Research
New method for upcycling polyethylene is suitable for mass production as a raw material for nylon
Phys.org ·
The Brief
- A new method upcycles polyethylene plastic waste into a feedstock for nylon, also called polyamide.
- The source describes the method as suitable for mass production.
- Chemists at LIKAT in Rostock are pursuing the approach.
Why it matters
Producing nylon from plastic waste instead of petroleum could benefit the environment and climate if it scales up.
- #polyethylene
- #upcycling
- #nylon
- #plastic waste
- #polymers
- #chemistry
It would greatly benefit the environment and climate if nylon—chemically known as polyamide—could be produced on a large scale from plastic waste in the future, rather than from petroleum, as has been the norm until now. At LIKAT in Rostock, chemists pursuing this approach have…