A Multi-Streamline Approach for Upcycling PET into a Biodiesel and Asphalt Modifier

Kainan Chen, Zeinab Mraiza, Yunqiao Pu, Jinghao Li, Zhihua Liu, Arthur J. Ragauskas, Fujie Zhou, Joshua S. Yuan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The non-degradable nature of petroleum-based plastics and the dependence on petroleum-based products in daily life and production are dilemmas of human development today. We hereby developed a plastic waste upcycling process to address these challenges. A multi-stream fraction strategy was developed to process poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) plastics into soluble and insoluble fractions. The soluble fraction was used as a sole carbon source for microbial fermentation to produce biodiesel precursor lipids with an appreciable bioconversion yield. The insoluble fraction containing fractionated polymers was used as the asphalt binder modifiers. The downsized PET additive improved the high-temperature performance of the asphalt binder by 1 performance grade (PG) without decreasing the low-temperature PG. Subsequent SEM imaging unveiled alterations in the micromorphology induced by PET incorporation. Further FTIR and 1H NMR analysis highlighted the aromatic groups of PET polymers as a crucial factor influencing performance enhancement. The results demonstrated the multi-stream fraction as a promising approach for repurposing plastic waste to produce biodiesel and modify asphalt. This approach holds the potential to tackle challenges in fuel supply and enhance infrastructure resilience to global warming.

Original languageEnglish
Article number796
JournalPolymers
Volume16
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2024

Keywords

  • PET upcycling
  • asphalt binder
  • infrastructure resilience
  • plastic waste valorization

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