Catalytic hydrocracking of synthetic polymers into grid-compatible gas streams

The use of methane as one the cleanest energy sources has attracted significant public awareness, and production processes with less environmental impact than fracking are receiving considerable attention. Catalytic hydrocracking plastic materials been considered a potential clean alternative. However, catalysts that convert heterogeneous feeds into single product under industrially relevant conditions lacking. Here, we describe Ru-modified zeolite catalytically transforms polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene grid-compatible (>97% purity), at 300°C–350°C using near-stoichiometric amounts H2. Mechanistic studies reveal chain-end initiation process limited isomerization substrates. A Ru site-dominant mechanism is proposed based on these density functional theory (DFT) computations. We foresee such plastic-to-methane may increase intelligent waste via recovery. There also to accommodate emerging sustainable H2 existing natural gas networks, while integrating management, fuel production, storage.