The National Science Foundation (NSF) Engineering program (CFDA 47.041) has awarded a $250,000 Project Grant to Northwestern University for a 3-year collaborative research project titled "Understanding the Roles of CO2-Tunable Media on the Hydrothermal Deconstruction of Poly(Ethylene) Terephtalate". This research aims to investigate how CO2-H2O mixtures can be used as a tunable media to improve the chemical recycling and upcycling of poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) plastic waste. The project seeks to elucidate the impact of CO2 on PET polymer morphology, phase behavior, and reagent transport during acid-catalyzed hydrolysis, as well as to mechanistically understand the deconstruction of semi-crystalline PET in CO2-tunable media. Advanced analytical techniques and kinetic modeling will be leveraged to generate fundamental knowledge on how CO2 affects PET recycling processes. This research has the potential to significantly impact the management of post-consumer plastic waste, which is a significant ecological concern.
Generated 3/4/25, 5:10 AM