Li Linfeng, Leutzsch Markus, Hesse Phil, Wang Chuanhao, Wang Bolun, Schüth Ferdi
Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Platz 1, 45470, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl. 2025 Jan 2;64(1):e202413132. doi: 10.1002/anie.202413132. Epub 2024 Nov 14.
Polyethylene (PE) is the most prevalent type of plastic waste and also the most challenging to depolymerize because of its inert carbon-carbon (C-C) bonds. High temperature and noble metals are usually required for depolymerization. To avoid using noble metals, costly reagents and harsh reaction conditions, it is worthwhile but challenging to explore new reaction pathways. We report an unprecedented mechanochemical reaction of PE and water to result in shorter-chain alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, and ketones (C, where n≲50), with above 80 % of starting carbon converted into these products, which could be a valuable feedstock for re-entering chemical value chains. This reaction is driven solely by ball milling, without heating and pressurizing. No costly catalysts are used. Instead, only earth-abundant AlO was milled with reactants.
聚乙烯（PE）是最普遍的塑料废弃物类型，由于其惰性的碳 - 碳（C - C）键，也是最难解聚的。解聚通常需要高温和贵金属。为了避免使用贵金属、昂贵的试剂和苛刻的反应条件，探索新的反应途径虽有价值但具有挑战性。我们报道了聚乙烯与水发生的前所未有的机械化学反应，生成了短链烷烃、烯烃、醇类和酮类（碳数n≲50），起始碳的80%以上转化为这些产物，这些产物可作为重新进入化学价值链的有价值原料。该反应仅由球磨驱动，无需加热和加压。不使用昂贵的催化剂。相反，仅将储量丰富的AlO与反应物一起研磨。
