Chemical recycling of polyolefins: a closed-loop cycle of waste to olefins

Abstract

The unsuitable disposal of plastic wastes has caused serious environmental pollution, and finding a green manner to address this problem has aroused wide concern. Plastic wastes, especially polyolefin wastes, are rich in carbon and hydrogen, and chemical recycling shows distinct advantages in their conversion into olefins and realizes a closed-loop cycling of plastic wastes. Plastic wastes should be labeled before disposal. The necessity for, and methods of, pretreatment are introduced in this paper and the whole recycling process of polyolefin wastes is also summarized. As the core technology pyrolysis, including thermal, catalytic and solvolysis processes, is introduced in detail due to its potential for future development. We also briefly describe the feasible strategies of pyrolytic oil refining and life cycle assessment of the chemical recycling process. In addition, suggestions and perspectives concerning the industrial improvement of polyolefin chemical recycling are proposed.