Design principles for polyethylene deconstruction

Gas, liquid/wax, and solid yields for the hydrogenolysis of PE using Pt/SrTiO3, Pt/SiO2-Al2O3, SrTiO3, and SiO2-Al2O3. Conditions: 300 °C, 24 h, 170 psi H2.

Scientific Achievement

Established mechanistic role of metal oxide support on the catalytic deconstruction of polyolefins under H2.

Significance and Impact

The lack of acidity and increased stability of Pt/SrTiO3 facilitates polymer deconstruction via hydrogenolysis, generating products that can be used directly as lubricants, whereas higher acidity and lower stability of Pt/SiO2-Al2O3 enables polymer deconstruction via competing hydrogenolysis and hydrocracking, generating mixtures of products that require further separation.

Research Details

  • High-throughput synthesis of Pt/support catalysts
  • Determination of acid-case properties of Pt/support catalysts
  • Catalytic hydrogenolysis under identical conditions
  • Analysis of gas, liquid, and solid products

Lamb, J. V. et al. Supported Platinum Nanoparticles Catalyzed Carbon–Carbon Bond Cleavage of Polyolefins: Role of the Oxide Support Acidity. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2024, 16 (9), 11361-11376. https://doi.org/10.1021/acsami.3c15350