Researchers have developed a photocatalytic process that breaks down common plastic waste into acetic acid — the main ingredient in vinegar — using nothing more than sunlight and a special catalyst. The method works on mixed plastics that can't currently be recycled.

The Problem It Solves

The world produces over 400 million tonnes of plastic waste every year, and less than 10% is actually recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, incinerators, or the environment. A huge reason for this dismal recycling rate is that most recycling processes only work on specific, sorted plastic types. Mixed or contaminated plastics — which make up the majority of waste — are essentially unrecyclable with current technology.

Sunlight Does the Heavy Lifting

The new process uses a photocatalyst that, when exposed to sunlight, breaks the chemical bonds in plastic polymers. The broken-down molecules recombine into acetic acid — a widely used industrial chemical worth approximately $10 billion per year globally.

What makes this approach so exciting is its simplicity. It doesn't require extreme temperatures, toxic chemicals, or expensive equipment. Sunlight is free, abundant, and available everywhere — including in the developing nations where plastic pollution is often worst.

"We're essentially turning one of Earth's biggest pollution problems into a useful, sellable chemical." — Research team

Can It Scale?

The researchers say scaling up is entirely feasible with existing technology. The catalyst materials are relatively inexpensive, and the process doesn't require specialised infrastructure. It could potentially be deployed at waste processing facilities worldwide.

The economics are compelling: instead of paying to dispose of plastic waste, facilities could generate revenue by selling the acetic acid produced. This creates a genuine economic incentive for plastic collection and processing — something that current recycling often lacks.

A Circular Economy in Action

This breakthrough represents exactly what the circular economy needs: a way to turn waste into value using clean energy. If the process works at scale as well as it does in the lab, it could fundamentally change how we think about plastic waste — from an environmental disaster to a chemical feedstock. 🌞♻️🍶

Source: Earth.com