Closed-loop recycling of polyethylene to ethylene and propylene via a kinetic decoupling–recoupling strategy
Abstract Conversion of polyethylene (PE) into ethylene and propylene will enable closed-loop recycling of plastics. Conventional catalytic cracking of PE is restricted by kinetic entanglement between the formation of main products and by-products, limiting ethylene and propylene yields to less than 25%. Here we address this challenge with a kinetic decoupling–recoupling (KDRC) strategy, achieving yields of ethylene and propylene up to 79% from PE conversion using a tandem reactor with dual zeolite catalysts. Reaction kinetics analysis, synchrotron-based vacuum ultraviolet photoionization mass spectrometry and in situ neutron powder diffraction reveal that KDRC decouples kinetics of PE cracking to intermediates (butenes and pentenes) in the first stage and synchronizes this process with dimerization–β-scission reactions in the second stage. This synchronization minimizes by-products and enhances ethylene and propylene production substantially. Combined with high catalytic stability, this KDRC strategy represents a robust pathway to combating plastic pollution via a circular economy.
Authors
- Ningning Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0272-1093)
- Chengyuan Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8690-8698)
- Z. H. Cen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9857-836X)
- Sihai Yang⧫ (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1111-9272)
- Yang Pan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9360-3809)
- Pascal Manuel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8845-6576)
- Yinlin Chen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7878-2063)
- Qian Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5732-387X)
- Junfeng Xiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2101-1409)
- Xue Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0390-422X)
- Cong Luo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5159-8343)
- Longfei Lin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2892-6094)
- Xinrui Zheng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-5980-5346)
- Buxing Han (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0440-809X)
- Weilong Wen
- Tianrui Bi
- Hunain Zulfiqar
Institutions
- University of Science and Technology of China (CN)
- Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (GB)
- Stockholm University (SE)
- Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- Peking University (CN)
- Beijing Normal University (CN)
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (CN)
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory (CN)
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (CN)
- East China Normal University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Chemical Engineering
- Published
- 2025-10-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-025-00290-y
- Citations
- 10
- Primary Topic
- Recycling and Waste Management Techniques
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 9.97
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Peking University
- University of Science and Technology of China
- National Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory
- Science and Technology Facilities Council
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences