Different types of plastics, including marine litter (center), can be turned into hydrogen and carbon nanotubes. PHOTO: NTU

Novel technique converts plastic waste into clean hydrogen fuel

Converting plastic waste into hydrogen fuel

By utilizing a high-temperature chemical process called pyrolysis, the Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) scientists discovered they were able to convert plastic waste into two main products: hydrogen and a form of solid carbon, known as carbon nanotubes.

Unlike polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles which are recycled without difficulty, plastic waste comprising litter such as contaminated food packaging, Styrofoam, and plastic bags, poses recycling challenges. Unfortunately, this means that this waste is currently burned or buried in landfills, resulting in water, air, and ground pollution.

This research represents a substantial step forward because hydrogen is valuable in electricity-generating processes and powering fuel cells such as those in electric vehicles (EVs), with clean water as its only by-product.

This waste-to-hydrogen research project used marine litter collected from local waters in collaboration with the Ocean Purpose Project, a non-governmental organization and social enterprise. Together with industrial partner Bluefield Renewable Energy (BRE), the joint project demonstrates the potential for all non-recyclable plastics to be upcycled into fuels and high-value materials.

Mr. Craig Gavin, CTO, BRE, said: “During this pandemic, there has been an increase in plastic usage as most of us have been taking away our food in plastic containers and doing more grocery shopping. Current practices and efforts to recycle them have been challenging and require disposals in landfills and/or incineration plants leading to environmental contamination issues. In BRE, we pride ourselves on our ability to convert wastes into resources based on our Flexi-pyrolysis system.

Singapore scientists develop a new way to convert plastic trash into hydrogen

Plastic waste-to-hydrogen is a two-stage process: first of all, plastic waste is decomposed upon heating into gases that comprise low concentrations of hydrogen molecules. In the second stage, the gases go into a reactor filled with a catalyst, and the technology enables the release of hydrogen fuel and the development of carbon nanotubes.

If this project is effective, it will make a significant contribution to reducing the total amount of waste disposed of in Singapore and lengthen the duration of Singapore’s only landfill, which is currently projected to be full by 2035.

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