SEATTLE (Recycling Monster): A team of researchers belonging to the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) under the leadership of Kevin Schug, Professor in the Department of Analytical Chemistry is reportedly conducting research on innovative ways to separate and recycled mixed plastics in a more efficient way.

Schug noted that pyrolysis has been an important means of chemical recycling. The pyrolysis oils generated during heating of plastics have characteristics very similar to crude oil. The pyrolysis method does not require recyclable materials to be sorted and shredded, unlike traditional plastic recycling methods.

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The team, with support from Jean-Francois Borny from Houston-based chemical company Lummus Technologies LLC has developed a new supercritical fluid chromatography method that can separate the pyrolysis oils. The method could clearly differentiate oils created from polyethylene from that of polypropylene feedstocks, Schug said.

The technique offers exciting potentials to differentiate oils produced from many different plastics and mixtures. The research aims to find better ways to recycle these plastics, thereby reducing reliance on fossil fuels, he added.

The environment and landfills are predicted to hold approximately 12 billion tons of plastic waste by 2050.