Advances in the circular economy of polystyrene: A critical review of pyrolysis in pilot-scale systems, distillation, and re-polymerization

Key Points

• The review evaluates pyrolysis and re-polymerization methods for polystyrene recycling, unveiling significant efficiency gains.
• Through pilot-scale systems, the review highlights successful distillation strategies that enhance resource recovery.
• Assessments demonstrate the environmental benefits of integrating circular economy principles within polystyrene waste management.
• The findings underscore the need for improved methods to facilitate large-scale implementation of sustainable recycling solutions.