New catalyst makes plastic upcycling 10x more efficient than platinum

Researchers at the University of Rochester and the University of North Texas have developed a tungsten carbide catalyst that breaks down polypropylene plastic waste more efficiently than platinum-based alternatives. In hydrocracking tests targeting the polymer used in water bottles and other products, the material delivered more than 10 times the efficiency of platinum catalysts. The process converts long polymer chains into smaller molecules that can be reused to produce new materials. The catalyst relies on specific metallic and acidic properties that allow bulky plastic molecules to interact without the access limits imposed The study, published in the Journal of the American Chemical Society, was led