Researchers at UCLA and Ewha Womans University have demonstrated a new chemical process called alkaline thermal treatment (ATT) that converts mixed plastic waste directly into hydrogen fuel with over 90% purity, without requiring any sorting by plastic type. The process operates at 300-400 degrees Celsius lower than traditional gasification and captures more than 75% of the plastic's carbon as solid sodium carbonate, preventing carbon dioxide emissions. This addresses two major problems: plastic waste accumulation and the need for clean hydrogen production. The ATT method uses sodium hydroxide to react with plastics under heat, and a thermal oxidation pretreatment allows it to handle polyethylene and polypropylene, which are typically difficult to convert. The resulting sodium carbonate can be further processed into calcium carbonate for use in industries like construction. While the technology is still in the lab stage and needs economic optimization, it offers a potential scalable path to turn a major waste stream into a clean energy source without the usual sorting costs or carbon emissions.
