Researchers Discover Revolutionary Method to Turn Plastic Waste Into Fuel

A team of researchers may have just discovered a way to turn plastic water bottles — and other waste — into usable fuel.

Chemists from the Shanghai Institute of Organic Chemistry and the University of California, Irvine have figured out how to break down the strong bonds of common consumer plastic, and potentially convert what would normally be wasted material into usable fuel, according to a UCI press release.

The innovative method involves using specific types of hydrocarbon molecules to separate polymer bonds, allowing the plastic molecules to be reused in other compounds — including liquid fuel — according to the article.

The researchers tested the method on polyethylene, which is the most common type of plastic used in consumer goods.

“Synthetic plastics are a fundamental part of modern life, but our use of them in large volume has created serious environmental problems,” UCI Chemist Zhibin Guan said in a press release.

“Our goal through this research was to address the issue of plastic pollution as well as achieving a beneficial outcome of creating a new source of liquid fuel,” he added.

This new technique differs from current methods in that it breaks apart polymer molecules in a mild and efficient way — rather than using caustic chemicals or extreme heat to degrade the plastic material.

The hydrocarbon molecules used in the process are also readily available byproducts of oil refining, so it’s likely to be a cheaper and more efficient solution than current approaches.

Currently, the research team is still working out a few kinks in the process, including increasing its efficiency and decreasing the overall cost, according to the press release.

But the new research is a promising step toward reducing physical waste and developing eco-friendly energy sources.