{"id":51578,"date":"2024-10-02T09:25:08","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T08:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/?p=51578"},"modified":"2024-10-02T09:25:08","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T08:25:08","slug":"oxford-uni-start-ups-atomic-scissors-to-combat-plastic-waste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.innovationnewsnetwork.com\/oxford-uni-start-ups-atomic-scissors-to-combat-plastic-waste\/51578\/","title":{"rendered":"Oxford University start-up’s ‘Atomic Scissors’ to combat plastic waste crisis"},"content":{"rendered":"
Supported by \u00a3375,000 in funding from Innovate UK, this revolutionary Atomic Scissors process offers a new approach to recycling hard-to-recycle plastics and promises to make a significant impact on the fight against plastic pollution<\/a>.<\/p>\n “Our Atomic Scissors technology represents a crucial breakthrough in tackling the global plastic waste crisis,” said Dr Bryan Ng, Founder and CEO of Repolywise.<\/p>\n “By transforming hard-to-recycle plastics into valuable raw materials, we’re not just reducing waste \u2014 we’re enabling a circular economy that redefines how we produce and reuse plastics for a sustainable future.”<\/p>\n At the core of Repolywise’s Atomic Scissors technology is a highly advanced hydrocracking process that breaks down waste plastics at the atomic level.<\/a><\/p>\n Unlike traditional recycling methods, Atomic Scissors selectively degrade plastics like polyethene (PE) and polypropylene (PP) into valuable raw materials.<\/p>\n This innovative catalyst, developed through years of research at Oxford, has already proven its efficiency and high yield in lab-scale tests.<\/p>\n The Atomic Scissors process transforms plastic waste into propane in a single step, which is then sold to the petrochemical industry.<\/p>\n This propane is cracked into olefins, a key ingredient in producing new plastics like polyethene and polypropylene.<\/p>\n This process addresses one of the most significant challenges in plastic recycling, which is turning waste back into high-quality raw materials and closing the loop in the plastic lifecycle.<\/p>\n This innovation is particularly significant for polyolefin plastics, which represent nearly half of the 330 billion kilograms of plastic produced annually.<\/p>\n Traditional recycling methods often lead to ‘downcycling,’ where plastic is repurposed into lower-quality products. In contrast, Atomic Scissors enables these materials to be recycled into high-quality polypropylene, supporting sustainable production.<\/p>\n Currently, Atomic Scissors operates on a lab scale, handling 2-gram batches of plastic waste. However, Repolywise plans to scale the technology significantly.<\/p>\n The next phase will see an increase to a 2-kilogram batch capacity, with a commercial goal of processing 2 tonnes through a continuous flow process.<\/p>\n This marks a significant step toward the widespread industrial application of the technology.<\/p>\n What sets Atomic Scissors apart is its cost-effectiveness and energy efficiency. Operating under mild conditions and requiring less energy than conventional methods, it offers a more sustainable and economical solution to plastic waste recycling.<\/p>\n With continued research and development at the AgileLab in Oxford University’s Begbroke Science Park, Repolywise is poised to make a lasting impact.<\/p>\n The start-up is also working towards ISCC certification to ensure the sustainability of its processes. As Atomic Scissors moves closer to large-scale implementation, it represents a critical breakthrough in the global effort to address plastic waste and promote a circular economy.<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Repolywise has unveiled its groundbreaking technology, ‘Atomic Scissors,’ designed to tackle the global plastic waste crisis.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":51580,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24433],"tags":[610,24543,24229],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nAtomic Scissors: A new era in plastic recycling<\/h3>\n
Scaling for industrial use<\/h3>\n
Future development<\/h3>\n