Molecular recycling: A key approach to tailor the waste recycling for high-value nano silicon carbide

Abstract

This study proposes the transformation of complex waste otherwise destined for landfill into valuable products and resources through molecular recycling. Specifically, it aims to leverage high-temperature reactions to thermally alter the atomic bonds of carbon and silicon within the molecules from the waste source in situ, to produce valuable silicon carbide (SiC). As such, it promises to deliver a cost-effective, sustainable solution to a high volume of waste for value added applications. The key process used in this study to tailor the molecular recycling process was selective high temperature transformation. This was achieved with two waste sources: waste coffee grounds as a source of carbon, and mixed automotive waste glasses as a source of silicon. These two sources were used to produce high-value SiC nanowires of 50–100 nm diameter with surface area of ~64.21 m2/g. The as-synthesised material produced by molecular recycling retains superior photocatalytic property compared to the commercially available SiC nanoparticles with excellent potential for reuse for photodegradation application.