Project description
Recycling plastics with flow
Plastic waste from packaging, especially polyesters such as PET, PLA, and PHB, is piling up. Unfortunately, there are not many efficient ways to recycle packaging into something valuable. Current chemical recycling methods are either too imprecise or too difficult to scale. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the REFLOWER project is pioneering a new approach that involves a continuous flow system using specially designed porous solid catalysts to break down plastics into reusable chemicals. This method promises cleaner, more selective recycling that moves beyond fuel production. By focusing on 3D porous catalysts and reductive depolymerisation, REFLOWER’s solution could transform plastic waste into high-value resources, in line with the EU’s shift to a circular economy.
Objective
Establishing a circular economy requires the development of plastic chemical catalytic recycling (CCR) processes, where catalysts are employed to produce high-value compounds from waste plastic streams. Polyesters such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polylactic acid (PLA), and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) are among the most abundant plastic wastes, primarily from packaging. However, current CCR methodologies are either poorly selective, resulting in low-value mixtures used as fuel, or are conducted in discontinuous operations that are difficult to scale. To address this, conducting CCR in continuous flow systems with selective and active heterogeneous catalysts has the potential to unlock new valorisation pathways. Here I will propose the first proof-of-concept for a liquid-phase, heterogeneously catalysed continuous flow CCR process for three polyesters (PET, PLA, PHB). The aim is the selective and sustainable depolymerization of common polyesters into reusable chemicals using unconventional, innovative bifunctional monolithic catalyst. This will be pursued through two complementary objectives: the synthesis of interconnected, hierarchically porous 3D-shaped solid bifunctional catalysts composed of metal nanoparticles supported on acidic mixed oxides, and the demonstration of the hydrogenative depolymerization of these three polyesters (PET, PLA, PHB) in a continuous flow system using the catalyst. Ultimately, this CCR methodology will provide an innovative technology that advances existing processes and contributes to establishing new recycling pathways for waste plastics. Eventually, it will support the development of a circular economy for plastics and help reducing the societal environmental impact.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering waste management waste treatment processes recycling
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials bioplastics polylactic acid
- natural sciences chemical sciences polymer sciences
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- engineering and technology nanotechnology nano-materials
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
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HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
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Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
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Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2024-PF-01
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Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
00185 Roma
Italy
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.