Researchers have developed a groundbreaking process to convert common plastics into soap and detergents.
Why it matters: With global plastic pollution expected to triple by 2060, this innovation could help tackle one of our most pressing environmental challenges. The process offers a profitable way to recycle plastics while creating useful products.
- Currently, less than 9% of plastic gets recycled globally, with 430 million tons produced annually.
Key finding: The two-step process successfully converts certain plastics (types 2, 4, and 5) into soaps, detergents, and lubricants with minimal waste and pollution.
“I hope, in time, society will take care of all these waste materials. We can generate useful chemicals and materials from waste, and hopefully we can close the loop of carbon and plastics. That is my dream.”
Greg Liu, Professor, Department of Chemistry at Virginia Tech
The process:
- Uses thermolysis (650-750°F) to break down plastic into oil, gas, and minimal solids
- Functionalizes the resulting oil into soap molecules
- Takes less than a day with almost zero air pollution
Keep in mind: Scaling up remains the biggest challenge, requiring hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment to test commercial viability.
Real-world impact: The technology could:
- Create a profitable recycling stream for plastic waste
- Reduce ocean pollution and environmental damage
- Generate sustainable alternatives to traditional soap manufacturing
TL;DR
- A new chemical process converts waste plastic into useful soap products with minimal environmental impact.
- The technology works on multiple types of common plastics and produces almost no pollution.
- Commercial scaling and funding remain key challenges before widespread adoption.
Dive Deeper
Read the Paper: Chain-length-controllable upcycling of polyolefins to sulfate detergents
News Release: Greg Liu is in his element using chemistry to tackle the plastics problem