Chemical Recycling of Plastics: Status and Prospects

Abstract

The mechanical recycling of plastics has been established on an industrial scale for years but has technical and economic limits. Chemical recycling processes lead back to monomers or to the raw materials, so that in the end new goods can be produced for all areas of application of plastics. The variety of chemical recycling processes is large. The capacities of the plants are still low today and the profitability is strongly influenced by the oil price. The profitability limit is currently between 50 and 60 US $ per barrel.