Electrocatalytic upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate to commodity chemicals and H2 fuel

Hua Zhou, Yue Ren, Zhenhua Li, Ming Xu, Ye Wang, Ruixiang Ge, Xianggui Kong, Lirong Zheng and Haohong Duan ()
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Hua Zhou: Tsinghua University
Yue Ren: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Zhenhua Li: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Ming Xu: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Ye Wang: Tsinghua University
Ruixiang Ge: Tsinghua University
Xianggui Kong: Beijing University of Chemical Technology
Lirong Zheng: The Chinese Academy of Sciences
Haohong Duan: Tsinghua University

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Plastic wastes represent a largely untapped resource for manufacturing chemicals and fuels, particularly considering their environmental and biological threats. Here we report electrocatalytic upcycling of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic to valuable commodity chemicals (potassium diformate and terephthalic acid) and H2 fuel. Preliminary techno-economic analysis suggests the profitability of this process when the ethylene glycol (EG) component of PET is selectively electrooxidized to formate (>80% selectivity) at high current density (>100 mA cm−2). A nickel-modified cobalt phosphide (CoNi0.25P) electrocatalyst is developed to achieve a current density of 500 mA cm−2 at 1.8 V in a membrane-electrode assembly reactor with >80% of Faradaic efficiency and selectivity to formate. Detailed characterizations reveal the in-situ evolution of CoNi0.25P catalyst into a low-crystalline metal oxy(hydroxide) as an active state during EG oxidation, which might be responsible for its advantageous performances. This work demonstrates a sustainable way to implement waste PET upcycling to value-added products.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25048-x

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