Researchers at West Virginia University (WVU) in the US are working to convert PP back into its building block, propylene, which can be reused in new plastic products. The US Department of Energy is funding the project with a US$1 million grant.Yuxin Wang, chemical engineer and assistant professor at WVU, tells Packaging Insights: “Our previous research indicates the advantages of microwave heating technology in certain manufacturing processes, such as lowering reaction temperatures, accelerating reaction rates, improving selectivity and enabling unique reaction pathways — such as ammonia synthesis, natural gas conversion and CO2 conversion.”
