Chemical recycling of waste plastics: Current challenges and perspectives

Abstract

Waste plastics offer valuable feedstock for refining facilities. Their well-structured molecular compositions and functional groups make them ideal candidates for conversion into high-value chemicals and fuels, playing a pivotal role in carbon recycling. Achieving this transformation demands not only the precise design of deconstruction reaction systems but also the overcoming of technological barriers, necessitating a collaborative partnership between fundamental research and industrial expertise. In this context, we present a roadmap for advancing the recycling and upcycling of plastic waste, commencing a thorough assessment of technological challenges across the entire plastics recycling chain.