If the phenomenal quantities of plastic waste polluting nature and carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere are two of our main environmental problems, a new innovative process makes it possible to use the former to trap the latter.
Porous particles efficiently capture carbon dioxide
Featured in the magazine ACS Nanothis approach developed by a team from therice university is a variation of an existing plastics recycling process based on pyrolysis (the breaking down of an organic compound by heat to obtain other products that it did not contain).
The procedure starts with grinding the plastic waste into a fine powder, mixing it with potassium acetate and then heating it to 600ºC for 45 minutes. This operation transforms the plastic powder into absorbent particles filled with nanometric pores, which are very effective in trapping carbon dioxide molecules suspended in the air.
Each particle can store up to 18% of its own weight indefinitely CO2 at room temperature. However, when heated to around 75ºC, it releases the trapped carbon dioxide, which can be used to produce fuels or building materials. About 90% of its pores being reopened during the release of the CO2the absorbent particle also has the advantage of being able to be reused.
The researchers point out that a wax byproduct, found in detergents and lubricants, is also produced during the initial creation of the particles, and that common plastics (polypropylene and high and low density polyethylene) but notoriously difficult to recycle chemically lend themselves perfectly to the transformation into particles of capture of the CO2.
Much lower cost than current solutions
The cost of filters incorporating these absorbent particles to eliminate the CO2 flue gas flows would be around 20 euros per ton, compared to 80 to 160 euros for current amine devices, also proving to be less durable.
” Point sources of CO2 emissions, such as power plant exhaust ducts, can be outfitted with this plastic-derived material to remove huge amounts of CO2 that would normally leak into the atmosphere. “, valued James Tour, lead author of the study. ” It’s a great way to make the problem of plastic waste contribute to solving the problem of CO2 emissions. »
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