Chemical recycling of plastics

Our goal in this project is to develop an environmentally responsible upcycling process that can handle both diverse mixed plastic wastes and intractable plastics found in today's and tomorrow's landfills. Our methodology is to develop a multi-stage reactor system, with each stage controlled under different experimental conditions. First, we will remove valuable products such as additives and carbon fibers, then convert the remainder into valuable chemicals, including monomers and aromatics. A pyrolytic end-process for treating waste materials from this process will be examined, which can be utilized by refiners. Our goal is to minimize carbon loss through this novel reactor design process, examining both model polymeric systems and real waste streams. We will investigate various downstream refining processes.

Prof. Paul A. Charpentier is a Full Professor in the Chemical & Biochemical Engineering Department, Western University. He has over 30 years of experience working with polymer and reactor technologies/supercritical fluids. Paul has chaired Canada's National Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) on Energy and Natural Resources for Strategic and Network Proposals. Supercritical fluid technology developed at North Carolina State University by Charpentier, DeSimone, and Roberts was licensed and commercialized by DuPont, who constructed a USD 300 Million plant for plastics production. Previous reactor research during his PhD studies for making polymers with nanocatalysts was commercialized by Dow Chemical in Midland, Michigan. Recent work at Western has been with many large companies such as Dow Chemical, DuPont, Celestica, BASF, and many other small and medium-sized companies for commercializing technologies. In addition, a university start-up company, Sunwash Technologies, was launched from Charpentier's lab for commercializing coatings technology. Recent research awards include Vanier (2016), Ontario Green Chemistry Award (2012), Western Innovation Award (2011), Western Faculty Scholar Award (2010), and Petro Canada's Young Innovator Award (2007)). 

Prof. Cedric L. Briens, the co-applicant in this project, is a Full Professor in the  Chemical & Biochemical Engineering Department, University of Western Ontario. He has worked extensively with companies such as ExxonMobil, Syncrude Canada and Total Energies.

Bachelor, Master's or Diplôme d'Ingénieur in Chemical Engineering or Chemistry