The first entirely synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was developed in 1907 from petroleum derivatives. Its heat resistance and electrical insulation capability marked the beginning of a revolution in materials. Since then, plastics —polymers formed by long chains of monomers— have diversified into multiple variants: elastic, rigid, resistant to high temperatures, or easily moldable.
Their low cost and versatility made them omnipresent in modern life. However, their massive use brought environmental problems: dependence on petroleum, accumulation in the environment, and degradation times that can extend for centuries.
The problem of microplastics
In recent years, awareness has been raised about microplastics, tiny particles that have been detected in all ecosystems, even in Antarctica, and in human food.
Global production exceeds 400 million tons annually, of which less than 10% is recycled. Most end up in landfills or dispersed in the environment.
Mechanical recycling: limitations
The most common recycling is mechanical, which involves shredding, melting, and remolding plastics. This method presents two major problems:
- Material incompatibility: different types of plastics require prior separation, which demands time and money.
- Loss of quality: each recycling cycle deteriorates the material’s properties, reducing its market value compared to virgin polymers.
The importance of separation at source
For any recycling method to work, separation of waste at home is essential. When plastics are mixed with organic waste, their classification and treatment become more complex. Proper separation would increase the amount of materials effectively recovered.
Chemical recycling: an innovative alternative
In recent years, more advanced technologies such as chemical recycling have gained relevance. This process reverses polymerization: it depolymerizes plastics to obtain small molecules that can be reused in the synthesis of new materials.
Depending on the conditions, green solvents and useful compounds in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and veterinary industries can also be obtained. From the perspective of the circular economy, chemical recycling is a form of upcycling, as it transforms waste into products of higher economic value.
Applications and potential
Although current studies focus on polycarbonate, the strategy can be extended to other plastics. It is projected to advance towards selective and staged chemical recycling schemes, capable of handling complex mixtures of plastics and microplastics.
- Under certain conditions, one type of plastic is depolymerized first.
- Then, by changing the conditions, another is processed. This approach would allow obtaining different products at each stage, even from mixed waste.
Practical advantages
The processes investigated are designed to be practically viable:
- They do not require large initial investments.
- They are carried out in short times and at moderate temperatures.
- They consume little energy.
- They seek to complement existing industrial technologies, not replace them.
Chemical recycling opens a new stage in the management of plastic waste. It allows transforming an environmental problem into an opportunity for the national industry, reducing pollution and generating high-value products.
The key is to combine citizen awareness in waste separation with the implementation of these innovative technologies, moving towards a model of sustainable circular economy.
