CO-promoted polyethylene hydrogenolysis with renewable formic acid as hydrogen donor.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 40841529.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-025-63189-5 and PMC identifier 12370993.
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Abstract
Hydrogenolysis has emerged as a promising strategy for the chemical recycling of plastic waste, yet its reliance on high-pressure hydrogen poses significant challenges. Biomass- or CO<sub>2</sub>-derived formic acid (FA) is a renewable hydrogen carrier with the advantages of low toxicity and ease of storage and transport. Here, we use FA to replace high-pressure hydrogen to convert polyethylene (PE) into fuels and chemicals with only 4.1% gaseous products by a RuPt alloy catalyst. We demonstrate that the trace amounts of CO generated from the decomposition of FA do not poison the active sites, but rather induce the formation of Ru<sup>δ+</sup>, which facilitates the C-C bond cleavage during PE hydrogenolysis. This approach eliminates the need for high-pressure hydrogen and provides a more flexible and adaptable approach for decentralized plastic processing.