Mixed Polyester Recycling Can Enable a Circular Plastic Economy with Environmental Benefits

Jason DesVeaux, Taylor Uekert, Julia Curley, Hoon Choi, Yuanzhe Liang, Avantika Singh, Ofei Mante, Gregg Beckham, Alan Jacobsen, Katrina Knauer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The mixed and varied nature of fossil-based and bio-based plastic waste requires complex and costly separations to enable compatibility with recycling technologies. A circular plastic economy based on mixed polyesters through cleaving ester bonds to produce monomers, while re-utilizing bio-based monomers to produce high-quality sustainable plastics, charts an exciting solution. However, the feasibility of such a circular economy solution remains underexplored. Here, we conducted a techno-economic analysis and life-cycle assessment of three polyester depolymerization recycling processes-methanolysis, glycolysis, and acid hydrolysis-for a mixed feedstock (polyethylene terephthalate [PET], polylactic acid [PLA], and polybutylene adipate terephthalate [PBAT]). Methanolysis outperforms glycolysis and hydrolysis economically and environmentally due to more efficient downstream separations, generating products with a 31% decrease in selling price and 21%-46% reduction in acidification, carcinogenic toxicity, fossil-fuel depletion, global warming potential, particulate formation, and smog formation compared to conventional polyester manufacturing. This study highlights the viability of a circular plastic economy for mixed polyesters via a single chemical recycling process.
Original languageAmerican English
Pages (from-to)2204-2222
Number of pages19
JournalOne Earth
Volume7
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-5100-87422

Keywords

  • bioplastic
  • chemical recycling
  • circular economy
  • glycolysis
  • hydrolysis
  • life-cycle assessment
  • methanolysis
  • plastic
  • polyester
  • techno-economic analysis

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Mixed Polyester Recycling Can Enable a Circular Plastic Economy with Environmental Benefits'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this