From plastic-waste to H2: A first approach to the electrochemical reforming of dissolved Poly(methyl methacrylate) particles

The development of sustainable processes for the recycling of plastic is a major environ-mental issue to reduce the pollution by this kind of waste. The electro-oxidation of plastic wastes in electrolysers powered by renewable energies is a promising option to produce hydrogen at low temperature while diminishing the energy demand compared to Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER). Poly (methyl-methacrylate) (PMMA) particles, a widely used polymer, were dissolved (0.1-2% wt.) in an isopropanol(IPA)/H2O binary solvent and electro-oxidized on Pt/C-based electrodes in a liquid batch electrochemical cell at 70 degrees C in acidic media. Despite the dissolution strategy, polymer macromolecules partially block the accessibility of the active sites of a commercial electrode and strongly degrades its elec-trochemical performances mainly linked to IPA electro-oxidation. The preparation of a more porous electrode supported on carbon paper was found to strongly hinder this deactivation. Furthermore, the electrooxidation of PMMA or PMMA-derived molecules can be performed during cyclic voltammetries up to 1.4 V and chrono-amperometries at 1.4 V. (c) 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC.

Automated summary

Developing sustainable processes for plastic recycling is an important environmental issue. Electro-oxidation of plastic waste in electrolyzers powered by renewable energies is a promising option to produce hydrogen at lower temperatures with reduced energy demand. However, the dissolution strategy of PMMA still has some drawbacks that degrade the electrochemical performance of the electrode.