Virtual Booth

Malaysia produces over one million tons of plastic waste annually but barely a quarter being recycled which necessitates innovative recycling solutions. To anticipate this problem from turning into severe environmental plastic pollution, increasing the rate of plastic recycling are critical and chemical recycling is one of the alternatives. Chemical recycling exemplified by depolymerization technique possess many advantages compared to mechanical recycling. Current depolymerization method involve harsh conditions (high temperatures, pressures, and the use of excess acids and bases) resulting in operational inefficiencies and environmental hazards. In addition, conventional methods struggle with impurities such as dyes and additives, leading to substandard quality of recycled materials. Our research proposes the depolymerization of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) via ethanolysis using cheap iron-based catalysts, FeCl3 and FeBr3 under much simpler one-pot reaction and mild condition. We aim to optimize reaction conditions, maximize the monomer recovery, and extend the methodology to mixed plastic wastes. The results showed that the non-toxic, cost-effective catalysts attained 85-99% monomer recovery through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Gas chromatography (GC) analyses. This indicated that this method was suitable for upscaling, thus offering practical, scalable chemical recycling technique. The implication of our findings could reduce the plastics waste as well the virgin plastic production and fossil fuels. This research aligned with Malaysia’s Plastics Sustainability Roadmap 2021-2030 and supports Sustainable Development Goals by fostering a circular economy.