Conversion of Plastic Waste into Vinegar (Acetic Acid)

Conversion of Plastic Waste into Vinegar (Acetic Acid)

Scientists at the University of Waterloo, Canada, have recently developed an innovative technique that converts plastic waste into acetic acid, the primary component of vinegar. The technology uses sunlight-driven photocatalysis, offering a sustainable approach to tackling plastic pollution while producing a valuable industrial chemical.

The process is based on cascade photocatalysis, a mechanism inspired by the natural way fungi break down wood. It employs a specialized catalyst known as Fe@C3N4 SAC (single-atom iron on carbon nitride). Under sunlight, this catalyst generates hydroxyl radicals, which break down the long polymer chains present in plastics into smaller molecules, including carbon dioxide intermediates. In the next stage, the same catalyst converts these intermediates into acetic acid.