From plastic waste to potential wealth: Upcycling technologies, process synthesis, assessment and optimization

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Global plastic production has doubled, necessitating efficient plastic waste valorization technologies.
• Existing reviews focus on experimental details of chemical upcycling, lacking a systems-level perspective.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review chemical upcycling technologies for plastic waste from a multi-scale systems-by-systems perspective.
• To summarize methodologies for large-scale process synthesis, assessment, and optimization for sustainability.

Main Methods:

• Overview of state-of-the-art chemical upcycling techniques.
• Application of systems engineering principles for process synthesis and optimization.
• Utilizing techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment for process evaluation.

Main Results:

• Gasification and pyrolysis are promising for plastic waste conversion, with potential for subsystem integration.
• Response surface methodology is effective for experimental design and parameter optimization.
• Superstructure optimization and green supply chain frameworks aid in process synthesis and recycling network design.

Conclusions:

• Systems engineering provides a holistic approach to plastic waste-to-wealth processes.
• Techno-economic analysis and life cycle assessment are crucial for sustainable process development.
• Optimization methodologies are key to enhancing economic and environmental performance in plastic waste valorization.