Dr. Yu Cao has been recognized with the Chemistry Today Outstanding Poster Award at the 2nd International Symposium on Solid State Chemistry for her work on converting plastic waste into valuable materials.
Her poster, titled “Catalytic Upcycling of Polyolefin Waste,” explores how different metal catalysts interact with their support materials to break down plastics more effectively. Polyolefins, which include common plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene, comprise a significant portion of plastic waste worldwide.
Cao’s work examines two distinct catalyst systems. The first uses platinum supported on cerium oxide, which helps prevent the formation of coke—a common problem that reduces catalyst efficiency. The second employs ruthenium on titanium hydride, which maintains a steady supply of hydrogen necessary for breaking carbon-carbon bonds in plastic chains.
By comparing these two approaches, the research reveals how catalysts can be designed to selectively break down plastics while remaining stable over time. The findings could inform the development of more efficient catalytic processes for chemical recycling, offering potential pathways for addressing the growing challenge of plastic waste.
The work contributes to ongoing efforts in sustainable chemistry by providing insights into how catalyst design can be optimized for plastic upcycling applications.
