Long-Chain Branched α-Alkenes from Plastic Upcycling Using Mo<sub>2</sub>C-Zn Nanoclusters Embedded on Hierarchical Porous Carbon.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 41666316.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5c05628.
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Abstract
The use of plastics has led to widespread waste and severe environmental impacts. Herein, a decomposition-catalysis upcycling strategy using M-Zn codoped hierarchical porous carbon (M-Zn/HPC) was proposed for polypropylene (PP) upcycling into highly valuable long-chain branched α-alkenes. Zn/HPC-II, synthesized via a two-step carbothermal reduction, exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the conversion of PP to C4-C18 liquid hydrocarbons. Furthermore, bimetallic Mo<sub>2</sub>C-Zn/HPC exhibited the best catalytic performance, achieving a liquid yield of 887.3 mL/kg<sub>PP</sub> and 54.5 Cmol % selectivity for long-chain branched α-alkenes. The catalytic mechanism involves thermal degradation of PP via free radical scission, followed by reforming on Mo<sub>2</sub>C-Zn/HPC, where Mo<sub>2</sub>C with lattice distortions facilitated C-H bond activation and synergized with Zn/HPC acid sites to β-scission and related reactions, efficiently producing long-chain branched α-alkenes. The robust stability of Mo<sub>2</sub>C-Zn/HPC was further confirmed using real-life PP plastic wastes. Overall, this study presents a promising strategy for converting PP waste into high-value long-chain branched α-alkenes.