Upcycling of waste poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) into valuable products represents a promising avenue for advancing carbon neutrality and circular economy. Here, we demonstrate a modular strategy for converting waste PET into glycolic acid (GA) and 2,4‐pyridine dicarboxylic acid (2,4‐PDCA), achieving an upcycling process and 45% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. We conducted comprehensive studies on PET hydrolysis, PET‐derived ethylene glycol (EG) photooxidation, and PET‐derived terephthalic acid (TPA) bioconversion. Utilizing a plasmon‐active CuPt nanoalloy, EG oxidation proceeds at mild conditions with impressive EG conversion (94.78%) and GA yield (71.98%). Two Escherichia coli strains were employed to convert TPA into 2,4‐PDCA, achieved a 91.03% molar yield. This work successfully accomplishes the comprehensive utilization of waste PET through an environmentally friendly and economically viable strategy, leading to a significant reduction in PET plastic pollution while simultaneously generating substantial economic benefits.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Wang et al. (2024) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: