A new IDTechEx report predicts that by 2034, pyrolysis and depolymerization plants will process more than 17 million tonnes of waste plastic per year. Chemical recycling plays an important role in closed-loop recycling systems, but it is only a small part of the solution to global environmental challenges.
Although mechanical recycling is popular for its cost-effectiveness and efficiency, but it falls short in applications requiring high purity and mechanical performance. To address the challenges faced by chemical recycling and mechanical recycling, dissolution technology has shown great potential and prospects.
Dissolution process
The dissolution process uses solvents to separate polymer waste. When the right solvent mixture is used, different plastic species can be selectively dissolved and separated, simplifying the process that requires fine sorting of different polymer types before recycling. There are customized solvents and separation methods for specific plastic types, such as polypropylene, polystyrene, and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene.
Compared with other chemical recovery technologies, the significant advantage of dissolution technology is that it can provide higher theoretical throughput.
Existential challenges
Although dissolution technology has a bright future, it also faces some challenges and doubts. The environmental impact of the solvents used in the dissolution process is also an issue. The economic feasibility of dissolution technology is also uncertain. The cost of solvents, energy consumption, and the need for complex infrastructure can make polymers recovered through dissolution plants more expensive than those recovered mechanically. Compared with other recycling technologies, it requires significant capital investment and time period.
Future Outlook
As a promising technology, dissolution technology can meet the demand for low-carbon and diverse waste plastic solutions. However, technical optimization, commercial scale and economics remain challenges to be solved. Stakeholders need to carefully evaluate the pros and cons of dissolution technologies within the context of global waste management strategies.
Post time: Jul-30-2024