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Title The contribution of high-resolution GC separations in plastic recycling research
ID_Doc 13004
Authors Zanella, D; Romagnoli, M; Malcangi, S; Beccaria, M; Chenet, T; De Luca, C; Testoni, F; Pasti, L; Visentini, U; Morini, G; Cavazzini, A; Franchina, FA
Title The contribution of high-resolution GC separations in plastic recycling research
Year 2023
Published Analytical And Bioanalytical Chemistry, 415.0, 13
DOI 10.1007/s00216-023-04519-8
Abstract One convenient strategy to reduce environmental impact and pollution involves the reuse and revalorization of waste produced by modern society. Nowadays, global plastic production has reached 367 million tons per year and because of their durable nature, their recycling is fundamental for the achievement of the circular economy objective. In closing the loop of plastics, advanced recycling, i.e., the breakdown of plastics into their building blocks and their transformation into valuable secondary raw materials, is a promising management option for post-consumer plastic waste. The most valuable product from advanced recycling is a fluid hydrocarbon stream (or pyrolysis oil) which represents the feedstock for further refinement and processing into new plastics. In this context, gas chromatography is currently playing an important role since it is being used to study the pyrolysis oils, as well as any organic contaminants, and it can be considered a high-resolution separation technique, able to provide the molecular composition of such complex samples. This information significantly helps to tailor the pyrolysis process to produce high-quality feedstocks. In addition, the detection of contaminants (i.e., heteroatom-containing compounds) is crucial to avoid catalytic deterioration and to implement and design further purification processes. The current review highlights the importance of molecular characterization of waste stream products, and particularly the pyrolysis oils obtained from waste plastics. An overview of relevant applications published recently will be provided, and the potential of comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography, which represents the natural evolution of gas chromatography into a higher-resolution technique, will be underlined.
Author Keywords Gas chromatography; Comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography; Mass spectrometry; Pyrolysis oil; Hydrocarbons; Plastic waste composition; Molecular characterization
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000914700000001
WoS Category Biochemical Research Methods; Chemistry, Analytical
Research Area Biochemistry & Molecular Biology; Chemistry
PDF https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s00216-023-04519-8.pdf
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