12 Sep 2023 --- US researchers have chemically recycled mixed and metalized plastics using table salt (NaCI). The study authors say the findings have the potential to “revolutionize” plastic chemical recycling by offering a reusable, low-cost and efficient catalyst – NaCl – as an alternative to conventional catalysts, which are often toxic. In the investigation, a polyolefin blend of high-density PE, low-density PE , linear low-density and PP, as well as metallized films, were used as testbed polymers. NaCl, two different pyrolysis (Pt) catalysts and a control were also investigated. For the metalized films, table salt and the Pt/alumina catalyst showed “excellent” conversion efficiencies.
