Electrifying the Future of Plastic Recycling: Dissolving Waste with Power

Chemists at CU Boulder have developed a new method of recycling plastic, specifically polyethylene terephthalate (PET), using electricity and chemical reactions. By applying a small electric voltage to bits of PET mixed with a special molecule, the plastic disintegrates within minutes. This approach aims to recover the building blocks of plastics for reuse, potentially reducing the amount of plastic waste that ends up in landfills. While more research is needed to optimize and scale up the process, the researchers envision using electrochemical methods to break down various types of plastic and extract useful molecules, even from ocean garbage patches.