Researchers from Washington State University, University of Washington and U.S. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory developed a new way to convert plastics into jet fuel ingredients and other valuable products. This method is an easier and more cost-effective way to reuse plastics.

The new reaction could convert 90% of plastics to jet fuel and other valuable hydrocarbon products within an hour at a moderate temperatures.

The cost of recycling is the key success in the recycling industry. The most common plastic recycling method melts plastic and remolds it into a new product. This is an ineffective method because it lowers the economic value and quality of plastic. Another method is chemical recycling, which produces higher quality products but requires high reaction temperatures and longer processing time. It is also expensive and cumbersome. Because of the problems with these methods, only 9% of the plastic in the U.S. is recycled every year.Source: Unsplash

The new catalytic process efficiently converts polyethylene to jet fuel and other high-value lubricants. The use of ruthenium on a carbon catalyst with a commonly used solvent converts about 90% of plastic to jet fuel components or other hydrocarbon products within an hour at 220° C. This is more efficient and uses lower temperatures than the typical processes. The ability to adjust processing conditions is an important step that could fine-tune the process to create products.

Researchers are currently working to scale up the process for future commercialization and believe it could also be applied to other types of plastic.

A paper on the new method was published in Chem Catalysis.