UvA researchers develop 25-liter pilot reactor that converts mixed plastic waste into oil using nanostructured catalysts
By
Mrigakshi Dixit
Not artisan, but a perfectly fine bagel. Hits the spot.
Summary
Researchers at the University of Amsterdam (UvA) have developed a 25-liter pilot reactor that uses a Solvothermal Liquefaction (STL) process to recycle mixed plastic waste back into oil. The process relies on specialized nanostructured solid catalysts that accelerate chemical breakdown without being consumed. In just 30 minutes, plastic molecular bonds collapse, producing three outputs: gas (used to power the system), char (solid byproduct), and dark brown oil rich in pure monomers needed to manufacture new high-quality plastic.
Key quotes
· 5 pulledThe key ingredient of all is the specialized nanostructured solid catalysts developed by the UvA team.
These microscopic structures accelerate the chemical breakdown without being consumed by the reaction.
In just 30 minutes, the molecular bonds of the plastics collapse.
The process cleanly splits the waste into three distinct products: gas, which is diverted to help power the system; char, which is filtered out as a solid byproduct; and a dark brown oil.
This oil is packed with the pure monomers needed to manufacture brand-new, high-quality plastic.
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