HBCDD from EPS/XPS (PS Loop B.V.) has started operation in July 2021.   Today physical solvent-based plastic recycling processes are not found in any industry standard, so that ISO 15270 and also EN 17615 actually create unfair market conditions and lead to wrong decisions of policy makers and investors.   #plasticwaste #recycling #plasticrecycling #EUgreenDeal

♻The 2024 edition of the most comprehensive technology and market report on Advanced Plastic Waste Recycling is finally here! It was a pleasure collaborating with nova-Institut GmbH to support the development of this report, which profiles more than 130 available technologies and providers of advanced and especially #chemicalrecycling solutions, as well as pre-and post-processing technologies. The report highlights that of all installed chemical and physical #recycling plants worldwide, more than 60, and therefore the majority, are operating in Europe, covering nearly one-quarter of the worldwide input capacity. This ranks Europe at the top of the global comparison. Additionally, the global production capacity of #advancedrecycling is 1,082 kt per annum, with products ranging from polymers, monomers, naphtha, Secondary Valuable Chemicals (SVC), and fuels & energy. An analysis of the announcements made by technology providers for the construction of new plants shows that the input capacity in #Europe is expected to grow more than 3x by 2027. Globally, the capacity is expected to double. Be sure to check out the executive summary (PDF attached 👇) for more information. 💚Special thanks to Lars Krause, Michael Carus, and Achim Raschka. #plasticsindustry #plasticsrecycling #circulareconomy #plastics #plasticwastemanagement #technologytrends #marketresearchreport