Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Ethylene Polymerizations Using Parallel Pressure Reactors and a Kinetic Analysis of Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: November 27, 2015
Heterogeneous Transfer Dehydrogenation for Catalytic Upcycling of Polyethylene
Tim de la Croix1, Nathalie Claes2, Sara Bals2
1Centre for Membrane Separations, Adsorption, Catalysis, and Spectroscopy for Sustainable Solutions (cMACS), KU Leuven, Heverlee, Belgium.
Abstract:
Polyethylene is the most widely produced plastic globally and a major component of plastic waste. In this work, a chemical recycling process is proposed, yielding telechelic macromonomers as useful building blocks for the polymer industry. Polyethylene was partially dehydrogenated using a reusable, heterogeneous platinum catalyst at moderate temperatures, employing ethylene as a convenient hydrogen acceptor. Various support materials and reaction conditions were investigated, with Pt/ZnO showing the best performance under a constant flow of ethylene. Dehydrogenated samples were subjected to olefin cross-metathesis with ethyl acrylate using a homogeneous Ru catalyst and then hydrogenated without additional catalyst. The final products, ester-terminated polyethylene macromonomers, have potential as building blocks for recyclable polyethylene-like materials and specialized block copolymers. The partially unsaturated polyethylene constitutes a versatile intermediate in the chemical recycling of polyethylene.
More Related Videos
12:08Catalytic Reactions at Amine-Stabilized and Ligand-Free Platinum Nanoparticles Supported on Titania During Hydrogenation of Alkenes and Aldehydes
Published on: June 24, 2022
10:19Synthesis and Testing of Supported Pt-Cu Solid Solution Nanoparticle Catalysts for Propane Dehydrogenation
Published on: July 18, 2017
Related Concept Videos
Reduction of Alkenes: Asymmetric Catalytic Hydrogenation
The metal catalyst used can be either heterogeneous or homogeneous. When hydrogenation of an alkene generates a chiral center, a pair of enantiomeric products is expected to form. However, an enantiomeric excess of one of the products can be facilitated using an enantioselective reaction or an...
Reduction of Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Metals like palladium, platinum, and nickel are commonly used in their solid forms — fine powder on an inert surface. As these catalysts remain insoluble in the reaction mixture, they are referred to as heterogeneous catalysts.
The hydrogenation process takes place on the...
Reduction of Alkynes to cis-Alkenes: Catalytic Hydrogenation
Like alkenes, alkynes can be reduced to alkanes in the presence of transition metal catalysts such as Pt, Pd, or Ni. The reaction involves two sequential syn additions of hydrogen via a cis-alkene intermediate.
Heterogeneous Catalysis
Catalysis
Reduction of Benzene to Cyclohexane: Catalytic Hydrogenation