Polyethylene and polypropylene are ubiquitous in modern life due to their low cost and superior properties. However, their chemical inertness and widespread use in single-use packaging leads to their accumulation in landfill and the environment. The use of polyolefins as a chemical feedstock has attracted increased attention recently. To address this problem, the Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics (ICOUP), a DOE EFRC, is developing methods to selectively cleave long polyolefin chains into smaller, value-added materials such as lubricants, detergents, and fuels. Several case studies will be presented.

Selective catalytic upcycling of polyolefins

ACS Spring 2022

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