There may now be a solution for all of the plastic waste that has polluted the world’s oceans. The biggest culprit is Nylon-6, an artificial substance used in just about everything from fishing nets to clothing. Well, Northwestern University chemists say they have developed a new catalyst that “quickly, cleanly and completely” breaks down Nylon-6 in a matter of minutes — without generating harmful byproducts.
The scientists also say that the process they developed does not require toxic solvents, expensive materials, or extreme conditions, making it practical for everyday applications.
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“The whole world is aware of the plastic problem,” said Northwestern’s Tobin Marks, the study’s senior author. “Plastic is a part of our society; we use so much of it. But the problem is: What do we do when we’re finished with it? Ideally, we wouldn’t burn it or put it into landfills. We would recycle it. We’re developing catalysts that deconstruct these polymers, returning them to their original form, so they can be reused.”
So, what have the Northwestern scientists developed?
The catalyst they used harnesses yttrium (an inexpensive Earth-abundant metal) and lanthanide ions. When the team heated Nylon-6 samples to melting temperatures and applied the catalyst without a solvent, the plastic fell apart, said the scientists, reverting to its original building blocks without leaving byproducts behind.
Nylon-6, also known as polycaprolactam, is a type of semicrystalline polyamide polymer. This means it has both ordered and disordered regions in its structure, giving it a unique combination of properties.
Nylon-6 fibers are known for their high tensile strength, elasticity, and luster. This makes them ideal for applications that require durability and flexibility. Nylon-6 is highly resistant to abrasion, making it suitable for wear-and-tear applications, it is resistant to many chemicals, including oils, solvents, and acids and has a low coefficient of friction, making it ideal for bearings and other sliding components.
Nylon-6 has a high melting point (218°C) and a low glass transition temperature (48°C), making it suitable for high-temperature applications and can be processed by a variety of methods, including injection molding, extrusion, and blow molding.
Unlike most other nylons, which are formed by condensation polymerization, nylon-6 is produced by ring-opening polymerization. This process involves opening a ring-shaped molecule called caprolactam and linking the resulting monomers together to form a polymer chain.
The build-up of plastic waste in the world’s oceans is getting worse.
For example, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. National Geographic explains it is a collection of marine debris in the North Pacific Ocean. Also known as the Pacific trash vortex, the garbage patch is actually two distinct collections of debris bounded by the massive North Pacific Subtropical Gyre.
According to the organization Ocean Cleanup, a non-profit organization that develops and scales technologies to rid the world’s oceans of plastic, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch is largely composed of fishing-related plastic waste, with 75% to 86% of all plastic waste in the GPGP identified as coming from offshore fishing activity.
As for the future, Tobin Marks and his team said they have already received interest from potential industrial partners. They hope others can use their catalysts on a large scale to help solve the global plastic problem.
Liwei Ye, the paper’s lead first author who is a postdoctoral fellow in Marks’ laboratory, said “Our research represents a significant step forward in the field of polymer recycling and sustainable materials management. The innovative approach addresses a critical gap in current recycling technologies, offering a practical and efficient solution for the nylon waste problem. We believe it has implications for reducing the environmental footprint of plastics and contributing to a circular economy.”
