Catalytic Microwave Pyrolysis of Plastic Waste for Hydrogen and Nanocarbons

Microwave‐assisted pyrolysis offers a promising route for converting plastic waste into hydrogen‐rich gas and carbon nanomaterials. This review examines hydrogen evolution, carbon‐forming pathways, catalyst functions, absorber‐support interactions, and reactor constraints in microwave systems. It also assesses process parameters, localized heating, field nonuniformity, and scale‐up challenges. Overall, the process supports circular plastic valorization, but practical deployment depends on catalyst stability, realistic handling of mixed feeds, and transparent techno‐economic and environmental evaluation.