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Project Code [2023-GCE-1234]
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Project title
Sustainable chemical upcycling of waste polyolefins by rational design of heterogeneous catalysts
Primary Funding Agency
Irish Research Council
Co-Funding Organisation(s)
Environmental Protection Agency
Lead Organisation
Irish Research Council (UCC)
Lead Applicant
Doireann O'Leary Brennan
Project Abstract
Chemistry has played a substantial role in shaping modern society and will play a substantial role in shaping our future also, by tackling the challenges of the current transition to a plastics Circular Economy. Almost 60% of all plastic production is polyolefins. The stability of these plastics, which make them so useful to our everyday lives, also means that they cannot be easily broken down by chemical or enzymatic methods. Polyolefin plastic mostly ends up in landfills or are incinerated to produce copious amounts of greenhouse emissions. Plastic waste represents not only a worldwide pollution problem, but also a carbon-rich, low-cost, globally available feedstock. The major barrier to tackling plastic upcycling is finding strategies to convert them in a selective and energy efficient manner in order to achieve maximum economic benefit. Therefore, for sustainable development in the future, constructing high-efficiency, environmentally friendly, energy saving catalysts for upcycling waste plastics is imperative. Catalyst design is a grand challenge in nearly all branches of chemistry and computational chemistry has begun to play a prominent role in advancing catalyst development, driven by increased computer power as well as molecular modelling methods that balance cost and accuracy. This project will use theoretical modelling as a powerful predictive design tool, coupled with experimental chemistry to develop technologies for the sustainable conversion of polyolefin waste into high value commodity chemicals.
Grant Approved
�112,000.00
Research Hub
Green and Circular Economy
Initial Projected Completion Date
31/08/2027