Upcycling of recalcitrant solid feedstocks like plastics poses significant the challenges in terms of solvent use and establishing intimate contact with solid catalysts for selective conversion. The present work addresses these challenges with a mechanocatalytic process in a ball mill. The mechanical forces from impinging milling ball sheer solid particles against each other and provide energy for reactions.<br/> <br/>The approach is illustrated for the conversion of polystyrene in the presence and absence of solid catalysts. Analysis of the products by GPC and GC shows reduction of the average molecular weight and the formation of monomeric styrene. However, repolymerization has to be accounted for as a side reaction. The formation of hot spots is analyzed in fundamental studies of model collisions. In addition, discrete element models provide insight into the distribution of forces in ball mills with multiple milling balls.

Mechanocatalytic depolymerization of plastics

ACS Spring 2022

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