Plastic waste, composed mostly of chemically inert synthetic polymers, breaks down slowly in the environment, and has become a critical problem for pollution control. Studies have found that macro-, micro-, and nano particles of plastic in our marine and land environments can cause significant harm to many plant and animal species through physical, biological, and toxicological effects.
Consequently, processes for plastic waste recycling have become important contributors to establishing a sustainable environment. While there are various ways to recycle plastic waste, microwave-assisted depolymerization processes are promising as sustainable technologies.
Explore how polyethylene terephthalate (PET) can be readily depolymerized, via a process called solvolysis, into useful monomers and oligomers via microwave-assisted reactions.
