Innovative catalytic process to valorize nylon wastes

The accumulation of plastic waste presents a global and urgent challenge, necessitating the development of more environmentally friendly mechanical and chemical recycling methods.

This challenge is particularly acute for polyamides materials, commonly known as nylons (e.g. fishing nets, carpets, etc.), which are mostly either deposited in landfills or incinerated due to the lack of efficient recycling techniques.

With UPCYCLON, we propose to capitalize on breakthroughs achieved through ERC ReNewHydrides, focusing on a disruptive chemical upcycling process for polyamides.

This pioneering innovation provides, via a novel catalytic conversion operating under mild conditions, an unprecedented access to new nitrogen-containing polymers, currently unavailable using established synthetic routes.

These polymers, with anticipated physicochemical properties such as high thermal stability and potent chelating capabilities, promise diverse applications ranging from CO2 capture to polyurethane synthesis and wastewater treatments.

In addition, this approach to polyamide waste management represents an innovative and commercially significant endeavor, particularly for polyamide producers facing pressure from new European policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to swiftly develop sustainable solutions for waste recycling or management.