Advances in the Recycling of Polymer-Based Plastic Materials

Abstract

The improper distribution of plastic waste is one of the major environmental concerns. Plastics or polymer materials pervade everyday life as clothing, packaging, biomedical appliances, electronic devices, etc. An increase in global production and utilization of plastic materials also enhanced the threat of plastic-based environmental pollution. Several conventional and advanced methods have been introduced and applied to control the plastic pollution. Recycling of the plastic materials is one of the promising techniques to mitigate the plastic pollution. The effectiveness of this technique depends on the nature of plastic waste and the targeted end product. The recycling of plastic can be achieved via mechanical or chemical processes. In some cases, pretreatment of plastic waste (e.g., sorting, segregation) might be needed before chemical or mechanical recycling. Different polymer materials have different physiochemical characteristics, and hence use different recycling approaches. For instance, mechanical recycling is the foremost recycling method; however, it is restricted by the pretreatment and degradation of plastic materials. Chemical recycling is an effective substitute to the mechanical method and can generate the substrate/feedstock for other applications such as the petrochemical industry. This chapter focuses on the latest research and advancements for the recycling of polymer-based plastic.