Oak Ridge Researchers Develop New Method for Recycling Plastic

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster):  According to a report by WBIR, researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), led by chemist Jeffrey Foster, are developing a “molecular editing” technique that functions like CRISPR for plastic. Unlike traditional mechanical recycling, which melts and degrades plastic quality, this chemical process uses metathesis reactions to break and reform double bonds between carbon atoms.

By dissolving waste plastics in a solvent at approximately 40 degrees Celcius with a ruthenium catalyst, the team can swap polymer subunits to create entirely new macromolecules.

This approach specifically targets complex feedstocks like tires (polybutadiene) and consumer electronics (ABS), which are notoriously difficult to recycle. The primary goal is upcycling: transforming low-value waste into high-performance materials that are often stronger, more heat-resistant, or more flexible than the original.

Currently in the early lab stages, the project aims to establish a circular economy by making these recycled materials industrially viable and high-value enough to justify the costs of chemical processing.

 Courtesy: www.3bmedianews.com