In an important step towards a commercially viable green hydrogen industry, researchers have created a less expensive and more energy-efficient method of producing hydrogen straight from saltwater.
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IMAGE: Long hydrocarbon chains of polymers are broken into shorter units with the introduction of aluminum end groups. view more
Credit: U.S. Department of Energy, Ames Laboratory
Scientists at the Institute for Cooperative Upcycling of Plastics (iCOUP), an Energy Frontier Research Center led by Ames Laboratory, have discovered a chemical process that provides biodegradable, valuable chemicals, which are used as surfactants and detergents in a range of applications, from discarded plastics. The process has the potential to create more sustainable and economically favorable lifecycles for plastics.
The researchers targeted their work on the deconstruction of polyolefins, which represents more than half of all discarded plastics, and includes nearly every kind of product imaginable toys, food packaging, pipe systems, water bottles, fabrics, shoes, cars, and furniture.