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Updated: Nov 12, 2025

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
Published on: July 18, 2025
Valorisation of plastic waste via metal-catalysed depolymerisation
Francesca Liguori1, Carmen Moreno-Marrodán1, Pierluigi Barbaro1
1Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Chimica dei Composti Organo Metallici, Via Madonna del Piano 10, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Firenze, Italy.
Abstract:
Metal-catalysed depolymerisation of plastics to reusable building blocks, including monomers, oligomers or added-value chemicals, is an attractive tool for the recycling and valorisation of these materials. The present manuscript shortly reviews the most significant contributions that appeared in the field within the period January 2010-January 2020 describing selective depolymerisation methods of plastics. Achievements are broken down according to the plastic material, namely polyolefins, polyesters, polycarbonates and polyamides. The focus is on recent advancements targeting sustainable and environmentally friendly processes. Biocatalytic or unselective processes, acid-base treatments as well as the production of fuels are not discussed, nor are the methods for the further upgrade of the depolymerisation products.
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