Un nuovo processo chimico, sviluppato da una squadra di ricercatori dell’università della California Irvine, potrebbe permettere di riciclare milioni di tonnellate di plastica prodotte ogni anno e a trasformarle in carburante per le macchine o in cere usate nei processi di produzione industriale.
La nuova tecnica sviluppata dall'ateneo statunitense riesce a rimescolare gli idrocarburi presenti nel polietilene (la più comune tra le materie plastiche) usando dei reagenti leggeri e poco costosi. I ricercatori hanno inoltre sottolineato che diversi tipi di polietilene possono così essere completamente degradati in un a giornata. Il metodo è stato testato con prodotti in plastica comuni, come bottiglie, buste della spesa o pellicole delle confezioni alimentari.
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