Russian researchers devise technique to turn plastic bags back into fuel

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Researchers at  the D. I. Mendeleev Russian Chemical-Engineering University, Moscow, have developed a new technique for processing plastic waste into fuel using a novel catalyst. The waste is first ground and melted down and then mixed with the catalyst and held at a defined temperature and pressure. Project manager Valery Shvets, and colleagues say the resulting liquid can be used as a substitute for petrol.

The catalyst is currently being patented. The researchers have built a prototype system, which they say can produce a litre of fuel from a kilogram of polyethylene waste. The catalyst can be reclaimed at the end of the process. The researchers are now scaling up the production system.