Core Insights - The global plastic industry has produced over 10 billion tons of plastic, with approximately 80% ending up as waste, leading to significant resource wastage and environmental crises [1] - A breakthrough in plastic waste management has been achieved through a novel room-temperature catalytic conversion technology developed by a collaborative team of international researchers, enabling the conversion of mixed waste plastics into high-value fuels with over 95% conversion efficiency [1][3] Group 1: Plastic Waste Management Challenges - China, as the largest producer and consumer of plastics, faces severe challenges in waste plastic management, with domestic waste plastic stock exceeding 1 billion tons and an annual increase of over 6 million tons [2] - The composition of waste plastics shows that PE and PP account for 50%, while PVC accounts for 10%, indicating significant recycling potential [2] - Traditional waste plastic treatment methods, primarily landfilling and incineration, pose environmental risks, including soil and groundwater contamination and toxic emissions [2] Group 2: Innovative Recycling Technology - The new "plastic catalytic cracking-alkylation coupling reaction" concept integrates traditional oil refining processes, achieving three major innovations: reducing conversion temperature to room temperature, integrating multiple steps into a single process, and utilizing petrochemical by-products as reaction media [3] - This technology significantly lowers energy consumption by over 70% compared to traditional methods and enhances the economic viability of plastic recycling [3] Group 3: Industrial Application and Benefits - The new technology is highly compatible with existing refining processes, featuring low energy consumption, simple equipment, and high conversion efficiency, making it suitable for promotion in current refining facilities [4] - The use of ionic liquids as catalysts allows for nearly complete conversion of mixed waste plastics into high-quality fuels, effectively blocking chlorine pollution and converting it into harmless hydrochloric acid [4] - The technology transforms the economic value of waste plastics from negative returns associated with landfilling or incineration to positive returns, truly achieving the concept of "turning waste into treasure" [4]

Core Insights - The research team from East China Normal University has developed a groundbreaking room-temperature catalytic conversion technology for recycling difficult-to-degrade mixed plastic waste, achieving over 95% conversion efficiency [1][6][10] - This innovation addresses the global challenge of recycling chlorine-containing plastics, particularly PVC, and offers a new solution for plastic pollution management [1][4][10] Industry Context - Plastic has become a crucial material in modern society, with cumulative production exceeding 100 billion tons since the 1950s, of which approximately 80% ends up as waste, leading to significant environmental issues [3][4] - China, as the largest producer and consumer of plastics, faces severe challenges in plastic waste management, with over 1 billion tons of waste plastic stock and an annual increase of over 60 million tons [3][4] Technological Innovation - The new technology integrates the processes of dechlorination, cracking, and alkylation into a single step, significantly reducing energy consumption by over 70% compared to traditional methods [6][8] - The use of ionic liquids as catalysts enhances the safety, cost-effectiveness, and efficiency of the process, allowing for nearly complete conversion of mixed plastic waste into high-quality fuel [6][10] Environmental Impact - The technology not only improves the economic viability of plastic recycling but also establishes a complete resource recycling chain, contributing to global plastic pollution solutions [6][8] - By converting waste plastics into valuable products without toxic byproducts, the technology effectively mitigates chlorine pollution and aligns with carbon neutrality goals [6][10] Future Prospects - The research team aims to commercialize the technology through partnerships with petrochemical companies and leverage AI to develop more efficient catalytic systems [10] - The technology is expected to be compatible with existing refining processes, transforming the economic outlook of plastic waste from negative to positive [8][10]