Researchers from Sichuan and Peking Universities have developed a catalytic system that transforms polyethylene plastic and carbon dioxide into liquid aromatics like benzene, toluene, and xylene. Unlike previous methods, this process operates at ambient pressure and 400 degrees Celsius, reducing the complexity and cost of the reaction setup. The system uses a bifunctional oxide-zeolite catalyst to handle both plastic degradation and the reverse water-gas shift reaction. This allows the process to work with various plastic types, including HDPE, LDPE, and mixed waste, providing a potential industrial path for simultaneous plastic recycling and carbon utilization.
