Korean Chemical Engineering Research

The Korean Institute of Chemical Engineers (한국화학공학회)
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Advancing Towards a Sustainable Future: Recent Trends in Catalytic Upcycling of Waste Plastics

지속가능한 미래를 위한 폐플라스틱의 촉매 업사이클링 연구 동향

  • Taeeun Kwon (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology) ;
  • Insoo Ro (Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Seoul National University of Science and Technology)
  • 권태은 (서울과학기술대학교 화공생명공학과) ;
  • 노인수 (서울과학기술대학교 화공생명공학과)
  • Received : 2023.08.11
  • Accepted : 2023.09.04
  • Published : 2023.11.01
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Abstract

Plastic's ease of processing drives its growing production, resulting in a surge of plastic waste. Addressing this issue, catalytic upcycling emerges as a promising remedy. Various metals (Ru, Pt, etc.) and supports (TiO2, CeO2, etc.) have been employed for the chemical recycling of polyolefin plastics. Strategies to enhance liquid fuel selectivity and minimize methane include manipulating particle size, introducing heterogeneous metals, and tuning support characteristics. Simultaneously, endeavors to optimize catalysts by reducing precious metal usage were pursued. This study explores enhancing economic viability in hydrogenolysis and hydrocracking reactions, underscoring the potential of catalystdriven upcycling to tackle plastic waste.

플라스틱은 가공과 처리가 간단하여 매년 생산량이 증가하고 있으며 이에 따라 플라스틱 폐기물의 양 또한 매년 증가하고 있다. 플라스틱 폐기물 문제를 해결하기 위하여 촉매를 활용한 업사이클링 공정은 유망한 해결책으로 제시되고 있다. 다양한 금속(Ru, Pt 등) 및 지지체(TiO2, CeO2 등)가 폴리 올레핀계 플라스틱의 화학적 재활용에 적용되었다. 입자 크기를 조절하고, 지지체의 특성 및 이종 금속을 도입하여 액체 연료의 선택도를 향상시키고 메탄 생성 양을 줄이려는 시도가 있었다. 한편으로는 값비싼 귀금속의 양을 줄임으로써 최적의 촉매를 찾기 위한 연구를 진행하였다. 본 논문에서는 이러한 hydrogenolysis 반응 및 hydrocracking 반응에서 경제성을 높이기 위하여 어떠한 시도들이 있었는지 살펴보고자 한다. 이러한 관점에서 촉매 업사이클링 공정을 통해 플라스틱 폐기물 문제를 해결할 가능성을 제시하고자 한다.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

이 성과는 정부(환경부)의 재원으로 한국환경산업기술원의 녹색융합기술인재양성 특성화대학원 사업의 지원을 받아 수행되었습니다. 또한 본 결과물은 환경부의 재원으로 한국환경산업기술원의(혁신도전형) 플라즈마 활용 폐유기물 고부가가치 기초원료화 기술개발사업의 지원을 받아 연구되었습니다(2022003650002).

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