Scientists from the University of Cambridge have developed a reactor that uses sunlight to convert plastic and CO2 into eco-friendly fuels and other materials useful for the industry.
The research results are published in the Nature Synthesis journal.
Sunlight to Transform Waste
Most plastics are thrown away, burned, or dumped in landfills, posing a threat to the environment. Professor Erwin Reisner, from the Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, emphasized the goal of using solar energy to convert waste into something useful.
Perovskite Instead of Silicon
The solar reactor has two sections: one for plastic and the other for greenhouse gases. It uses a light absorber based on perovskite, an alternative option to silicon for next-generation solar cells.
The type of catalyst can be easily modified to change the final product.
CO2 Conversion without High Energy Consumption
Motiar Rahaman, one of the study’s authors, commented: “Usually, CO2 conversion requires a lot of energy. But with our system, just directing a light at it is enough to start turning harmful products into something useful and sustainable.”
From Plastic to Eco-Friendly Fuel
During the tests, CO2 was transformed into syngas, essential for eco-friendly liquid fuels. Additionally, plastic bottles were converted into glycolic acid, used in cosmetic products. The final product can be changed by modifying the type of catalyst used in the reactor.
Professor Reisner also leads the Circular Plastics Centre of Cambridge (CirPlas), a program that aims to eliminate plastic waste by combining innovation and practical measures. This solar reactor is an innovative solution to address plastic pollution and greenhouse gases, transforming these wastes into useful products using only solar energy.
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