Catalytic reductive conversion of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic waste into fuels, valuable chemicals and degradable polymers

IF 9.2 1区化学 Q1 CHEMISTRY, MULTIDISCIPLINARY

Green Chemistry Pub Date : 2025-08-15 DOI:10.1039/D5GC03083H

Jingyu Liu, Shuyan Yi, Jingwen Cheng and Sibao Liu

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Abstract

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is the most widely used synthetic polyester; however, a significant portion of its waste accumulates in landfills, oceans, and incinerators, posing severe environmental and health risks. Chemical recycling and upcycling are promising solutions for post-consumer PET valorization while mitigating plastic pollution. This review summarizes recent advancements in the catalytic reductive conversion of post-consumer PET into fuels, value-added chemicals, and degradable polymers, with a particular focus on heterogeneous catalysis. The catalytic reductive conversion strategies include hydrogenation, hydrogenolysis, hydrodeoxygenation (HDO), and transfer HDO. A variety of products can be obtained depending on the degree of aromatic ring saturation, ester bond hydrogenation, and C–O bond removal. Reaction pathways for achieving target products are outlined. The performance of the catalysts developed is described and compared in each section. In addition, the role of active sites, structure–activity relationships, and reaction mechanisms are comprehensively discussed. Finally, future perspectives are proposed, with specific emphasis on one-pot tandem processes, non-noble metal catalyst design, the production of new chemicals, the impact of additives, elucidation of reaction networks and mechanistic studies. This review aims to inspire innovative solutions for sustainable PET waste management through advanced catalytic reductive technologies.

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聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯（PET）塑料废物催化还原转化为燃料，有价值的化学品和可降解聚合物

聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯（PET）是应用最广泛的合成聚酯；然而，很大一部分废物堆积在垃圾填埋场、海洋和焚化炉，构成严重的环境和健康风险。化学回收和升级回收是很有前途的解决方案，在消费后PET增值，同时减轻塑料污染。本文综述了消费后PET催化还原转化为燃料、增值化学品和可降解聚合物的最新进展，重点介绍了多相催化。催化还原转化策略包括加氢、氢解、氢脱氧（HDO）和转移HDO。根据芳香环的饱和程度、酯键的加氢程度和C-O键的去除程度，可以得到多种产品。概述了实现目标产物的反应途径。所研制的催化剂的性能在每一节中进行了描述和比较。此外，还全面讨论了活性位点的作用、构效关系和反应机理。最后，对今后的研究方向进行了展望，特别强调了一锅串联工艺、非贵金属催化剂设计、新化学品的生产、添加剂的影响、反应网络的阐明和机理研究。本综述旨在通过先进的催化还原技术激发可持续PET废物管理的创新解决方案。

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来源期刊

Green Chemistry 化学-化学综合

CiteScore

16.10

自引率

7.10%

发文量

677

审稿时长

1.4 months

期刊介绍： Green Chemistry is a journal that provides a unique forum for the publication of innovative research on the development of alternative green and sustainable technologies. The scope of Green Chemistry is based on the definition proposed by Anastas and Warner (Green Chemistry: Theory and Practice, P T Anastas and J C Warner, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1998), which defines green chemistry as the utilisation of a set of principles that reduces or eliminates the use or generation of hazardous substances in the design, manufacture and application of chemical products. Green Chemistry aims to reduce the environmental impact of the chemical enterprise by developing a technology base that is inherently non-toxic to living things and the environment. The journal welcomes submissions on all aspects of research relating to this endeavor and publishes original and significant cutting-edge research that is likely to be of wide general appeal. For a work to be published, it must present a significant advance in green chemistry, including a comparison with existing methods and a demonstration of advantages over those methods.