New Techniques For Degrading Polyethylene

A paper published in the "ACS Central Science" magazine on October 23 stated that the new technology of the Northwestern University team can transform difficult-to-degrade polyethylene. This catalysis technology uses metal nanoparticles to "shear" plastic polymers into a liquid. The team is testing the liquid's performance as a lubricant. With more than one million tons of plastics being recycled worldwide each day, chemical recycling will be a promising new strategy.