Search results for plastic recycling

Polymers Mar 21, 2026

Mussel-inspired glue from recycled plastics can be detached and reused

Researchers at the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory have invented a reusable adhesive from waste polymers that is tougher than commercial glues, works underwater as well as in dry environments, and bonds ...

Polymers Mar 20, 2026

Innovative recycling method can convert waste PET into high-quality raw materials and clean hydrogen

Despite polyethylene terephthalate (PET) being one of the most widely recycled plastics, only about 20% of used PET bottles are actually recovered as high-quality raw materials. The majority are transformed into lower-grade ...

Biochemistry Mar 20, 2026

'Plastic-eating' fusion enzyme improves polyester textile recycling

In a new study, scientists from the universities of Portsmouth and Manchester report that a specially engineered enzyme can significantly speed up the breakdown of PET—the plastic used in water bottles, food packaging and ...

Ecology Mar 19, 2026

How birds are spreading plastic pollution

Hungry gulls do not only steal our chips and sandwiches. They learn our habits, and look for reliable sources of food. That includes waste treatment centers, landfill or anywhere food waste is concentrated. Many gull populations ...

Polymers Mar 18, 2026

Scientists turn rubber waste into new materials and capture CO₂

Researchers at the University of St Andrews have unveiled two breakthrough techniques for chemically recycling and upcycling nitrile‑rubber products, such as disposable gloves, seals, and industrial parts, into new materials ...

Analytical Chemistry Mar 17, 2026

Light-activated material offers new approach to carbon dioxide conversion

Scientists have developed a new material that can use sunlight and water to convert carbon dioxide (CO₂) into carbon monoxide (CO)—a key building block for making fuels, plastics, pharmaceuticals and other everyday chemicals. ...

Materials Science Mar 17, 2026

Researchers develop biodegradable, plant‑based packaging from natural fibers

Jie Wu, an engineering graduate student, was studying a type of striking white beetle found in Southeast Asia and attempting to figure out how to mimic its brilliant color when an unexpected discovery upended the experiment.

Polymers Mar 17, 2026

Solar energy transforms polystyrene waste into valuable chemicals using sulfur

Turning waste into wealth may no longer be just a marketing slogan, as a team of researchers in China has found an eco-friendly way to do exactly that. The abundant sunlight our planet receives was put to use for transforming ...

Environment Mar 16, 2026

Ocean bacteria team up to break down biodegradable plastic

Biodegradable plastics could help alleviate the plastic waste crisis that is polluting the environment and harming our health. But how long plastics take to degrade and how environmental bacteria work together to break them ...

Cell & Microbiology Mar 16, 2026

Plastic bottles transformed into Parkinson's drug using bacteria

A drug to treat Parkinson's disease can be made from waste plastic bottles using a pioneering method, a study shows. The approach harnesses the power of bacteria to transform post-consumer plastic into L-DOPA, a frontline ...

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