Chemical Recycling of Plastic Waste from Different Polymers: New Trends

Abstract

Background For decades, the amount of global plastic waste has been increasing at an alarming level. Traditional landfill and incinerator treatments, on the other hand, result in air pollution and wastage of valuable land. Method This study examined recent advances in the recycling and recovery of plastic waste. A special emphasis was placed on trash derived from polyolefinic sources, which accounts for a substantial part of plastic products used in the daily lifecycle. The mechanical and chemical systems and technologies for plastic waste treatment were detailed and explored in this study. To ensure a comprehensive study, sixty-five (65) papers were carefully selected. The selected papers were published during the period 2015-2023. These papers were searched using web search engine Google Scholar and PubMed database and reviewed to derive meaningful insights. Results The findings determined that chemical recycling of plastic waste is a critical possibility to reduce marine and terrestrial pollution and enable the idea of circular economy to be implemented in today's world. Plastic waste poses both obstacles and opportunities to communities, independently of their level of environmental awareness or technical advancement. Moreover, mechanical processes utilize a variety of waste products as feedstock. Depending on their source, shape, and usage, these waste products can be reduced in size to a more acceptable shape and form (pellets, flakes, or powders). Conclusion Advanced thermo-chemical treatment methods encompass a wide range of technologies that produce either fuels or petrochemical feedstock. Although mechanical recycling schemes are well known and commonly used, many chemical recycling treatment techniques are more productive and widely used due to their economic benefits.