Designing zeolite catalysts for chemical recycling of plastics

Leilei Dai; Kevin M. Van Geem; Huiyan Zhang; Rui Xiao; Hanwu Lei; Roger Ruan

doi:10.1038/s41578-025-00878-z

Designing zeolite catalysts for chemical recycling of plastics

Leilei Dai
, Kevin M. Van Geem
, Huiyan Zhang
, Rui Xiao
, Hanwu Lei
, Roger Ruan

Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › peer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Catalytic deconstruction offers a route from waste plastics to monomers and oligomers that can be repolymerized into new plastics. Zeolite catalysts engineered with extra-large pores, hierarchical pore networks or nanoscale dimensions can help to address the diffusion limitations of conventional microscale zeolites in plastic upcycling — an important step towards a more circular plastic economy.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	258-260
Number of pages	3
Journal	Nature Reviews Materials
Volume	11
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41578-025-00878-z
State	Published - Apr 2026

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Publisher Copyright:
© Springer Nature Limited 2026.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

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10.1038/s41578-025-00878-z

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title = "Designing zeolite catalysts for chemical recycling of plastics",

abstract = "Catalytic deconstruction offers a route from waste plastics to monomers and oligomers that can be repolymerized into new plastics. Zeolite catalysts engineered with extra-large pores, hierarchical pore networks or nanoscale dimensions can help to address the diffusion limitations of conventional microscale zeolites in plastic upcycling {\textemdash} an important step towards a more circular plastic economy.",

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AU - Dai, Leilei

AU - Van Geem, Kevin M.

AU - Zhang, Huiyan

AU - Xiao, Rui

AU - Lei, Hanwu

AU - Ruan, Roger

PY - 2026/4

Y1 - 2026/4

N2 - Catalytic deconstruction offers a route from waste plastics to monomers and oligomers that can be repolymerized into new plastics. Zeolite catalysts engineered with extra-large pores, hierarchical pore networks or nanoscale dimensions can help to address the diffusion limitations of conventional microscale zeolites in plastic upcycling — an important step towards a more circular plastic economy.

AB - Catalytic deconstruction offers a route from waste plastics to monomers and oligomers that can be repolymerized into new plastics. Zeolite catalysts engineered with extra-large pores, hierarchical pore networks or nanoscale dimensions can help to address the diffusion limitations of conventional microscale zeolites in plastic upcycling — an important step towards a more circular plastic economy.

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DO - 10.1038/s41578-025-00878-z

M3 - Comment/debate

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JO - Nature Reviews Materials

JF - Nature Reviews Materials

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ER -

Designing zeolite catalysts for chemical recycling of plastics

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

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